A Garage Door Window Insert? The Comprehensive Guide
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Benefits of a Garage Door Window Insert
A Garage Door Window Insert project can totally transform your drab Garage Door and breathe a new life (and some light!) in your musty Garage. You do not have to go on living with a windowless garage door for ever. Nor do you have to trade in your existing garage door for a new one with windows.
You can just add Windows to your existing Garage Door. A Garage Door Window Insert will
- allow natural light to stream in into your garage
- make your garage brighter and more comfortable
- let you perform your favorite activities in the garage
- add an element of architectural detail
- gives the Garage Door more character
- brings harmony to your home façade
- boost the curb appeal of the house
Maybe you bought a house recently. You bought it for a variety of good reasons such as the number of rooms in the house, the location or the right price.
Up Your Game
You love the house but you really think the Garage Door is too plain and boring. It is a traditional raised panel garage door with no Windows and no architectural details. Worry not! You can add Windows to your existing garage door and give your house front a facelift.
Possibly you installed a garage door a few years ago. At that time you had no plans for your garage other than keeping your car and as storage space for tools and hardware. So you got a traditional garage door without Windows. It was solid looking and cheaper.
But now you want to put the garage to better use. You would like to workout there on weekends or your wife wants to use it as a dance studio after you go to the office. The garage is too dark and dreary for any of these activities.
You do not want to buy and install a new door as this one is sturdy and has got quite a few years to go before it needs a replacement. Do not fret! You can go for a Garage Door Window Insert to your existing garage door and brighten up your garage.
Pros of Garage Door Window Insert
More often than not, all the three walls of an attached garage are adjacent to another room or porch of the house. This means the walls can not have any windows opening out to the outdoors. A garage door window inset project has several pros in its favor.
Increased Natural Light
The only way to get natural light into the garage is by having Windows on the garage door. This is the primary reason for having Windows on garage doors.
Natural sunlight does more than just brighten up the garage. It also disinfects and freshens up the space. Without natural light, your garage will smell musty and be a host to cockroaches and spiders. Your garage would be a dungeon.
Garage door window inserts can allow more natural light to enter your garage, which can make the space feel more open and airy. Natural light can also help to reduce your energy bills by reducing the need for artificial lighting.
Improved Aesthetic Appeal
Another very important reason for adding windows to your garage door is to bring harmony and architectural integrity to the front façade of your home. Windows on the garage door, that in some way mimic or complement the windows of your house or the glass panels on your front door, make your house look unified in design.
Windows on garage doors definitely boost the curb appeal of your house. So much so that, some people even buy faux magnetic windows for garage doors from Amazon or Home Depot for a quick and cheap fix. Of course there is nothing like the real deal!
Garage door window inserts can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your garage door, making your entire home more visually appealing. They come in a variety of styles and materials, so you can choose inserts that complement the overall look of your home.
Increased Property Value
Garage door window inserts can also increase the value of your property. Buyers are often attracted to homes with well-maintained and updated features, such as a garage door window insert.
They can be Customized
Garage door window inserts are available in a variety of styles, sizes, and materials, so you can customize them to match your personal taste and the overall look of your home. You can also choose inserts with different features, such as insulation or privacy glass.
They are Easy to Replace
Garage door window inserts are relatively easy to replace, even if you are not a DIY expert. Most inserts are simply screwed or glued into place, so they can be removed and replaced in a matter of minutes.
Cons of Garage Door Window Insert
Security at Risk
Many people worry that by adding windows to their garage door they would by compromising the security of not only their garage but their entire house. It is true that Windows attract burglars and criminals.
However, windows on garage doors are no more a security risk than windows in your house. Probably less so. You can mitigate this risk by having a larger number of smaller windows and using tempered toughened glass (five times stronger) or even glass with embedded wire mesh.
Privacy may get Compromised
Another concern for some persons is that windows may compromise their privacy. There are several ways in which these concerns can be addressed. You can have the Windows only on the top panel of the garage door. This way the Windows let in the sunlight but are too high for passersby to peep in.
Glass now comes in a variety of options beyond plain clear glass. You can choose tinted glass, frosted glass or even opaque glass. Glass, which acts as a one way mirror, can let you enjoy the nature outside without compromising on your privacy.
Door Insulation may Drop
Glass looks beautiful but it has poor insulating properties. Steel is not a good insulator either but it can be insulated using polystyrene foam panels or fiberglass wool.
If you are really concerned about insulating the glass windows or panels on your Garage Doors, do read my blog on “Discover The Best Ways To Insulate Garage Door Windows”.
Which Section is Better for Windows?
Sectional garage doors, irrespective of the style, typically have four sections. The answer to the question “On which Section of the Garage Door should Windows be added”? Depends on the end result you are looking at.
Fourth Section
Adding Windows on the topmost or fourth section of the garage door will ensure that you get the maximum sunlight streaming into your garage space. At the same time the Windows will be high enough to ensure privacy.
Higher level Windows would also reduce security risks to an extent. Windows in the top section complement a traditional craftsman or farmhouse style of house. The fourth or the topmost section is the most popular among homeowners.
Third Section
Some people like to get a view of the outside as they potter around in the garage. Maybe they have a beautiful garden or would like to keep an eye on the kids shooting hoops outside.
Adding Windows to the third section would then be ideal. The height is right for an adult to look out. The height is also good enough to catch the sunlight all day. This level also works fairly well with Modern Farmhouse style architecture.
Some on All Sections
For a contemporary style house you may choose to have a glass panel on each of the four sections of the garage door. Actually they look really great on flush garage doors.
The panes may be vertically aligned to one side or randomly scattered. Go for horizontal rectangular frosted glass panes. They would be in harmony with the clean straight lines of your modern home.
What About the Additional Weight?
Glad you asked. A lot of people may not even consider this aspect. The weight of your garage door is counterbalanced by either a torsion spring or an extension spring. These springs are designed to still work if the weight of the door changes by less than 5% of the door weight.
Addition of Windows on the garage door is going to exceed this limit so the springs will have to be readjusted or changed. But this is an extremely important point.
So please have this checked properly by the guys who are going to do the Garage Door Window Insert. Your garage door opener will go bust or your garage door will vibrate and become noisy if the balance is disturbed beyond the 5% variation limit.
Most likely your existing Garage Door Opener (GDO) will have no difficulty in handling the extra load. But, once again, please go with the advice of the Garage Door Specialist in your neighborhood. The guys who are going to do the Garage Door Window Insert.
Should you need to replace the Garage Door Opener (GDO) consider ordering
Chamberlain B6765 Secure View Video Smart Garage Opener, Blue
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that adding Windows to your existing garage door will
- allow natural light to stream in into your garage
- make your garage brighter and more comfortable
- let you perform your favorite activities in the garage
- add an element of architectural detail
- gives the Garage Door more character
- brings harmony to your home façade
- boost the curb appeal of the house
Garage Door Window Insert can certainly be done. In concept it is Simple & Easy. Is it a DIY project? No, not unless you are very skilled at DIY and have some help too.
Garage Door Window Insert requires a Garage Door specialist. Save yourself a lot of grief and just contact a reputed Garage Door company in your neighborhood.
Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.
