All-glass panoramic garage doors are growing in popularity for the unique view and design they bring to any space. Many progressive restaurants and bars installed them as a way to open up the space and blur the lines between the sidewalk and their establishments. Many homeowners have followed suit and are eager to show off their spaces on social media. You can find a plethora of examples of interesting designs connecting outdoor and inside spaces.
The black aluminum frame of this California full-view double garage door highlights the surrounding muted stone and the light wood of the ceiling. The hardware is interchangeable, so you get to decide if you want to have an industrial feel as depicted by these chrome pieces, or maybe you want them to blend in with the garage door, in which case you might select black.
The California all-glass garage door allows you the feeling of being outside when sitting cozy by the fireplace, blending the inside and outside worlds. As you begin designing your dream location for this modern-looking piece, there are a few things you will want to consider before installation begins.
1. A Full-View Garage Door Frame Is Aluminum
AZO Materials shares its take on the pros of aluminum:
- Because aluminum is lighter than steel or wood, the door springs won’t need to be as powerful.
- Aluminum naturally carries a protective thin oxide coating, which resists corrosion. This is especially important when it is exposed to corrosive materials. This is why aluminum garage door are perfect for a boathouse or a home by a lake or ocean.
- Aluminum is known as a good reflector of light and heat. This will help the space stay cooler in the summertime; however, depending on the exposure to the sun, this might be canceled out by the windows themselves. Read on to learn how to combat this issue.
With any choice, there are also some cons to consider as well.
Aluminum is a great thermal conductor.
If you live where the temperatures drop below freezing for multiple days, then this garage door may not be your best decision as the cold from outside will transfer into your living space.
Garage door construction does not have a high R-value so it is a poor insulator. Consider the average temperatures in your area before selecting this type of garage door.
You will need to balance aesthetics, insulation level, as well as save energy. For instance, in a heated attached garage that maintains a temperature of 46 - 50℉, you should have a garage door with a minimum R-12 value. An R-16 construction is even more efficient and will help keep your electricity bill down.
The cold winter temperatures in Quebec didn’t scare off this Canadian homeowner who installed this California full-view garage door. The clean white frame exposing the outdoors into her cottage’s kitchen allows for a lot of natural light. Imagine the coziness of drinking your morning coffee in this enticing space.
Maybe you live in a mild weather area? Maybe your energy bill aren’t too bad because you have an alternative way of heating, like with wood or solar panels? Maybe you love the full-view garage doors’look very much that other considerations don’t bother you? We agree. Look is everything. But we thought you should know.
2. Full-View Garage Door Windows May Fog up in Cold Weather
Similar to other windows in your house, your full-view garage door may experience condensation in cold temperatures, potentially even more so. Condensation is formed when there is a difference in temperature between the inside and outside of a window.
Moisture occurs due to everyday activities such as showers, baths, cooking, washing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning, and even when we breathe. This goes unnoticed in warmer weather as we oftentimes open our windows, which circulates the air.
As air temperatures drop, its moisture condenses. The first place you will notice this condensation is on the windows as they are some of the coldest indoor surfaces. If you already have large glass areas on your house, like patio doors, then you can expect your garage doors to have similar condensation.
Of course, full-view garage doors fit well in modern and contemporary houses, however, with the right design eye, you can make it work in any style. Check out this shed on Houzz that was beautifully transformed into a charming cottage. This anodized frame ties seamlessly into the exterior siding, giving this transformed space an industrial feel.
Condensation doesn’t have to keep you from enjoying a full-view garage door! Take these steps to minimize this from happening in your space:
- Keep your thermostat between 68 and 72℉. If this is colder than you are used to, wear a cozy sweater and enjoy your beautiful view of the outdoors. This will also help you adapt more readily to the temperature outside.
- Install a wood burning stove which will help dry out the inside air. It is aesthetically pleasing and will keep your feet toasty warm! Image looking out into the beautiful outdoors, experiencing the sights of nature while staying cozy and warm, sipping on a whiskey, sitting by your wood-burning stove.
- If you don’t have them already, install good-quality fans. Many of your household appliances create the impetus for condensation. If you well ventilate your space, especially your bathrooms and laundry room, you can minimize the amount of condensation on your windows with a vent fan.
- Use a dehumidifier and / or air exchanger which will help with ventilation and humidity control. This will help keep condensation to a minimum.
- Do you enjoy saving the environment by hang drying your clothes? You might want to rethink this energy-saving strategy during the winter months as this adds a lot of moisture to the air. Do NOT dry clothes indoors, especially in winter.
Condensation will not cause a problem if you plan ahead and take the steps necessary to minimize this from happening. You will have a general sense of what will happen with your full-view garage door if you already have a large sliding glass door that leads to your outside space.
3. Full-View Garage Doors Have a lot of Windows!
While this is the whole appeal of full-view garage doors (hence the “full-view” part), you do have many choices for the window portion of the garage door installation. You can select based on aesthetics, safety, energy efficiency, availability of materials, and your budget.
This More layout California all-glass garage door comes with a black frame and clear windows. If your door will face a public space, and you don’t mind people peeking in at what you are doing, such as in the community kitchen of this care center, then this style will work for you.
You get to decide – do you want to feel like you are in an extension of the outdoors, or do you prefer intimacy?
If you live very close to your neighbors or in an urban area, with no separation between you and them, you may feel that clear windows don’t offer enough privacy. This is especially something you will want to consider at night when it is dark outside and you are inside with the lights on.
Check out this bright, open space from Houzz! This expansive, trendy, formal, and open concept living room with white walls and a brick fireplace pulls the outdoors in through not just one full-view garage door, but 2!
If you are looking for some privacy but love the idea of a full-view garage door, then the frosted glass, sandblasted windows for your California all-glass garage might be the perfect fit. During the day, you will have subtle light, adding glow to your space in a square grid pattern. At nighttime, when it is dark outside and your lights are shining bright, the outdoors will light up like a magnificent lantern!
You can select from a range of many types of glass, from 0/5 to 5/5 privacy levels. You can decide if you want tinted, frosted, or translucent glass panels. The range you decide will help you meet your need for light, aesthetics, and privacy.
This homeowner lives close to their neighbor, however, since they have a private setting, they were able to select clear windows on their full-view garage door. A beautiful modern kitchen flows easily to the outdoors with this Jeannette Architects on Houzz.
Are you fortunate enough to live with a lake or mountain view? Then the California all-glass garage door is a perfect way for you to be surrounded by nature, even when you are enjoying it from inside your living room.
Is energy efficiency important to you?
There are options for you too! Choose energy-efficient thermopane windows with LOW-E Argon.
If you live in colder regions, then this type of window will let the sun’s rays enter your home, giving off light and heat. It does this while also limiting the heat that is allowed to escape outside. During the warmer times of the year, it will let in the light, while keeping the heat on the inside.
This chart depicts what happens with 2 clear panes with space and 1 clear pane + 1 Low-E pane with argon. Want to learn more? Check out: LOW-E Argon thermopane windows.
If safety and resistance is at the top of your decision list, then read on!
If you live in a highly-populated area that may encourage vandalism or even accidental damage from neighborhood kids mindlessly playing ball, or by a neighbor who likes to practice his golf swing, then your glass full-view garage door may be a large glass space calling for an accident to happen. Save yourself the effort of shooing your kids and neighbors away from your space by choosing tempered glass.
Tempered glass will give you peace of mind!
How does tempered glass help keep the quality of your door strong?
Using a procedure of extreme heating and cooling, a standard glass product is strengthened up to 5 times over its original. Tempered glass is used in car windshields as a way to minimize shattering when broken. If it does break, then pieces are dull and less harmful than the sharp shards that are created when breaking regular glass. If you have rowdy kids as well as rowdy neighbors, then you can select to have the glass tempered on both sides. If not, you may just select your thermopane window to have one side tempered. For California all-glass garage doors, it is recommended to temper both sides.
Of course, California full-view garage doors are also a great fit for your regular garage door as well. This high-quality project will bring an aesthetic appeal to your garage if you do not have another space to install it in your home. Either way, you can’t go wrong with this beautiful design element.
Ready to add value to your house by installing a garage door?
We know that home improvement projects can bring excitement and creativity, and once you get started, you will want to change everything from your flooring to the backsplash in your kitchen.
Just don’t forget about CHANGING YOUR GARAGE DOOR AS WELL! Don’t leave out this large canvas of designable space!
Contact us today at 402-477-4474 to learn more.
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Get inspired by browsing our online gallery!
Peruse our photo gallery and gather your favorite door designs and color schemes. You can also try our Design Centre by using your smartphone. The possibilities for joy are endless as you design your dream garage door. You can even see what it will look like on a picture of your own house.
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