Have you ever wished that your garage door was just a little bit more attractive, even though it functions just fine? Did you know that with many garage doors, you could add decorative windows to improve the appearance? In fact, you can even change existing windows in a garage door to get a new look. If you are considering this makeover, here is a blog to get a clearer picture of what to consider.
Consider the aesthetics
For many home owners, aesthetic appeal is important for their house, especially if you’ve been making renovations to your home and want your garage to match your new look. For example, one trend that we see a lot these days is that homeowners love the look of their new home windows, and want their garage door windows to match.
One big tip for choosing new windows for your garage door is to ensure that it coordinates well with your front door and any windows on the front of your home. Are there grids dividing the windows into smaller panes? To achieve a blended look, the companies Garaga and Novatech have collaborated to offer complete window lines that have your entire home coordinated at once.
If you want to try out some looks without committing, considering checking out Design Centre that some garage door manufacturers put at your disposal, like the one from Garaga. Here, you can upload a photo of your home and virtually change each detail so you can see the way it may look all together. This is the best way to ensure you get windows that match the architectural style of your home as well.
Consider the practical implications
If your garage doesn’t have any windows in the door now, it is likely lacking in natural light that could allow this space to be used for more than just parking our car. This is one of the biggest practical motivations for adding windows to a garage door.
However, keep in mind that when light gets in, it can also have an impact on the security or privacy of your garage. If these things are important to you, don’t think you can’t add windows. There are ways to protect your garage even with windows. For example, tinted or frosted glass allows you to see outside if you are in the garage while making it almost impossible to look into the garage from the exterior.
Two other practical considerations for windows include how they will impact the insulation and weathertightness of your garage. If you use your garage to do projects or tinkering, you don’t want to be in a cold, damp workshop. It must be remembered that the thermal resistance of a garage door window is at best R‑3.6 (using Argon-filled sealed double panes) while the garage door can be up to R‑16 for a 1¾ ″ (45 mm) polyurethane injected model. Be sure you consider how you’ll keep a garage comfortable with windows, which do make a door less insulated.
Consider how windows affect the lifting system
Yes, adding windows will affect the lifting system for your garage door. The first thing to consider is how old your spring system is. The second thing is to determine the type of spring system used – either torsion or extension. Windows add extra weight to a door, so be sure to budget extra in your renovation to replace this system with something that is meant to support extra weight.
However, if you already have windows in your garage door, and all you are doing is updating the windows, you might not have to change anything. In order to make sure your garage door is safely supported, the best thing to do is have an experienced garage door technician inspect your lifting before you add new windows.
A garage door opener is made to lift a weight of 230 lb. (115 kg), but if the spring system has aged a bit, any additional weight could cause the entire system to become unbalanced. A correctly balanced door appears to weigh around only 10 lb. (4.5 kg), but if the system becomes unbalanced, the falling door will weigh much more – and that’s a safety hazard. Put your safety and that of your loved ones first, and have a professional do a final check of your system after you install new windows as well.
How to know you are making the right decision
It is completely normal to be concerned that you aren’t making the right choice when it comes to replacing windows in a garage door. We can help you decide for good. Feel free to contact us anytime at 724-834-8450. We can help you find the best solution for your specific needs. We are always happy to send you a quotation by email if you prefer.
You’re always welcome in our showroom as well. You can also use our Design Centre to select the window design that suits you best, or check out our image gallery for some inspiration.
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