Design Your Door
Where To Buy/ServiceModern Glass Garage Doors
One of the most exciting things about buying a new garage door is the opportunity to update or change the look of your home simply by the style you choose. Maybe you’ve grown accustomed to seeing your garage door as purely functional and visually unappealing. The reality is your garage door takes up a lot of exterior real estate. With a purchase on the horizon, it’s time to adjust your expectations and think about your garage door as an integral part of your home’s curb appeal with the potential to make a design statement and increase its resale value.
Modern glass garage doors have become increasingly popular as designers and homeowners look for ways to incorporate natural light and indoor-outdoor connections into their living spaces. While you may like the look of a glass garage door, you may feel limited by the terms “modern” or “contemporary”, which are often used to describe these sleek and stylish doors. Don’t be. A glass garage door, also known as a full-view garage door, is a versatile choice that fits a variety of architectural styles, ranging from contemporary and transitional to modern farmhouse and mid-century modern.
Clopay full-view garage doors are overhead sectional doors made with glass panels in every section for a sleek, contemporary look. Unlike traditional garage doors that have solid panels, full-view doors provide visibility both inside and outside the garage, allowing natural light to enter the space for an open feel.
These doors are often used in commercial and residential settings where daylight and a blending of interior and exterior spaces are important, like in restaurants, showrooms, or on modern homes.
The frames can be built in aluminum, steel, or faux wood composite and outfitted with various types of tempered glass or acrylic, depending on the desired level of privacy, durability and energy efficiency.
There are several benefits to selecting a modern garage door with glass for your home:
Indoor-Outdoor Connections: Glass garage doors allow natural light to filter into the garage, creating a brighter and more inviting space. This can be particularly beneficial if you use your garage for purposes other than just parking cars, like as a workshop, gym, or recreational area.
Striking Curb Appeal: Install a full-view garage door and you have an instant architectural focal point. Glass panels add unique texture and a feeling of openness that extends from the house to the garage. Stunning during the day, things really heat up at night when the lights go on inside the garage to emit a warm, welcoming glow.
Versatility: Full-view doors are available in various sizes, styles and materials, providing flexibility to meet different applications and aesthetic preferences. We like to say glass garage doors aren’t just for the garage -- they can also be used on pool houses, party barns, patios or even as a roll-up bar window in an outdoor kitchen.
Extended height full-view doors are popular on workshops, RV garages and barndominiums, where the ceiling height allows for a larger door to store equipment or take advantage or greater light and visibility.
Durability: Glass garage doors may look delicate, but they are designed to be low-maintenance and withstand the elements. They are usually constructed with high-quality materials such as corrosion resistant commercial-grade aluminum, steel, or moisture-resistant composite frames and tempered or laminated glass panels that resist breakage for added strength and security.
Insulation Options: Full-view doors are more often a choice of functionality and style than they are energy efficiency. Still, insulated glass and door frames are an option to improve the thermal performance of a modern glass garage door. R-values range from 3.8 to 6.3, depending on the frame construction material and insulation type.
Customization: Glass garage doors can be customized in different sizes with different frame materials, glazing types and finishes to complement other exterior elements, increase privacy, and improve energy efficiency.
Increased Home Value: According to the 2024 Remodeling Cost vs. Value report, garage door replacement is one of the most affordable home improvement projects and can net an average return of 194% at resale. Potential buyers are often attracted to homes with stylish and contemporary features, and a glass garage door can set yours apart from others on the market.
The cost of a full-view garage door varies based on a number of factors:
Size: The dimensions of the door will impact the cost. Larger doors that require more material and glazing are more expensive.
Materials: Full-view garage doors can be made from various materials, including aluminum, steel, or faux wood composite combined with glass. The choice of materials will affect the overall cost, with steel being the most economical option.
Design and Customization: Customization options, such as frame finishes and glass types, can increase the cost of the door.
Insulation: Doors with insulated glass and frames cost more than non-insulated doors. Clopay full-view doors feature Intellicore® polyurethane foam insulation, which is the most energy efficient.
Customizing a modern glass garage door allows you to create a unique and personalized look that complements your home.
Frame Material and Finish: Options include aluminum and steel frames in various finishes such as black, white, bronze, clear anodized aluminum or even bold, custom colors.
Consider the width of the frame surrounding the glass. Do you want a smooth surface with a narrow profile and squared off edges that meet the glass or is a steel frame with a textured surface a better match? Low-maintenance, wood-look composite door frames can be painted or stained for a natural organic appearance.
Glass Type: Modern garage door glass is available with different levels of visibility, privacy, security, and insulation. Choices include clear, tinted, mirrored, laminated, opaque or insulated glass. A textured or frosted glass garage door will allow daylight to filter into the garage without putting everything inside on display to the neighbors.
Track and Hardware Options: It’s easy to upgrade the look of your modern glass garage door by having the galvanized steel hinges, hardware and track powder coated white or black. This is a great option to make the door feel more integral to the space, especially if it’s installed on an indoor/outdoor room.
If you have enough ceiling height, you can also configure the door track to follow the roof line or open straight up the wall to keep the overhead space clear for ceiling fans, lighting or storage.
The durability and low-maintenance of tempered glass makes it an ideal material for garage doors, ensuring years of reliable performance with minimal upkeep.
Regular Surface Cleaning: Clean the glass panels regularly using a mild detergent or glass cleaner and a soft cloth or sponge. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or tools that could scratch or damage the glass surface. Rinse the glass thoroughly with clean water and dry it with a lint-free cloth to prevent streaks.
Inspect and Lubricate Moving Parts: Periodically inspect the moving parts of your garage door, such as hinges, rollers, tracks, and springs for signs of wear, damage, or corrosion. Spray these components as needed with a silicone-based lubricant to ensure smooth operation and prevent rust. Do not use standard WD-40 on your garage door hardware.
Check Weather Stripping: Inspect the weather stripping along the bottom and sides of the garage door for wear, tears, or gaps. Replace damaged weather stripping to maintain a tight seal and prevent air, moisture, and debris from entering the garage.
Keep Tracks Clean: Clean the tracks of the garage door periodically to remove dirt, debris, and obstructions that could interfere with the door's operation. Use a damp cloth or brush to wipe away any buildup. Don’t use oil-based lubricants on the tracks because they can attract more dirt and grime.
Professional Inspection and Maintenance: Schedule regular professional inspections and maintenance of your glass garage door by a qualified garage door pro. They can identify any potential issues early on and perform necessary repairs or adjustments to ensure that your garage door continues to operate safely and efficiently.
Avante®
- Weather-resistant 2-1/8” thick commercial grade aluminum frame provides a virtually maintenance-free, long-lasting door.
- Intellicore® polyurethane insulated rails and stiles available on Model AXU.
- Numerous glass options and solid aluminum panels available.
- Section joint seal helps keep out air and water.
- Multiple factory finishes available as well as custom colors.
- Can also be used as an indoor room partition, or as a patio, pool house or party barn door.
Avante® Sleek
- Features narrow horizontal glass windows with minimal vertical stiles for wide, unobstructed views.
- Long-lasting, low-maintenance corrosion- and rust-resistant 2-1/8" commercial grade aluminum frame with multiple glazing options.
- Polyurethane-insulated rails and stiles (AZ5U, AZ6U only).
- Section joint seal helps keep out air and water.
- Tempered full-view glass, acrylic or solid aluminum panels.
- Frame and solid aluminum panels available in choice of anodized and powder-coated finishes.
Modern Steel™
- Available in a 3, 2, or 1-layer steel construction.
- Insulation options include 2" or 1-3/8" Intellicore® polyurethane, 2", 1-3/8", 1-5/16" polystyrene. Insulated door R-values up to 18.4.
- Windows are optional when natural light is desired. Choose from plain short, plain long or contemporary slim designs for full-view doors.
- Ultra-Grain® doors and standard-color flush doors exterior steel features a natural wood grain texture. Exterior steel on grooved standard-color doors is stucco texture. Lustra matte finishes have a subtle surface texture on smooth steel panels.
Canyon Ridge® Modern
- 4-layer construction: steel + insulation + steel + horizontal composite cladding.
- 2" Intellicore® polyurethane insulation with a thermal break. R-Values up to 20.4.
- Multiple faux wood species, paint and stain colors.
- Horizontal plank design and narrow rectangular windows complement contemporary homes.
- Full-view configurations available with long or short windows.
Modern glass garage doors combine style and functionality that makes them a perfect fit for a variety of home styles, including transitional, modern farmhouse, and mid-century modern. Their minimalistic detail, clean lines and broad expanses of glass can seamlessly integrate with the architectural elements of each one.
Consulting a garage door professional or using Clopay’s Door Imagination System visualization tool can help you determine if a glass garage door is the right choice for you.
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