The Three Most Important Considerations About Full-View Garage Doors

If you’re in love with the full-view, all-glass garage doors that give you a panoramic view of the world outside… you aren’t alone! You (and many others) have begun to appreciate the modern design and versatile nature of these doors. It won’t be long before you see one everywhere you turn, whether it’s people’s homes, restaurants, or small businesses… and definitely all-over social media.

This living space has an industrial flair that’s cozied up by the California full-view double garage door with a Black aluminum frame as well as the light-toned walls and chrome hardware. Imagine how chic and comfortable you’d feel if you were hanging out in this room and enjoying that pool/barbecue view from your couch!

The full-view style of the California all-glass garage door creates a perfect transition for an indoor/outdoor living space. You’ve probably already started adding one to the home-daydreams you’ve got brewing and know exactly where it would go. Hold up a second. You need to know these tidbits of info first.

1) Panoramic garage door frames are made of aluminum.

AZO Matering details why this is such good news.

• Aluminum is a lighter material, more so than steel or wood. This means that the springs that lift and lower your garage door can also be lighter.
• Aluminum doesn’t corrode. Aluminum is a great metal to work with when it will be used outside because it naturally produces something called oxide, which is a coating that keeps the actual aluminum from coming into contact with the environment. This is news if you live near a body of water, especially saltwater, as your aluminum garage door (like the California all-glass choice) will be better protected.
• Aluminum reflects light and heat really well. This means that it’s a good insulator, keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. However, you are using the aluminum on a giant window, so that’ll probably cancel out those insulating effects.

Good news is often, unfortunately, followed by bad news.

Aluminum conducts thermal energy really well, too.

This means that if you live in a cold climate, a full-view garage door will conduct, or pull, that cold air into the room which it encloses.

Choosing a full-view garage door means that you must be okay with a lower R-value.

When you choose this type of door, you’re choosing looks over saving energy… That’s okay, we just wanted you to know.

Here’s an example of what that looks like. If you keep your room between 8–10℃, you should probably have a garage door with an R-value of at least 12, with one coming in at R-16 helping even more to save money on your heating and cooling bills. Imagine, then, what it could cost if you are trying to keep your living room, with the full-view garage door, at 20℃ when the outside is very cold. It’ll get pretty expensive.

The farther north you go, like in Canada, the harsher the winters get. This Canadian citizen still appreciates nature though, no matter how frigid it is, and decided to add a California full-view garage door with Clear windows and bright White paint. She can cozy up with her morning coffee in her cottage kitchen while enjoying the natural light, sights, and surprises of watching the world outside.

Maybe you live in a more temperate climate, however. If you have a different way of heating your home, such as a wood stove or solar panels, then the low-insulation value of a full-view door doesn’t bother you. Or maybe they’re so beautiful in your eyes that it doesn’t matter. Again, it’s okay! It’s your home and your wallet.

2. Cold weather causes windows (and full-view doors) to fog up.

We know you’ve seen condensation on your regular home windows first thing in the morning or all winter long. Just like these, or with the ones in your car, cold brings condensation.

Science Pop Quiz: Why does condensation happen?

Answer: When warm, humid air comes into contact with a cold surface, it equals condensation.

Moisture is all around us. Whether it’s caused by warm air, or by other aspects of everyday life in a home such as bathing, cooking, dishes, laundry, or just breathing … all of that increases the moisture level in the air. Usually, though, when you can open up doors and windows and let the air circulate, you don’t notice the effects of all of this warm air building up.

Just like any other molecule, when air cools down, it contracts, or gets smaller. You’ll notice this first and foremost on your windows. This is because a window is a large surface that stays cold from the outside air. So, your all-glass panoramic garage door is going to fog up just like large patio doors or bay windows.

If you’ve put off installing a full-view garage door because you don’t have a modern, contemporary home… think again! This example from Houzz shows how the door blends well with a cozy cottage. The door’s Anodized frame color gives it some industrial flair that makes this home design unique.

If condensation bothers you, there are many things you can do.

• Keep your home temperature anywhere from 19 to 22℃. There’s no need to keep your home feeling like you live on a tropical island. Instead, just pull out your winter sweaters and get some use out of them! This serves the double benefit of the outside not feeling so drastically cold when you step outside.
• Fans are your friend. Your appliances create a large amount of humid air, believe it or not. Stoves, dishwashers, dryers. You’ll need good-quality fans to minimize these effects, but they really help. Also make sure that when you’re using your bathroom you run a vent fan and that when you’re cooking you run the range hood.
• Add a dehumidifier and / or air exchanger to your home appliances. This choice doesn’t create humid air… it negates it! An air exchanger converts the humid air into your home into drier, more temperate air, changed inside the machine. You’re learning so much about science while learning to keep your home condensation-free.
• Use a wood burning stove for heating. Why? So many reasons, but the one that has to do with air is that wood-burning stoves dry out the air around them! Less moisture equals less condensation. Plus, the sights and sounds of a wood-burning stove are so cozy, you’ll never want to leave your living room. Pour a glass of wine, put on some jazz music, gaze outside your full-view garage door… you’re in heaven!
• Hang dry delicate laundry outside… even in the winter! Bet you didn’t know you could do this. We’re not saying to ditch your dryer completely. But if you have to dry clothes with the line-dry method, such as delicates, do it outside. All that moisture that’s evaporating has to go somewhere, and you don’t want it in your home. Clothes will dry outside even when it’s cold, too, although it takes a little while longer.

Condensation isn’t going to beat you! You’ve armed yourself with solutions to all the condensation catalysts. Now you can enjoy that full-view garage door, even though it has the problem of being a giant window. What can we say except… you’re welcome!

2) We said it once and we’ll say it again… this door is a giant window.

Thank you, Captain Obvious. Why are we mentioning it again? Because a giant window comes with other considerations besides condensation. You’ll have decisions to make based on style, taste, and safety, as well as energy efficiency. Here we go!

This California all-glass garage door with Clear windows isn’t in a home, it’s in the community kitchen of a care center. The managers wanted to be able to see what was going on outside and didn’t mind that comers and goers could see into the community events.

First Thing’s First: Do you need privacy or an outside feel?

Urban neighborhoods usually come with neighbors that are right on top of your home. If you don’t have the space for a fence or a collection of tall trees, then a panoramic door might leave you feeling too “on display.” This is exacerbated at night when the lights are on.

It doesn’t get any more eye-catching than this open-concept space from Houzz! This trendy home added two full-view garage doors to their white walls and fireplace to give the feel of being outside while they enjoy their inside area.

A full-view all-glass garage door doesn’t have to mean your neighbors having a full view of your life, though. This frosted glass door (Sandblasted square windows) shows how tempered glass lets light in while still allowing for privacy. At night, it looks like a giant lantern, which is a really cool effect.

If you don’t want Clear, there are many types of glass to choose from on your panoramic door. These glass types range from a 0 to a 5, with 5 being the opaquest. All of them, whether tinted, frosted, or transparent, let that beautiful light in, though… the higher-rated ones just allow for more privacy.

Fences and trees mean that you can have the benefit of clear glass on your full-view garage door. This design from Jeannette Architects on Houzz shows how the alternate forms of privacy help keep this homeowner away from outside eyes.

Aren’t mountain and lake views just breathtaking? If you live in a place like this, you probably want to see that natural beauty every second you can. That’s where a California full-view garage door comes in! Enjoy the inside space while still reaping the benefits of gazing at the landscape.

Next Consideration: Is energy efficiency important to you?

Those of you who answered ‘yes’will want to choose thermopane windows made with the energy-efficient material LOW-E Argon.

Cold weather doesn’t have to mean a cold home. Thermopane windows allow sunshine to enter the home, blessing you with heat and light. They also keep that heat from escaping back out. Warm weather brings thermopane benefits, too! Your windows will limit the outside hot air from getting into your home, as well as prevent extra hot air created by things such as hot cars and driveways.

Need a visual? Here you can see the difference in performance between a window with two clear panes and a window that has one clear pane, and another made with LOW-E Argon. This article gives more information about LOW-E Argon thermopane windows.

Final Consideration: Are visual safety and contact resistance important to you?

People who live in an area where crime or vandalism rates are high probably don’t want glass that allows a visual into the home. Families with active kids that are playing in the driveway with sports equipment probably don’t want to worry about small–albeit strong–bodies crashing into an all-glass garage door.

This sounds like a recipe for disaster… but it doesn’t have to be! We’ve got a solution. (Whew!)

Tempered glass to the rescue! Choose this option and your safety issues of all kinds will disappear.

How is tempered glass special?

When glass is produced, it can be heated and cooled until it is up to five times stronger than standard glass. This type of product, called tempered glass, is usually used in car windows—it’s that strong. If it does break, the pieces are bigger and duller, making them less likely to hurt delicate bodies or get stuck in small crevices.

Pro tip: Tempered glass windows come with the option of thermopane panels on one or both sides. So, when you’re ordering your California all-glass door, specify thermopane tempered glass on both sides for the ultimate safety.

If you’ve read all this and decided that a California panoramic all-glass garage door isn’t the best choice for your living space… you’re not out of luck! Use one where it was originally intended… on the garage door! It’s like a fancy accessory for your home.

Want to up your home’s resale value? Do it with a new garage door!

Home improvements are known for starting small and growing big… fast. You start with the landscaping, move to the window shutters, add a new lighting project… the list goes on. Don’t stop when you get to the garage!

Update your exterior with a brand-new garage door so that you aren’t stuck with a boring, bland 9’ x 7’ space.

Call us today at 902-624-8993.

If you know that it’s time for a replacement garage door opener or a new overhead door…

SGM Garage Doors is the smart choice for the place that can help you out quickly, professionally, and that will stick within your budget. We’ll ask you a few questions, and before you know it, your dream project will be underway.

If you already know what garage door you want for your perfect space…

Reach out and we’ll give you a quote by email.

If you like to do your designing and shopping online first…

Check out our residential photo gallery. With our smartphone- and tablet-compatible Design Centre, you can add as many potential designs as you want to the front of your house so that you can confidently purchase what you know is the best option.