11/10/2022
The front door allows you to make a great first impression because it’s among the first things a guest notices. Using decorative glass, you breathe new life into an old front door instead of buying a new one. Also, the upgrade adds much-needed light to your foyer or living room.
Decorative front door glass inserts come in different styles, so what are the available options?
COMMON GLASS DESIGNS
There are various ways to have a front door glass insert. You can install the following:
Glass at the top of your door (quarter panel). This is an excellent choice if your goal is safety, but you still want the elegance that glass offers.
Half panel. This is a glass pane that covers half of your door.
Three-quarter panel. The glass pane covers around 75% of your door.
Full-length glass (full panel). Here the door is entirely made of glass.
Side lights. These are glass panels on one or both sides of the door. Additionally, side lights can be combined with the other designs above.
That said, let’s now take a closer look at the diversity of decorative glass.
TYPES OF DECORATIVE GLASS
Clear glass
It’s common among homeowners since it adds style to your front door. The downside is that clear glass offers little privacy and requires regular maintenance to ensure functionality and durability.
Translucent glass
This glass provides privacy while letting in some natural light into the house. The popular options are satin or frosted glass.
Textured glass
It’s a bit pricier than regular glass and comes in various designs such as water glass, glazed, ripple glass and beveled that you can customize to suit your unique taste and personality. Even better, the patterns on the glass enhance privacy while allowing natural light into your home.
Stained glass
Generally, it’s made by mixing glass and lead. The manufacturing process also involves securing pieces of glass (different sizes and colors) with copper foil. As a result, stained glass is a great option to capture the character of your home because of the detailed craftsmanship involved.
Now that you know about the different designs and various types of decorative glass let’s dive into some things to consider when choosing glass for your front door.
CHOOSING CUSTOM DOOR GLASS INSERTS
Here’s what you need to consider:
Privacy
First, it’s essential to consider your house and the surroundings to make the best choice. For example, if you have a spacious front yard full of trees, you can have a large glass pane that offers moderate privacy. But if your home is close to the main road, you can go with obscure glass that provides more privacy.
Security
You should go for glass that’s secure enough to deter forced entry. For instance, laminated glass tends to hold together when it breaks. This way, it will protect you from the elements and keep intruders or animals from getting into your house before replacing the glass.
Safety
Consider the likelihood of injury when glass breaks accidentally. Laminated glass, for example, will not break up into hundreds of little pieces that fall to the floor. Instead, the shards tend to hold together.
Aesthetics
Glass lets in natural light and opens up your space. The glass comes in different colors, textures, and patterns to cater to your unique tastes. You can even have custom images etched or sandblasted into the mirror to enhance the look of your house.
Efficiency
Your glass choice should reduce energy costs. Take an insulated glass unit(IGU), for instance. The glass consists of two or more panes separated by an inert gas that acts as insulation to stabilize temperatures inside your house. In other words, IGU is designed to keep your home breezier in the summer and balmier in the winter.
WHAT’S STOPPING YOU?
In short, not many building products can match the versatility and longevity of glass. It adds beauty to any entrance, brings daylight into your foyer, is incredibly easy to maintain, and provides numerous years of excellent performance and reliability.
And you know what? Even if it’s impact glass inserts for front door, we’re here to help you pick up the right glass. We’ll guide you into a perfect marriage of budget-friendliness, durability, and design detail.
Visit our website now or schedule a free in-home consultation and see how our Dream Doors and Windows team can help make your dream a reality.
