When you buy a house, you’re likely thinking about what color to paint the living room or how to design your front yard. How often do you think about your exterior doors?
Although they’re designed to withstand the elements and keep you protected, they don’t last forever. Wood doors can bow, twist, or sag from moisture, frames can rot, and even fiberglass and steel doors can sag from loosening hinges. These problems aren’t just aesthetic nightmares, but ones that can also drive up energy costs, compromise your security, and lead to worse damage.
When it comes time to replace your exterior doors, opt for glass. Exterior glass doors help bring in natural light and create a better connection between your home’s interior and exterior.
There are three primary types of exterior glass doors you could choose: tempered, laminated, or insulated.
Tempered
Tempering is a type of heat treatment that’s most commonly associated with metal, but can also be used as a glass treatment. The process involves heating glass just below its melting point and then rapidly cooling it, which increases its toughness and prevents it from splintering upon impact. Tempered glass is considered a type of safety glass, and in addition to being used in exterior doors, is also used in vehicle windows, aquariums, and screen protectors.
Benefits
- Extremely tough and stronger than standard annealed glass
- Resistant to heat
- Improved safety, although tempered glass isn’t forced-entry-resistant
- Less expensive than insulated and laminated glass
Disadvantages
- Little to no sound dampening/acoustic benefits
- No UV protection
- Will immediately fail if broken
Best Use Cases
- Locations that where impact resistance is a higher priority
- Enclosed patios
- Hazardous locations (like storm doors)
Laminated
Like tempered, laminated glass is a type of safety-rated, multi-layered glass that’s commonly found in windshields and skylights. It’s designed with two thick layers of glass sandwiching a thin interlayer made from PVB, EVA, or another thin polymer.
Benefits
- Creates a “spider web” effect upon impact rather than shattering, improving security
- Exceptional UV resistance
- Exceptional acoustic benefits
- Decorative options are available
Disadvantages
- Higher price tag due to the advanced design
- Heavier, so needs to have proper support, which may involve structural upgrades
- Can delaminate or yellow over time as the polymer interlayer degrades
- Not scratch resistant
Best Use Cases
- In homes exposed to high winds
- Homes in higher-crime areas
- Homes in noisier, urban environments
- In southern-facing parts of the home (protecting from extensive sun exposure)
- Open patios
Insulated
Insulated glass has two or more panes that are separated with an aluminum space bar that has an integrated desiccant to reduce moisture, and typically filled with a gas, like argon or krypton. Insulated windows are not inherently a type of safety-rated glass, but are manufactured specifically to improve energy savings.
Benefits
- Reduces heat loss and gain, resulting in better energy savings
- Can be coated/laminated to improve performance
- Decreases interior condensation during the winter
Disadvantages
- Seals may fail, causing moisture intrusion and permanent fogging
- Have to be replaced if the seals fail
Best Use Cases
- When energy efficiency is a high priority
- Homes that experience frequent condensation
Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing
- How important is sound reduction? If you’re in a noisy area, laminated will be your most cost-effective option.
- Is your home in a sunny area? If your exterior glass doors are southern-facing, laminated and coated/insulated will be the best options for mitigating heat transfer, with laminated being the less expensive option.
- Do you need to improve energy efficiency? If that is your highest concern, insulated will offer the best savings.
- What is your budget? If money is a significant concern, tempered glass is the least expensive option. However, glass doors can be financed for less pressure on your wallet!
- Is security a concern? Laminated glass offers the best protection because it won’t shatter or completely break upon impact.
- Do you want a decorative option? Laminated glass can feature tints and patterns.
Find Your Style at Angelo & Sons
Founded in 2009, Angelo & Sons Doors & More is a trusted window installation, repair, and replacement company that proudly serves homeowners and businesses throughout Denver, CO. Whether you’re remodeling or replacing a damaged door, we can help you find the best fit for your home (or business).
When we’re designing your custom exterior glass windows, we take your budget, lifestyle, location, and preferences into account to ensure the final result is cost-effective, secure, built to last.
Visit our website to learn more about our work, or contact us today to schedule a consultation.