Adding windows to a garage door?

[bobs409]

I know you can buy garage door inserts which actually replace a panel of the door but they are quite expensive for my brand of door. (clopay)

Just wondering if anyone made their own windows or retrofitted something in? If I can do something nice looking, I might go that way. Share your creative approach to this if you have one.

Need to get more light into my garage without flipping a switch all the time.


Thanks,

Bob

 

[danski0224]

I know you can buy garage door inserts which actually replace a panel of the door but they are quite expensive for my brand of door. (clopay)

Just wondering if anyone made their own windows or retrofitted something in? If I can do something nice looking, I might go that way. Share your creative approach to this if you have one.

Need to get more light into my garage without flipping a switch all the time.


Thanks,

Bob

I suspect that the "nice conversion" is the issue.

It may be less expensive to buy a new door with windows vs buying just the panel.

 

[nehog]

Suggestion: go to a (good) glass shop, and ask them what they recommend. You don't give enough info to answer you question (metal doors, wood doors, insulation, no insulation, age, etc.) but I'd guess there are a lot of solutions, including stuff designed for RVs and other similar applications.

 

[cowboy73]

I found this website.

http://addingcurbappeal.com/products/category/62.html

You'll have to click around a little to find what you want. The prices don't seem too bad.

 

[bobs409]

The only ones I found on that site are fake windows.

My garage doors are Clopay metal doors, raised panel design, fully insulated and about 2 inches thick.

 

[jstroede]

You can retrofit windows into your existing door. You just need the correct window frames for your model and to cut the appropriate sized hole in the section. We have customers that install windows post-install from time to time.

John

 

[cowboy73]

Oops. Sorry about that. I guess I shoulda looked a little harder.

 

[AndyL]

Cutting windows in - is an art... takes a seriously steady hand to do it properly... most shops will bring the section back and run it through the router...

Get the proper clopay frames... sometimes they pop up on ebay...

And don't forget to add trusses, you'll be cutting away a lot of the structural integrity of that section - you need the truss to stiffen it back up...

 

[Wastedwagesracing]

Not sure where you are located but I just saw this.

http://madison.craigslist.org/mat/2897022582.html

 

[Schtauffer]

Bob,

I can hook you up with some used window frames for a 2" thick garage door. If you want to know more, send me a PM for my cell #.

Gene

 

[Kevin54]

Ichecked about doing the same thing to my garage doors ((2) 9 X 7's) and it was close to $300.00 each. I payed just a tick over that for each door. I sure as hell ain't paying that for one panel

 

[Zeke]

I'll bet Outwater Plasitcs (.com) has the channel trim. I couldn't find it, but then again, they have 1000's of items.

 

[DRP6833]

FWIW, I posted the same question a few months back.

 

[m5james]

Reviving this thread since I want to do the same thing. I've got a 3 car garage, one large door and one small door...$3600 for the large, $1900 for the small. This guy said he had glass panels cut and added to his existing door for $500!! I want replace all the wood panels with a glazed/frosted glass look...can simple plexiglass be used as it might be cheaper and lighter?

Edit - inside garage pic is prior to purchase.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/674715/diy-glass-garage-doors-for-500

 

[Hot Rod Grampa]

Yes it can be done. But before you start please check your door for sag. Older doors will distort over years and the center will sag. If the sag is bad enough a new rectangle will not fit properly. Stretch a string from side to side just over the top of the hinges and measure to joint of sections. If ok then proceed. The solid door sections are assembled with no provision for panel replacement. You will have to cut the quarter round feature off the door from the inside and replace with normal quarter round. Take one of the windows out and you will see more clearly how to cut the solid out. It will be labor intensive. If the door is very old the entire door can be removed and each section taken apart by tapping off the top rail sliding the solid panels out and replacing with glass or plexi and gluing the section back together. Have fun.

 

[m5james]

I've gotten quotes for plexiglass that'll consist of 18 panels, 17.5" x 43.5" x 1/4" @ $33 per panel, so it's coming out to around $600. I've called one place for a glass quote @ $25 per panel but they've yet to call me back with a quote since they said they'd give me a discount since I'm getting so many.

One thing I've gotta consider is that my double door has 3 metal braces running vertically, which the bottom two will be visible...I'm not sure if it's safe to delete them or if I'll have to relocate/trim them so they won't be visible from the outside. I read they're for hurricane prevention (not an issue in Seattle) but also for support when the garage is open so that it doesn't sag in the middle.