do windows belong in a garage??

[zmotorsports]

I put two 4'x4' windows in my shop on one side to let some natural light in as well as give the impression of being a little larger and not feeling so cramped. I don't like the idea of someone being able to see in so I put them on the side of my shop that borders my lawn looking into my yard rather than the neighbors'. Also because my shop floor is a couple feet above the outside lawn ground level the windows are inaccessible unless using a ladder to see in. I then went one step further and installed security bars on the inside.

Basically they just keep the honest poeple honest. If someone wants to get in they will get in one way or the other.

Mike.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I love light- I want as much light as I can get in the garage. But I don't want to lose the wall space either for storage. Skylights would only be an option in the first 8 feet where the garage sticks out from under the splitlevel.

For me, I just open the main doors. If it's 50F or more outside, then the doors go open, rain or shine. I wish I had a carport out there for more covered space as I like working out in the open air.

 

[Jamie V]

No windows for me except the ones in the top panels of my overhead door. I have a light switch for light and heater/AC or exhaust system for air.

Too many drawbacks to have them.

 

[ABADWILLYS]

what ever you like, only one window in my new shop and thats in the office, but my overhead doors have windows in them

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Storage sheds and garages=no windows
Workshop=absolutely windows
Big puppy likes to see what is going on outside...

 

[go4donuts]

What about a light tube or two? I'm considering putting one in my garage. I don't like having to snap on the lights in the middle of the day just to do some casual puttering.

 

[ratmotr]

I have windows in my garage for the natural light but I had the local glass tinter do them with mirror tint. There are shock sensors on all the windows.This worked out just fine for me.

 

[Ray916MN]

I'd say it depends a bit on the orientation of the building and whether windows can be placed where they don't get in the way of how you want to use the space near them. You want to be careful about placing them with southern or western exposures where they can cause a solar heating or sun bleaching problem in the building.

I've got a couple of east facing windows in my shop. They do a great job of reducing the temperature and freshening the air in the shop on days where it is warm, but not warm enough to warrant closing the garage doors and running the AC.

 

[PCO6]

I've posted these photos before in similar threads so my apologies to those who have seen them.

I had a new overhead door installed in my garage and decided to go with windows. They are the only ones in the garage and I like the natural light. I made 4 wood (Masonite) blinds that I can easily put up and take down in about 15 seconds. They push up into a plastic slot and are held in place by Velcro across the bottom. The total cost was less than $25.

I take them down during the day for natural light and put them up at night so no one can see that the interior lights are on and I am in there working. If I'm not in the garage during the day I leave the blinds up and no one (crooks) can look in to see what's in there.

4 blinds up ...


2 up & 2 down ...


Cannot see in when they are up ...

 

[bdamico]

Light is great but I don't have the luxury of using up that wall space, so that should be one of your considerations.