Garage Door Search - Integrated Window Muntins and 32" Section Height?

[OldNeons]

i
I may be searching for something that doesn't exist? Does anyone make a garage door window with the muntin sandwiched between the two panes of glass? I am just not happy with the cheap plastic overlays that most manufacturers slap on the outside of their windows.

I am also looking for manufacturers who make a 32" tall door section. So far Amarr Classica is the only one I can find who does? Unfortunately, they have the same cheap windows as everyone else I have found.

Any leads or suggestions are appreciated. I not talked to all these companies personally - but I have looked at Midland, CHI, Clopay, Haas, Wayne Dalton, Raynor, Amarr, Garaga -off the top of my head....

I just can't spend $1500/door for a $10 plastic muntin insert popped on the outside of the window.

I LOVE the look of the tall windows in the 32" section height versus the short windows I find in all the other doors with typical section heights.

Details: three 10' wide x 8' high doors, prefer stamped steel carriage style door with polyurethane insulation, ideally three 32" sections, may consider 4 section door if the windows are sufficiently tall?

Any suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks

 

[Jrad235]

Amarr has upgraded window options for their doors. If you look at the brochure, the Americana, Trellis, and Jardin window patterns are obscured glass with a baked on ceramic pattern instead of the plastic snap-in pieces. Pricey, but still an option. There may be more options now, but you'll need to call them most likely.

 

[Jrad235]

Also, for standard height sections, Clopay offers composite overlays on the Coachman and Canyon Ridge doors, and the Gallery line has both Acrylic and glass options that are not plastic snap-ins. Again, check the brochures.

 

[OldNeons]

Thanks for the info - the Amarr dealer I talked to said that they had recently changed how those patterns were made? Either way - I want a basic 8 pane square muntin look so none of those 3 would work. Can you please provide any feedback on Amarr Classica construction/quality?

 

[gnpenning]

A 32" panel in anything other than a full vertical lift track or a 32" radius track is not going to open smoothly. It will strain the hinges, rollers and sections.

You can take out the Windows from the door of your choice and have a glass shop make what you want or install something you made.

While The style of window is important for aesthetics, there are far more important things to look for in a quality door. Like buying a vehicle based solely on the windshield.

 

[OldNeons]

Thanks for the info - I don't know if I have room for 32" radius so maybe the 3 section won't work? I have 24" headroom above the top of door opening. Don't know if the vertical track can be shortened enough to fit the 32" radius? Or could it work with a low headroom double track arrangement?

I was hoping to avoid custom windows as I'm sure this would void any warranty. No one you know of makes a window with muntin in between the thermal panes?

I get what you are saying on windows don't dictate the whole door - just looking for something well made overall - and the cheap plastic muntin overlays don't cut it for me.

If I physically can't make a 32" section work, I will look for the tallest window in a 4 panel 24" section. Anyone have suggestions there? Raynor's 24" section has a 14" glass height (viewable opening) to the window. Others out there?
thanks all

 

[gnpenning]

A full vertical lift track goes straight up. The taller the section and the tighter the radius of track the rougher and noisier the door will open. You could get by with a 18"radius track. Stay away from low headroom track.

I understand why you may want a different trim for the Windows. Check with your manufacturer about the warranty. You should be okay. I can't think of one manufacturers defect warranty claim for my main door manufacturer in almost 20 years. Other door companies it might be a concern. Openers you want to be careful.

Garage doors are a major look on the front of your place. Getting the look you want can make a major difference to the front of your home. Far more than the front door which gets far more thought by most. Your garage door is also the largest and heaviest object in most homes. Not the place to be cutting corners.

You can have what you want. You just have to decide if the costs and other issues are worth it to you. In the end that is all that matters. Whatever you decide don't look back and second guess yourself, Be happy and move forward.

 

[Jrad235]

I had two 7’ tall Amarr Classica doors with 32” glass sections and they were excellent doors. Any modern operator can run these smoothly and they fit fine on 15” radius track, but I wouldn’t go any tighter than that. If you need to then it would be on 6.5” LoHd track. I do believe they hve 20” radius (from Amarr), so if you have the room it is recommended. I used to sell these and never had an issue. Proper operator bracing is essential ( full strut across the top and verical brace the height of the section)

 

[OldNeons]

Dragging up an old post here - I still haven't got doors on this garage. Seem to have a little time on my hands right now so I'm starting to look again. Still hoping to use 32" sections with a 20" radius track and jackshaft openers? 8' tall doors with another 2' of headroom above that. I'm still looking at Amarr Classica as well as Northwest Door, Martin, and Hormann. Some of these last companies mentioned make a window section that is assembled from individual components (extruded aluminum or roll formed steel). Does anyone have any input on this please?

 

[kbs2244]

look for a local millwork shop for the actual door build
and research "hanger door" on youtube for a horizontal hinge 2 panel door