Garage Door Windows or not???

[mnwebb]

What do you all think about garage door windows? I have to order a new one shortly.
On the + side they let in light and look better from the curb but on the - they let in heat/cold and lose heat/cold and are another place for ppl to see what's in your space.

Thanks.

 

[Skiff Builder]

I like the light.
I will sometimes plug the panes with a piece of xps foam for cold snaps or skunk works type projects.

 

[heloc]

Most of the good garage door manufacturers have insulated double pane windows that retain heat/cold almost as well as the windows in your house. Also, you can order the glass frosted to allow a good amount of natural light in without having anything inside visible.

Seemingly, the best of both worlds...

 

[The Cobbler]

window with a blind or tint film to keep prying eyes out

 

[sawduststeve]

Most of the good garage door manufacturers have insulated double pane windows that retain heat/cold almost as well as the windows in your house. Also, you can order the glass frosted to allow a good amount of natural light in without having anything inside visible.

Seemingly, the best of both worlds...

This ^^^^ also 6.4 laminated glass for extra security.

 

[77thor]

I think it mostly comes down to personal preference and how safe the neighborhood is...
Mine have windows... The garage is much brighter with the doors closed.

 

[mnwebb]

Right, thank you all!

 

[Bryan Burns]

Get the windows. You can thank me later.
Builder neglected to install them when our house was built in 2006 even though they were on the model and house brochure. Convinced them to add them and I am so glad I did. It's really nice not having the turn on a light during the day for quick step in the garage.

 

[purplezr2]

I have insulated glass in my doors. My doors are 8ft high, and my windows are in the top row so no peaking in from the ground level.

 

[Christopher1]

The most affordable option, grilles, can be easily removed and changed at anytime. All grilles are UV fade-resistant with a realistic-looking embossed grain finish.

 

[finn]

Natural light is my preferred illumination. I have windows in my garage doors at home and one of the shop doors, but cheapened out and omitted them from the door specification when I enclosed the walls and paved the floor on the lean to at the shop.

That was a mistake.

It’s like a cave compared to the buildings with windows in the garage doors.

 

[yeldogt]

Personally -- I don't like the look of the windows. So -- if garaged is on front of house or viewed from street .. I delete.

 

[MDJAK]

When I purchased new doors recently I went with a wood look and didn't want windows. I previously had white doors with windows.

Well, manufacturer/installer screwed up and they came with windows. I'm glad they did. And they are on the top row, which is your option, and so too high to peek in.

 

[mnwebb]

Thanks all, I like having natural light as well, but heating/cooling and safety all play a role as well. A buddy of mine has no window, not even in the service door and swears that is why his garage is always cool in the summer (without air) and easier to warm in the winter.

-W

 

[James-W]

I don't have windows in my overhead door and it doesn't really bother me that I don't have natural light coming in when the doors are closed. I leave the overhead door open on nice days when I am working out there and at night I close the overhead door to keep bugs out. I have not found the overhead door not to have windows to be an issue. I live in a relatively safe neighborhood, so theft isn't a real big issue for me. Occasionally there is a break-in somewhere in town, usually on the south side where there are a lot of apartment complexes. We heat and cool the garage so we prefer everything to be sealed and well insulated.

 

[TangoFoxTrot]

Windows can really let in a lot of the outside temperature that you don't want. Even good ones that are double paned.

And for almost any activity in there, you're still going to have all the lights on even if you do have small windows on the garage door.

Personally, I'd go without.

 

[rpcraft]

The light can be helpful but it invites the ability for people to be able to look in and see what is inside. That being said I think you can also put on some of the reflective tint to help out with that but at night it might still be able to be seen through. Other issues come down to heat (or cold transfer). Down in Texas here most times all the install is a single wall light gauge to keep out a winter chill but it looks like you have real winter to deal with so it could be more of a problem than anything. I'd say your daylight hours are limited anyways so what you could perhaps do is in the winter put some of the radiant sheild over them with magnets or something similar, but at that point I think the solid doors make more sense overall.

 

[n20junkie]

My shop has no windows on the first floor. I prefer the overhead lights to constantly changing sunlight.

Plus nobody can see when I am in the shop to come and distract me.

 

[Steveodle]

Bought mine with ALL WINDOWS. 10 x 10 , black framing ,1500$ and 6weeks wait.
I'm in a small town ,low crime.
I'll never have anything else now, heat from the south facing door, (6)2 x 8' skylights.
Coarse I worked in a coal mine 20 years, maybe thats the rub[emoji16]!

If you do nothing right,you'll do nothing wrong!