Garage doors - insulated with windows?

[stickshift]

Have some deficiencies with my old garage doors (wood doors that need sanding and painting, need repair to bent tracks, need to seal off airflow, need insulation) and rather than investing time and effort in these old doors, considering buying new insulated doors that I'll install myself. The gd openers still work fine, so I can continue to use those.

Looking at the R12 and R18 doors. I see these are offered with and without windows. Seems like you'd have a dramatic reduction in overall R-value if you opt for windows. That said, I currently have windows and it seems like something you could easily miss after installing doors without windows and realizing you converted your attached garage into a cave.

For guys who have installed insulated doors, did you go with windowed or windowless. If the latter, did you regret that choice?

I suppose installing a motion sensor for the garage lights might alleviate the notion that you're walking into a pitch black garage.

 

[tarmy]

Windows in mine...snow country as well. I like the light they let in.

 

[bp460]

I went with windows in the top section of my insulated garage door and don't regret it. The previous door had windows and I knew I would miss being able to see outside if I didn't include them.

-Brad

 

[Steve W.]

Insulated doors with no windows here. Smaller shop (24 x 30) have at least one window on each wall, so there's still some light coming in.

Plenty of lights in the ceiling, separate switches for different work zones. If the big door is up, fewer lights might need to be on, but I don't usually turn on much beyond where I'm working during that garage session.

.

 

[tambamkam]

I went with windows, I like the light, and being able to see who is pulling up.
I went the Ideal R12 from Menards for a "budget friendly" option.
Self install was straight forward and done in a afternoon.
I keep my garage warm most of time and I have been pleased with my door for the last year!

 

[Glemon]

We had a house built in the 90s that had garage doors with no windows, and the garage itself only had windows in the back of the double deep section. Pretty much how they were building them then.

I backed a car I was painting into the door (don't ever drive a car with the windows taped and papered over in a garage--do I even need to say that?). We replaced the old doors with windowed doors, the natural light in the garage was a great change, didn't know I missed it until I had it. House looked nicer from the outside too. Would always go windows unless on a vacant lot you seldom visit or bad neighborhood. The windows in new ones are double pane and plastic (I think) so shouldn't be too bad for heat loss.

 

[kj_mustang]

2" insulated door with windows. I seriously doubt I could tell the BTU loss difference if it was windowless.

 

[bimmer1980]

I went with OHI R19 insulated doors with windows in the top section. No regrets! I'm very happy with my doors.

Floor heat set at a moderate temp helps keep the heat loss down due to the air stratification... cooler at the higher levels (window level).

 

[stickshift]

Interesting that even the guys who have or have had windowless garage doors had some other window in the garage. The only windows in my attached garage are those in the garage doors. So if I went windowless, the garage would be pitch black when I step in via the door inside the house.

Sounds like my assumption that you'd be giving up a lot of R-value with windows may be wrong, which makes going with windowed insulated doors an easy call.

 

[acer66]

Sounds like my assumption that you'd be giving up a lot of R-value with windows may be wrong, which makes going with windowed insulated doors an easy call.

Every door/window means giving up R-Value.
How much depends on the window/door but as of now they can not match the R-value of a wall.

If you live in a harsh climate it matters more especially the longer you plan to condition the space and how high your energy costs are.

 

[slowtwitch73]

I got an Overhead door a few years back with windows across top section. The windows were a total game changer for the garage..will never have windowless doors again. As others have said having one row of windows is a negligible loss of r value (if any) and the benefits are huge for you, and for resale imo.

 

[dcg9381]

For guys who have installed insulated doors, did you go with windowed or windowless. If the latter, did you regret that choice?

I suppose installing a motion sensor for the garage lights might alleviate the notion that you're walking into a pitch black garage.

We just ordered insulated garage doors, but they have 5 panel windows. The windows are an architectural feature. The definitely give up some R value.

Note, I'm TX, so my climate is "opposite" - but summer is brutal. The reality is that when and if I HVAC the garage, I can compensate by a little more BTU with the ductless system.

If the space was "livable" - meaning I'm heating/cooling 24/7, I'd take more care about the windows.... But if you're only occasionally heating/cooling that space, I don't think it's a big deal.

I should note that the big garage doors on my shop are 14x14 roll up - their R value is crappy, no windows, but I'd bet big money that they leak a lot more than the 5-panel insulated windows in the garage. We heat/cool the shop too...

 

[Bert_]

Air sealing is far more important than any insulation you would gain by going windowless.

My biggest beef is the windows you get on a steel garage door are tiny compared to glass in a wood door, easily a couple inches smaller.

 

[BruceMc]

2" insulated door with windows. I seriously doubt I could tell the BTU loss difference if it was windowless.

Yeah, the R-value of insulated garage doors tends to be vastly overrated to begin with, so a few windows really won't degrade the overall insulation value.

 

[acer66]

Air sealing is far more important than any insulation you would gain by going windowless.

Yes, even small gaps can coast you a lot and my shop is a former cow tending stall build who knows when and converted into a garage before I bought it.

At night I would turn all the lights on and walk outside around to find
light shining through and during sunny days I turned the light off inside the windowless shop and did the same thing.

Needless to say I went through a lot of foam cans, caulking etc..

That also keeps the bugs out.

 

[weatherby460]

I seem to get alot of dead flys by windows, anyone else?

 

[stickshift]

If the space was "livable" - meaning I'm heating/cooling 24/7, I'd take more care about the windows.... But if you're only occasionally heating/cooling that space, I don't think it's a big deal.

I don't intentionally heat or cool it, but it's an attached garage, so it does soak up some of the heat/cold from living space in winter/summer.

Air sealing is far more important than any insulation you would gain by going windowless.

Agreed. It's an attached garage, and with no other windows or exterior entrances or outlets on exterior walls, the only air leaks are via the garage doors.

My biggest beef is the windows you get on a steel garage door are tiny compared to glass in a wood door, easily a couple inches smaller.

Yeah, I noticed all the modern garage doors have tiny windows compared to my old wood garage door windows. But I do like that many have the windows higher up, so you get the light without the prying eyes.

 

[rburke65]

The flies like the suns heat.

 

[rburke65]

I have a 2 car attached with 2 windows. A new insulated garage door ..no windows.

 

[dcg9381]

Yeah, I noticed all the modern garage doors have tiny windows compared to my old wood garage door windows. But I do like that many have the windows higher up, so you get the light without the prying eyes.

We did one "high end" door... All aluminum and glass - same model as this. Lots of windows. It's basically the same design as the garage doors you see on bars/restaurants, but it's under 14' of covered deck... We'll see how well it does in Texas.

 

[acer66]

We did one "high end" door... All aluminum and glass - same model as this. Lots of windows. It's basically the same design as the garage doors you see on bars/restaurants, but it's under 14' of covered deck... We'll see how well it does in Texas.

When I was living in Los Angeles I worked in a few houses that had those in their living rooms.
Was very cool.

 

[yeldogt]

I'm in the no window camp with roll up -- carriage doors --maybe.

How old are the wood doors? If they are really old wood doors -- they are worth fixing. If the are of the vintage with masonite or cheap ply panels ... they may not be.

I have old wood doors in NYC. Cleaned up they look great(better than any modern) ... getting new tracks is easy.

 

[stickshift]

I'm in the no window camp with roll up -- carriage doors --maybe.

How old are the wood doors? If they are really old wood doors -- they are worth fixing. If the are of the vintage with masonite or cheap ply panels ... they may not be.

I have old wood doors in NYC. Cleaned up they look great(better than any modern) ... getting new tracks is easy.

Not sure. Maybe 20-25yrs old. Don't think they are old enough to be special.

How do you get new tracks to fit an old door? That would resolve the issue of the door banging around as it goes up and down.

 

[oldmxracer]

Haas insulated door windows second panel down, just like My old wood door, windows not as large but still can see out and who is pulling in the drive.

 

[Bert_]

The tracks are pretty standard from what I have seen. Worst case you could do new rollers also

 

[Steve W.]

Interesting that even the guys who have or have had windowless garage doors had some other window in the garage. The only windows in my attached garage are those in the garage doors. So if I went windowless, the garage would be pitch black when I step in via the door inside the house.

My windows are not just for light, they help ventilate, too. I have awning-type windows that are about 1.5 x 3 feet. Being an awning type, and mounted as high as possible on the 8' wall, I can leave them open any time I'm not running AC or heat. They even stay open during rain storms with no problems.

.

 

[BetterDays]

Haas 770 doors with window across the top panel
Adds light, but not much visibility on or out

Sent from my Pixel 3 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[DHC-2]

Windows. Add frosted film for privacy if needed. Its not a prison. Get windows. The heat loss won't be noticed. The depression will

 

[slowtx275]

We did one "high end" door... All aluminum and glass - same model as this. Lots of windows. It's basically the same design as the garage doors you see on bars/restaurants, but it's under 14' of covered deck... We'll see how well it does in Texas.

I did the same but my glass is clear and not frosted. Opens to a 20'x20' covered patio. Wasn't too concerned about the insulation aspect being in Texas. It is going to be hot in the summer regardless and our cold snaps aren't brutal. It actually insulates better than we expected honestly. Sure, I might have to run the heater a lil longer on some of the colder days, but a trade I am ok with for the natural light.

 

[D45]

I have a 3 insulated doors (two front and one back)

They all have windows and allow for some natural light, which is a nice feature

They also add some curb appeal rather than just looking at an all solid garage door

 

[aeopav]

Yes, insulated with windows. I just bought an Amarr Heritage 3000 insulated door. The door is 18' x 8'. I put windows in the section 1st down from the top. I like the light they let in and the ability to see out to the drive while I'm working in there. Like others have said, don't worry about the R value difference. Garage door manufacturers are not held to any kind of industry standard for reporting R value. Take their ratings with a grain of salt.