Garage Windows -- Yes or No?

[GarageHonky]

I have a 25' by 31' garage attached. No windows on the front of it, but I do have windows on the back side. The back side of the garage is also visible from the back side of house ("L" shaped house/garage). The front is also very well "lit" by a large mercury light, as well as motion lights all the way around. We have a burglar system as well.
I like the benefit of the windows for air circulation during the "hot" time of the year.
From the front, there is no way for anyone to look in the garage without one of the garage doors being opened. The garage windows are also covered with blinds that I keep shut all the time exept when I open the windows. The back of the garage is always visible very clearly from the large kitchen window, as well as most every room facing the back yard.
Anytime I'm not in the garage it is closed up and "locked up!" Period.

 

[logical]

My first floor sits about 40 inches above the garage floor so the 3 windows in the garage, staying in line with those in the house, are about 5 feet off the floor. One is about 6'x6' and the others are about 3'x6' each. With 12.5 foot ceilings in the garage, they look better up high anyhow plus they let in light without really taking away useable wall space. I am still building the place but I can already tell they will be a plus. I can't say I gave them much thought in the planning stage....the garages are side entry and the windows are there mainly to make the garage look like the house.

 

[mdshore348]

id say no ground level windows.. i am installing 3 garage doors with windows at the top ,7-8 feet high, so only basketball players can look in ...still might frost the glass... also installing 4 skylights ... 3 fixed and one vented ... tooo much need for wall space and privacy dictates my decision .

 

[DaveL.]

yes

Here is another vote for some windows but I agree with mdshore348, I did not want any ground level windows. I placed 3 windows at the back of the garage. They are 10-12 ft off the ground,they provide good ventilation,they are on the eastern side of the house so I get early morning to noon sun and shaded in the hot afternoon summer sun.

 

[devin]

windows...

i put only one large window on the first floor garage area. in retrospect, i wish i had made that window higher and narrower for security reasons. i put in several windows in the finsished space upstairs. Natural light is good, but not a comprimise for security.

 

[oldgoat]

I put a 3 x 4 slider window with insulated and LowE glass in it on one end opposite the doors so that I would be able to open them and get a breeze through there. They are up high enough that a average person wouldn't be able to see in very good though. I guess that I feel like that if someone wants in they will get in anyway and with insulated glass it isn't real easy and the window is where it is a easy view for the neighbors to see. Another thing is that being on the opposite end it will give me a emergency exit in case of a fire or something that blocks me being able to get to the doors.

 

[04 Navi]

Natural light is a plus. In the past I have used horizontal blinds to match the rest of the house. With horizontal you can tilt them so that if someone were to look in all they could see would be the ceiling, while you still would get nice natural light.

On the garage we are building there is 3 1'x5' windows up high on one wall, a full glass door on the other wall, plus windows in the garage doors. Skylights are not a option. As for breaking in. If someone really wants in, a window or no window will not make a diff. Drugs make people do stupid things. Good luck.

 

[rjbot]

windows

I also agree windows let in alot of light ,I put contact paper on all of my windows,the frosted kind that is used on bathroom windows,very available,works great in all weather beats mini-blinds window bars for security.

 

[muddy]

My last shop had no windows and so for those of you that have seen the shop I've been building since this past August you'll remember I put in lots of them on two walls visible from house and both gable ends of second floor, but none on either the rear wall or the long back wall as they are not visible from the house and the back wall allows for wall storage all the length of it.
I gotta say I am happy I did put in the windows, it makes all the difference on appearance and will be great for ventilation. This is also a real good area, no real crime to speak of and I am one of those who has something for the would be thief anyways!

 

[rockwithjason]

Being able to see what's inside can be a bid motivator to those who would break in. My pops got some bed sheets and made curtains for his shop. The material is thin enough for most of the light to get thru but you can't see in from the outside. You can open them anytime you want.

 

[rocket6delta]

I'll be building a garage later this year with a 16 foot eave so I plan to put several basement windows in near the top. Hopefully that will be enough light and have some security.

 

[kbs2244]

There is a lot of appearance factor in this as well as practicality.
I like sky lights from a practical point of view.
They spread a lot of light and don’t take up any wall space.
I like the wind driven turbines for venting for the same reason.
(Plus you don’t have to run power to them.)
But, depending on your area, big, plain, slabs of wall can have a real industrial look that is an invitation of its own.
(Kind of a “What’s he hiding” thing.)
In your area of MS is the French style of things common?
Shutters and wrought iron window bars are a common feature of that style. You could even go with wrought iron gates over the real garage door.

 

[PAToyota]

Initially I was going to have one window on the front of the downstairs of the shop, but decided against it for pretty much the same reasons listed here. I wasn't going to put windows on the back and sides of the first floor because that just seemed like too much temptation for someone to be checking things out without me being able to see them.

I do have the second floor of the shop, so there are windows across the front and one on each end up there. Yes, people could still get to those, but it would be much more hassle and they'd really have to want to get in there.

So with the windows on the second floor it also doesn't end up looking too industrial as has been mentioned.

 

[stricht8]

Another thing to consider is noise and neighbors. I believe that windows will allow noise in your garage to be better heard outside. Depending on what you are doing in your garage and how close your neighbors are to your house you might want to give that some thought.

 

[FunfDreisig]

So the "windows in the garage question" seems to boil down to....

Location - Climate: retaining heat vs increasing ventilation.
Location - Security: keeping thieves out vs letting the light in.
Location - City/HOA rules: meeting others expectations vs your own.

Luckily I live in a very safe area, in the country and have no City/HOA "rules" to restrict my design. So the top of the whole north wall of my shed roof garage will be a clear story for lots of natural light and ventilation

Funf Dreisig

 

[6768rogues]

Put in the windows unless you are in a high crime area. If so, put in windows and buy a gun or a doberman.

 

[e-tek]

I put BIG windows on the South side and am really happy I did. I totally understand though the storage space they take up - could always use more! As for security, I bought 1/2inch flat bars, painted em white and bolted 2 across the windows - that keeps people out. As well, I put two 2x2 foot holes high up (10feet) on the North side for fans. In one hole I put an undustrial 15inch fan which is strong enough to **** the doors closed and in the other a weak $35 box fan, which is quite and enough to move the air and some dust/smoke from welding, etc.
Back to the windows, They offer light, heat and I can watch the kids in the yard, see people coming in to visit and the sill is a good place to put my collectible cars!

 

[nissan_crawler]

I'm replacing my current windows with a colonial 6 grid window to match the rest I'm doing, and instead of trim inside, I'm welding up 2x2" angle iron frame to set in the opening, with rod following the grid pattern and lag bolting it into the studs. If they still get in at that point, they're going to no matter what.

 

[G-force]

My opinion is that a garage should have no windows.

 

[tatra]

anybody recall the thread where the guy built his shop with windows in the ridge of the roofline?.................specific name for it...........if i was to do any kind of new construction, i would try to incorporate this into the plans..........excellent lighting, good security and with the overhang feature and the right windows, no worry about rain if left open.............course it dictates a cathedral cieling so heat ventalation is good too once the windows are open............damn, what is that called again?...........help me out guys

 

[PurdueSD]

I didnt want to loose any wall space so, I put some 2x3 sliding windows up high, keeps prying eyes out too...

I built a nice size sill and put some duplex outlets up by them for a pair of box fans in the summer.

 

[Buckled]

Yes to windows. Mine is only a 24 x 24 semi attached, but I wish I had put at least 2 - 3 windows in. I would love to have the cross ventilation in the summer and the natural light year round. Security is a minimal concern for me (niave, maybe, until it happens to me). I'm in a very rural area and while anything can happen, the likelyhood of a break in is not worth living without windows.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I didnt want to loose any wall space so, I put some 2x3 sliding windows up high, keeps prying eyes out too...

I like the way you did that. You got your windows while keeping security of your shop in mind. Very well thought out!

 

[Torque1st]

Natural light is good. Skylights are good if they do not leak. Security frosted glass windows on the side towards the house so you can see if the lights are on in the shop. Frosted so that people can not check out your garage contents. A motion light and emergency light up high in the rafters wired on the same breaker as the overhead lights. If you see the lights on in your shop from the house, -call 911. You can also wire the motion and E-lights to an alarm in the house or "signal" lights on the outside of the garage or in the house.

 

[Question]

I wanted windows that opened in my garage doors, the doors face the prevailing winds. Since I couldn't find windows that opened in a garage door, I put a set of three "basement" windows above the doors. I leave them open most of the summer, gives great circulation and night time cooling.

 

[Kevin54]

Windows towards the house where i can see them. None on the opposite side where I can't

 

[walrus]

anybody recall the thread where the guy built his shop with windows in the ridge of the rooflinedamn, what is that called again?...........help me out guys

clearstory? You don't have to have a cathedral ceiling for that.
Edit, clerestory

 

[goatram]

anybody recall the thread where the guy built his shop with windows in the ridge of the roofline?.................specific name for it...........if i was to do any kind of new construction, i would try to incorporate this into the plans..........excellent lighting, good security and with the overhang feature and the right windows, no worry about rain if left open.............course it dictates a cathedral cieling so heat ventalation is good too once the windows are open............damn, what is that called again?...........help me out guys

Monitor barn style. Has four roof lines; two at the peak and then drop down aprox. 4' to the next lines that go to the end of the building. see picture

 

[Ray-CA]

I have a non-opening window next to the garage door. When we had the glass replaced (the seal failed) we installed a pane of "privacy glass." It's like the glass in shower doors, lets light in, but obscures the view. It works great.

Ray

 

[mustangmike68]

No on windows but yes on skylights. Although i wish i could off put some windows in the garage doors,they do not get direct sunlight.

 

[lh4x4]

I went for no windows. For security. I have collector cars and motorcycles in the garage. Along with all the tools and stuff. I opted to have higher electric bills because I use lights in the day without windows.

I have 18 four foot cold start fixtures. It is bright! Insulated steel man doors and overhead door. The man doors have regular looks and dead bolts. A determined thief could gain entry, but would have to work at it. I probably will have shot him first.

 

[Vernmotor]

I did not put no window in..only hole the wall is for the A/C

 

[wrenchr]

I would say no to windows.

 

[mikeyr]

I have never had windows and never missed them. When I built my new garage a month ago, I went with no windows for security and since I had never had any windows, I did not see a reason for them. The city required me to put in skylights however, they wanted something "green", 4 skylights, double pane well insulated (and venting). I also got a garage door with windows at the top after seeing the natural light those skylights gave me, they are pretty high, a thief will have to be tall to see in although the car on the lift is very visible. Most of the time I work with the door open anyway so the whole world knows what I have in there.

If someone wants in they will get in, I most likely would still build withOUT windows just to not lose wall/work space but if you can afford the loss of a wall, then I vote windows, you can always put bars in the window to keep the thieves out.

 

[waltmcq]

I put one window in and now I got a piece of cardboard blocking it, I wish I'd put a few narrow ones up high

 

[tatra]

clerestory..........that's the ticket.........got to write that one down.....

 

[wrigh003]

I am planning on putting some on mine. I have the rear door, it'll be a half-light door with internal blinds. I think the front door (faces the road) will be a french door, for aesthetics. One other window, or maybe not. Since it's hot as can be here half the year or more, I am thinking hard about not putting windows on the south or west sides of the garage, though I do want the natural light they let in. This is for my attached garage, used mostly for parking.

That said, if I had a detached shop (and/or if/when I ever build one), I'd probably not put many windows in it, for security reasons.

 

[shocksystems]

OK. I will bite. I like windows in a garage.

I put 12 regular windows in my garage (4 are in the loft) , 2 man doors with windows, 2 rows of windows in my overhead door and a transom window above the overhead window. I think I have more windows in my garage than in my house.

I probably overdid it. It is an obstacle for wall space and does present security concerns. Although I live in a relatively safe neighborhood and I do have a security system.

On the plus side though, if you like natural light it is very nice. I also think it helps the garage look residential. I got a really good deal on the windows at the time which helped.

Funny to see it lit up at night though when I am out there working. It looks like a giant lantern.

I can't find any good pictures at the moment.

Cheers!

Jim

 

[autoist]

 

[krooser]

I like natural light... I have 5 windows in my 1500 sq. ft. Men's Crisis Center.. plus one door with a window and one with a sidelight.