Windows vs no windows on garage doors

[NES]

What's your opinion? I myself like windows on a garage door it adds more style and gives you more light in the garage.

 

[KPSquared]

I like the look as well. Some of the inserts look pretty cheezy and the plastic ones ALWAYS look yellow after a few years, but I like the light they let it.

 

[NES]

The windows on my parents garage door are squares they look nice and still look brand new looking. It's a Raynor garage door.

 

[Outdoor9]

I like the look as well. Some of the inserts look pretty cheezy and the plastic ones ALWAYS look yellow after a few years, but I like the light they let it.

I can show you show you a pic of my house door that is 10 years old and hasn't "YELLOW'D" at all.

 

[Outdoor9]

The windows on my parents garage door are squares they look nice and still look brand new looking. It's a Raynor garage door.

Mine's a Raynor door also. The best door they make.

 

[upndown]

I've always liked the look of a door with windows, But the sad reality is you loose some security and for those that heat the garage, they're only single pane.

 

[senor fozz]

I've always liked the look of a door with windows, But the sad reality is you loose some security and for those that heat the garage, they're only single pane.

my opinion exactly. In my opinion it is not worth it.

 

[PCO6]

^^^ I made blinds for mine to lessen the security concern. See post #3 of this thread ...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=218173&highlight=door+window+blinds&showall=1

 

[D.J.]

At the new Fire Station the Village is erecting the station has been spec'd without windows either in the walls or the overhead doors. I'am unsure as to how it is going to work out in the long run, but am confident security has been increased by the lac of windows.

 

[Rodbolt]

I went with windows and am very happy with the appearance and significant light they let in. They are double pane glass so no worry about energy loss or yellowing. I had the panels with windows placed up higher so no security concerns. The doors are CHI brand.


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[k1rodeoboater]

I like having windows. Preferably frosted ones for security reasons. I misting of white spraypaint does the job as does taping up wax paper, though I think they make a spray on frosting now. IDK if plastidip matte or satin clear might work.

 

[JMartel]

I've always liked the look of a door with windows, But the sad reality is you loose some security and for those that heat the garage, they're only single pane.

Unless you buy a door that's rated higher, most garage doors are basically giant heat sinks anyway.

 

[upndown]

I went with windows and am very happy with the appearance and significant light they let in. They are double pane glass so no worry about energy loss or yellowing. I had the panels with windows placed up higher so no security concerns. The doors are CHI brand.


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Nice Rodbolt!

 

[HoosierMark]

I am getting ready to buy 3 doors. Two will be with one set of windows and one will have 4-5 panels and windows in all but the bottom panel. Similar to the commercial garages That one will be in my basement garage. I noticed the sun shines in 20 feet in the winter and I love to look outside. Plus the location only looks out at a wooded area. Security? if they want in, there are plenty of other windows to break that will be easier.

 

[nit2wn]

I prefer no windows for some security but mostly so no one actually knows what's in there or if we're actually home. We have 6 vehicles between for two of us which makes it hard to know when we're home or what we're driving for other people. I also remember seeing a nice collector car that sit in garage for years without moving. The car literally had fade marks where the sunlight came through those windows on the garage door.

 

[Nowater]

Around here, windows (lites) just complicate the installation of hurricane resistant garage doors as they are not worth the added expense.

 

[softailgarage]

Working in the garage late a tnight was starting to creep me out, thinking someone was looking in at me, I eventually ended up frosting the glass. Light and heat still gets in, but now the boogieman cant see me.

 

[Jay Sco]

I have windows in mine and am going to be 'frosting' them shortly. I like the light it lets in, but don't like the fact that anyone can see in, especially since my safe is in the garage.

 

[John Timmins]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in florida due to hurricane wind rules, you can't repalce a window garage door with window style. They MUST be windowless....as if that is really going to make a difference

 

[Grabber70Mach]

I prefer no windows for some security but mostly so no one actually knows what's in there or if we're actually home. We have 6 vehicles between for two of us which makes it hard to know when we're home or what we're driving for other people. I also remember seeing a nice collector car that sit in garage for years without moving. The car literally had fade marks where the sunlight came through those windows on the garage door.

+1 Basically why I have no windows in my garage doors. I did put little windows about 13 ft high at the top of the walls for some light though.

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[77thor]

...and for those that heat the garage, they're only single pane.

Mine are double-pane...

 

[PCO6]

Working in the garage late a tnight was starting to creep me out, thinking someone was looking in at me, I eventually ended up frosting the glass. Light and heat still gets in, but now the boogieman cant see me.

I had that concern too. Actually, I simply didn't want anyone to know I was in there late at night while I was working. As mentioned in post #8 above I made blinds for the inside of my garage. You cannot see in when they are up. The blinds only come down when I am inside and want natural light. Installation or removal takes less than 15 seconds. They are held in place by a plastic track at the top and Velcro at the bottom. The insides are white melamine while the backs are painted black so they appear like regular windows from the outside. The total cost was about $30 or so.

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[PCO6]

Mine are double-pane...

Same here. I'm not even sure if you can get single pane windows up here any more.

 

[DangerousDan55]

On the fire station, most likely it to prevent the UV damage to the bunker gear.
We had to replace several pairs of bunker gear do to UV damage. That's $800 a set.
You could tear the Nome by hand when damaged.

 

[Kevin54]

None of our garage doors have windows. I was fine with that a few years back, but now I wish I had windows just for a little bit of light. If I can get added onto the front, I may put in a 16' door with windows.

 

[DIC]

On my moms garage doors I put on some stick on frost. It comes in a roll I guess its for bathroom windows . It lets in light but you cant see in. I cut a small hole in one so you can peek out.

 

[67carl]

It may have been a post on this site or somewhere else but I recall a video that showed how easy it was for a guy to slip a stiff wire between the top of the garage door and the house structure, hook the GDO release handle and pop the door open. Took about 15 seconds. The windows in the door gave him the ability to see what he was doing. Maybe disable the release handle in such a way so it's not possible to do that from outside, but can be done from the inside? I've got a solid wood one piece swing up door from the 50's/60's so no windows in mine.

 

[upndown]

It may have been a post on this site or somewhere else but I recall a video that showed how easy it was for a guy to slip a stiff wire between the top of the garage door and the house structure, hook the GDO release handle and pop the door open. Took about 15 seconds. The windows in the door gave him the ability to see what he was doing. Maybe disable the release handle in such a way so it's not possible to do that from outside, but can be done from the inside? I've got a solid wood one piece swing up door from the 50's/60's so no windows in mine.

Depending on how high the windows are, they just break out the window and they're in! Amazing how brave they get when it comes to Drug money. I've had to replace glass top sections with solid because of this reason.

 

[Pate]

I put a row of glass in the top panel of both of my doors. They are 8" doors, so high enough to keep people from looking in. My garage faces south and it brings in a ton on natural light.

 

[shooting4life]

I used to have clear windows in the garage. I did not like that people could look in and see my stuff/what I was doing. I went to take out the what I thought was plastic at the time windows to paint. Needless to say, I figured out that they were glass when I dropped the first one while unscrewing the frame.

I ultimately replaced all the glass with black acrylic plastic from tap plastics. Was about $45 worth of plastic. They installed in the window opening, now it looks like I have tinted windows from the outside. The reduction in light is very noticeable during the day, ended up adding 3 more 2 tube T8 lights, which I wanted to do already, but this pushed that task up the list.

 

[AMCguy]

Put me down for windows.

I have a lot going on in my garage. I wanted light, but couldn't afford to give up precious wall space to get it. I have lots of racking, cabinetry and machinery along the walls. The only practical solution was big windows in my doors.

If I were to do it again I would have put non-opening windows up high on the side walls in addition to the ones in the doors.

These doors were about $1,800 each.

 

[albaran]

Depends on the location of the garage. If you don't want people to see you, then don't put them in or put them on the top of the door.
I want to be able to see who is pulling up to the house so I have the windows about 3/4's up.

 

[Bobf]

I recently replaced the doors in the attached and stand alone garage. I opted for no windows, metal doors. I installed two 2'X4' sky lights when I built the stand alone toward the rear in my work area. Great during the day.
The term "window shopping" always came to mind when I thought about new doors with windows.

 

[Dave in Mass]

My original doors had no windows but when I did the garage addition to the original 2 car attached, I replaced the existing to match the new ones with windows.

Unheated garage and no security concerns really. Strictly for looks and light.

 

[sledzz]

I vote windows.
Not many peeping Toms around here and I have insurance, can't beat the natural light and being able to see whats going on outside.
Definitely need to watch the sun shining on the cars though.. at least in the winter time with the sun so low.

Just finished replacing a 12 foot door with a 16 footer. Both are Raynor doors.

 

[bfarroo]

I am planning on no windows in mine. The shop will be built first and our house after so I was concerned with security although our property is on a dead end road so there shouldn't be any issues. Also most of your double pane windows aren't going to have an R value of much more than 3. I want to make the shop as energy efficient as possible.

 

[pmilin]

I like windows in the doors. My garage faces west so being able to see the sunsets from inside the garage is cool. I like the light they let in too. Mine have thermal pane glass. I already have windows in the garage so security is no less with windows in the doors. Pics are in the Garage Makeover link in my sig.

I wanted windows in the doors of my shed but it was cost prohibitive so I put transom windows up high on the walls so I wouldn't lose wall space.

 

[pro517]

I have 12' doors on my shop and 2 full panels of windows on panel #4 and five. Let's lots of light in, and unless someone is 8' tall, they can't see in.
No windows on my 8' garage doors at home though.

 

[FlyBy]

For my standard home garage I don't want windows in the door because I don't want people to see what's inside when I'm not at home. I have plenty of lights and just open the door in nice weather when working.

 

[upndown]

Got a guy that works more reasonable than i can imagine,but he did my lake house door an opener $500 and its quite as can be,and a 120mi roun trip,still tryn to figure out how he managed it at that price and a 14hr install from start to finish. Im sure u will tell me how.love this garage door,a little insecure,but still can u buy it that way,or make it? very convenient dont u think ?[/QUOTE]

He's nuts!!