Should I Get Glass In My Front Doors?

There are various materials used in front doors, including fiberglass, wood, metal, and glass. Getting a glass front door can definitely boost your home's curb appeal but what that's not the only thing you need to think about. You'll also be asking if the door is secure and durable. We'll touch on that and answer your question, "Should I get glass in my front door" in this post.

Use the links below to jump ahead:

• Are glass front doors safe?
• What type of glass is used in front doors?
• Pros and cons of front doors with glass panels
• Glass door alternatives
• Should I get glass in my front door?

Are Glass Front Doors Safe?

One of the primary concerns when looking into glass front doors is whether they are safe. Glass doesn't seem as difficult to break through as wood or metal. While this is true, there are many techniques to make glass doors more secure↗. Some of these include:

• Adding a series of deadbolts on the interior.
• Using glass breakage sensors.
• Adding security film to fortify the glass and make it difficult to shatter.
• And setting up alarm systems.

Beyond just these methods, remember that most of us live in houses full of glass, we've all got homes full of windows and some of us have sliding glass patio doors. Getting a glass front door doesn't necessarily make your house more at risk than it was before. In fact, it can inspire you to set up an alarm system where you might not have beforehand. Additionally, the type of glass used in the door system can also improve safety and security.  

We've done glass front door installations for some of our customers, in fact, if you're curious you can watch the video below to see a glass double entry door on a brick house. The door in the video features a multi-point locking system which is great for strengthening the door. 

What Type of Glass is Used in Front Doors?

Exterior and interior glass doors↗ have to be made with a safety glass like tempered or laminated glass to minimize the risk of breakage and injury. Sliding glass doors for patios and showers are made with tempered glass for those same safety reasons. Safety glass is harder to break than annealed glass but it's not invisible. If you choose a door with a window, the kind that have glass in the upper half, it's likely to be made with annealed glass because the majority of the door is not made from glass.

Glass options depend on the vendor and manufacturer of the door. Whether you're buying a custom door and purchasing one from a big box store like Lowes or Home Depot, you'll want to ask about glass options. In addition to clear glass, you may have decorative or obscure glass for privacy. Even more important, you'll want to ask if insulated glass is available to improve the energy-efficiency of the door. 

Pros and Cons of Front Doors with Glass Panels

Glass Door Alternatives

If you’re not convinced that a full glass door is right for your home there are other options for you. Consider a door with just partial glass or skip glass in the door altogether. Instead of glass in the door you can add sidelights or transom windows around the door to bring in more light and add a decorative touch to your entrance. 

Sidelights

Sidelights are fixed windows that can be installed on either side of the door. Most sidelights are narrow and match the height of the door. Some sidelights are all glass and start at the bottom of the door, some are half-lights and only have glass in the upper half of the product. 

Transom Windows

Transom windows are windows that go over the top of the door. They can be fixed windows or they can open like a slider or awning window, more often than not if the transom window opens it is an awning window. Like sidelights, they are used to increase light but if you go with an awning style transom you also get the benefit of optional ventilation.

Should I Get Glass in My Front Door?

Whether or not you get glass in your front door is primarily down to the look you're trying to create. If you want an entrance with a contemporary modern look a door with glass panels can go a long way. Glass also looks great in wood or fiberglass doors. Get some inspiration from the photos below or explore our Doors page.