Should you put windows in your garage door?

So, the years have finally caught up with your garage door. Bailing wire and patch-work repairs only go so far. At some point, you had to call in a professional. And they’ve presented you with the bad news; your garage door isn’t really worth the expense of additional repairs. It’s time for a new garage door.

Once you’ve decided to replace the garage door you’ll find yourself faced with another decision – what style of garage door do you want? Within this question is another question – do you want garage door windows?

In terms of the style of garage door, cost and quality generally go hand in hand. Garage door windows are a slight upgrade, too, and with a small additional cost. But, there are good reasons to install a garage door with windows, such as:

• The garage door windows will add natural lighting inside the garage
• Garage door windows are usually aesthetically pleasing
• They can give the garage a look that is coordinated with the appearance of the house

Garage doors are generally made of wood, metal of Polypropylene. They come insulated or un-insulated. They come with windows or without windows.

When adding a garage door with garage door windows, you may want to take some time to consider where you’ll install them. Yes, in the garage door but where in the garage door? If privacy is an issue, which is often the case with garages, you may want garage door windows higher in the garage door so that most people can’t see inside. You don’t want them to see your expensive tools, the air compressor or your boat, motorcycle or RV. The wrong people might get ideas.

Once you’ve decided where to install the garage door windows, you’ll want to consider the size and number of garage door windows. You’ll also want to consider the style of glass. For instance, you can install garage door windows with the following styles of glass:

• Clear
• Tinted
• Frosted
• Divided with a Grid (there are different Grid patterns to choose from)
• Stained Glass
• Sand-Blasted
• Contoured

Adding garage door windows to the garage door will usually raise the cost of the door. However, windows can add a lot to a garage door and the aesthetic appeal of the garage. Since you’ll probably live with that garage door for a while you may find that it’s worth the expense. And, with the options listed above, you’ll also find you have a lot of options, to do a lot, with your garage door.

Screen-in your garage – the quick and easy screened-in-porch alternative

Beau, of Garage Doors and More, installs the finishing touches on a customer's new garage screen.

Driving home one day you find yourself jealously looking at neighbors a few blocks away who are relaxing in their screened-in porch. You can’t really see but you imagine them sipping tall, cool drinks with umbrellas. The sight may sufficiently motivate you to make some calls to area builders to find out what it would cost to add a screened-in porch to your home. Dialing the phone, you have sense of enthusiasm. Now you can picture yourself with that Mai Tai, Banana Daiquiri or Bahama Mama – something cool and refreshing. Then, the builder gives you the bad news.

“IT’S GOING TO COST HOW MUCH?” you holler reflexively, and then you go back to enviously glancing at the neighbor’s screened-in porch.

The idea dies a slow death as you stack the cost up against other priorities. But, wait just a minute. Put that idea on life support for a while. There is another way to save this worthy patient; turn your garage into your summer-time screened-in porch.

“WHAT?”

What's a screened garage
without easy access?

No, this isn’t silly nonsense from the desperate files of a lover of summer. This is a real and cost-effective alternative to a screened-in porch that could easily run more than $20,000.

The premise is simple and the tools readily available; you simply need to install a removable screen in the large opening of the garage where cars otherwise move in and out.

Yes, you may have a little additional work to do, such as cleaning out the garage and making it hospitable for summer lounging.  And the screen does need to be properly sized and properly installed.

You can purchase some patio furniture and a small rug to cover where the oil has dripped from the car. You might even want to purchase some potted plants to decorate the garage and bring the stereo out there so you can relax to the mellow sounds of Jimmy Buffett singing “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

Without too much effort, you can probably build a small bar or purchase a portable bar and a small refrigerator. A little tactically applied lighting and you’re in business. Of course, if you need a little help with the project, a garage-door professional can probably help you with the installation. But, either way, there’s no need to look on with envy at your neighbor’s screened-in porch when yours is waiting out in the garage. In fact, once they see how easily, and cost effectively, you’ve turned your garage into a screened-in porch, they may be the ones driving by and looking on enviously.

Inside view after this garage receives the screened-in treatment.

View of the screened-in garage from the outside.