Adding an entry door with glass inserts is a great way to immediately transform the look of your home—and to give yourself some natural light. Natural light provides many benefits, and door glass can be a great way to reap the benefits while also adding curb appeal and maintaining privacy in the home. There are a variety of considerations when choosing entry door glass inserts, especially when you are also looking to maximize natural light.
Let’s take a look at four of the most important factors for entry door glass inserts.
Transparency
When deciding on glass inserts for your front door, two of the biggest deciding factors are privacy and light. The two often come with trade-offs: while someone who enjoys a lot of natural light might want a full or half clear glass door, this can compromise the privacy that a front door often offers.
Entry door glass inserts come in a variety of transparency levels depending on your privacy needs. Options such as frosted or opaque glass will provide the most privacy—however, this often comes at the expense of a bit less natural light in your home. For those looking for a balance of both, combining opaque glass with clear glass near the top of the door can provide the privacy you’re looking for without sacrificing the extra light.
Design
Your front door’s design and your home’s architectural style can also play a role in the entry door glass inserts you choose. Glass inserts come in a variety of styles that you can select depending on your taste and how much natural light you want.
Intricate designs featuring decorative glass and caming are great for boosting front door curb appeal or expressing yourself through your home’s design, but busier designs may come at the cost of less light. If natural light is your top priority, you may need to sacrifice these design options in exchange for simpler clear glass.
Energy Efficiency
If you live in an area with extreme hot or cold temperatures and are concerned with maximum energy efficiency, a past bad experience with thin window glass might make you hesitant to opt for entry door glass inserts. Chilly drafts in the middle of winter are a pain, but having glass inserts doesn’t mean this is something you’ll have to deal with. Low-E (low-emissivity) glass is a great choice for indoor temperature regulation, as the microscopic coating on the glass reflects the interior temperature. This will help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Luckily, energy efficient glass does not need to come at the expense of natural light. This thin glass coating does not change the visible look of the glass or the amount of light coming indoors. Therefore, you get all the natural light with additional protection from the elements—and added savings on your heating and cooling bills.
Security
One of the biggest worries homeowners have when considering glass inserts is whether or not glass will compromise their front door security. While a door with glass inserts will not be quite as secure as a full slab door, entry door glass inserts are often designed to be more durable than normal glass so that homeowners can enjoy extra natural light and the appearance of glass inserts without safety concerns.
Entry door glass inserts are often designed to be impact resistant, as the decorative glass used for front doors is tempered, meaning the material is stronger and more difficult to break. Special impact glass inserts are also available, so that homeowners in hurricane prone regions can still enjoy the benefits without sacrificing safety.
Plastpro’s Entry Door Glass Insert Options
When considering the categories above, it can be difficult to find entry door glass inserts that fit all of these needs while still providing ample natural light. Luckily, Plastpro’s Doorlite Series and Solution Doorlite Series are excellent options for adding beautiful glass designs to your entryway without sacrificing energy efficiency or security. Available in a variety of designs, it’s easy to find a style that complements your home, each with varying levels of privacy and natural light to fit your needs.
When it comes to adding natural light with entry door glass inserts, it’s best to identify your top priorities so that you know exactly which options are right for you. But with numerous options available, you’ll surely find your perfect fit. Get started designing your dream door with Plastpro’s Doorability, or find a dealer near you.
