Type of Glass Door – How should I choose?

Are you looking to purchase glass doors for your property? The good news is that there are a wide variety of glass door options available in the modern era. Each of these door types offer distinct advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the right glass doors can be tricky, so this guide can help you narrow down your choices to make a suitable selection.
What are Glass Doors?
As their name suggests, glass doors are doors made of glass. These doors usually feature frames made from wood or metal. However, modern glass doors may also feature frames made from special materials such as vinyl.
Benefits of Installing Glass Doors
Glass doors have been around since the early 20th century. Such doors are favored for their modern aesthetic and because they allow light to freely pass through into rooms. The right glass door arrangement can help fill an indoor space with natural light and give it a warmer and more welcoming appearance.
Types of Glass Doors
There are many types of glass doors available in the present day. You may prefer one over the other due to functionality or simply as a personal preference. The various glass door types available include:
Sliding Door
Sliding doors are doors that open by sliding horizontally. Such doors could be mounted onto a ground track for guided sliding. Alternatively, they may be suspended from a track above the frame. Sliding doors offer swift and easy access to areas that are commonly used. They are ideal for patios, backyards, and gardens.
Lift Sliding Door
Lift sliding doors appear similar to ordinary sliding doors at first. However, they feature a mechanism that lifts the door panel off their track before sliding horizontally. They also have a handle to ensure the door locks in place in its closed position. These doors are ideal for patios as they can be opened easily and without using much force.
Folding Door
Folding doors feature multiple panels that fold and unfold when opening or closing the door. These doors work great as room dividers in homes. They are also commonly used for wardrobes.
French Door
French doors feature glass panes across the majority of their length. They are also called french windows as they tend to resemble tall windows. These doors are commonly used for patios because they add a nice touch to home exteriors.
Hinged Single Door
Hinge single doors feature a single swinging door. Such doors may have single or multiple glass panels. Hinge single doors are commonly used for shower cubicles and in commercial buildings.
Pivot Door
Pivot doors feature a pivot above center of the door that allows them to turn or swivel. Unlike hinged doors, this design does not require hinges along the door’s sides. They typically use two pivots, with one at the top and one at the bottom of the door. They are frequently used as patio and front-entry doors.
Stacking Door
Stacking doors appear similar to ordinary sliding doors at first glance. However, they feature multiple sliding doors in front of each other. These panels may be thinner than the ones used on single panel sliding doors. They are commonly used as vista viewing doors.
Types of Glass Door Frames
Glass doors are available with different types of frames. It is also possible to find glass doors that are frameless. Let’s examine each of these types.
Vinyl /uPVC Frames
Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride or uPVC is a common building material used in residential properties. This compound is used in door frames because it serves as a great substitute for wood while remaining affordable.
Pros of Vinyl /uPVC Frames
Cons of Vinyl /uPVC Frames
Aluminum Frames
Aluminum frames feature frames made from aluminum. Doors with these frames offer many benefits due to the material advantages aluminum provides. They require little maintenance and do not need to be polished. They are also strong and weatherproof, which improves their lifespan.
Pros of Aluminum Frames
Cons of Aluminum Frames
Wood Frames
Wooden frames are frames made from a type of wood such as pine and cedar. Wood has been used in doors for centuries, and looks even better when in glass door frames. Such frames offer a nostalgic appearance that is considered classic.
Pros of Wood Frames
Cons of Wood Frames
Frameless
Frameless glass doors typically feature thick tempered glass plates. They often include a thin rail on top and below them. Frameless glass doors are commonly used in restaurants, bars, and cafes. Many shops also use them for their entrance doors.
Pros of Frameless Glass Doors
Cons of Frameless Glass Doors
Glass Type
The glass panels used in glass doors come in many different types. This includes:
Clear Glass
As their name suggests, clear glass panels feature a clear appearance that allow you to see through them freely. They allow light to pass through easily, which can help brighten up indoor spaces.
Frosted Glass
Frosted glass doors feature a clear glass panel that was turned opaque using acid etching or sandblasting processes. This frosted appearance makes the glass translucent. This partially obscures visibility while still allowing some light to pass through.
Tinted Glass
Tinted glass doors feature glass that is made darker through the addition of coloring. This tint could be completely black or shades that are lighter. This type of glass can help make indoor spaces more energy efficient by limiting the amount of heat that enters via sunlight. These tints also limit glare and offer extra privacy in the indoor space they are set up in.
Reflective Glass
Reflective glass can be tinted or clear glass that features a thin layer or metal oxide on its surface. This reflective coating provides a mirror-like appearance and can pair well with other building exterior features.
When set up properly, reflective glass allows you to see outside clearly without letting the inside be visible. This glass type also reflects sunlight, which can help save on energy costs.
Low-E Glass
Low emissivity or Low-E glass features a special glazing that improves thermal efficiency. This glass looks similar to ordinary clear glass, but offers energy saving benefits. Low-E glass can also offer better UV protection than clear glass. This can help protect your furniture and family from UV-ray exposure. In addition to this, it offers less glare than clear glass.
Laminated Glass
Laminated glass panels are created by bonding one or more layers or glass with special resin. This layer helps hold the glass panels together when struck. Laminated glass doors offer better safety than ordinary glass doors, and are commonly used for shop front doors and conference rooms doors.
Tempered Glass
Tempered glass doors use a special type of glass that has undergone thermal or chemical treatments to enhance its strength. This type of glass is commonly used in shower doors as the glass is able to withstand hot water temperatures. Tempered glass tends to break into rounded or cube shaped shards rather than jagged uneven pieces. This makes it safer to install in bathrooms compared to other glass types.
Ready to Get Started on Your Next Glass Door Project?
If you are ready to get started on your next glass door project, please contact WANJIA. We are one of the leading producers of glass doors, and also offer a wide variety of other doors and windows. You can see our selection of glass doors at our website.
We offer high-quality glass doors you can rely on, and at affordable rates. We ensure each of our glass door products are easy to install. Our experts can guide you in both the door selection and installation process. Please contact us today to take the next step in your glass door project.