Interior glass doors are growing in popularity for both residential and commercial spaces as per their stylish look and practical benefits. With various styles and options now available, glass doors can transform any room by letting in natural light while providing privacy, security, and energy efficiency. In the section below, we’ll explore the latest trends in interior glass doors and key factors to consider for your home or office.
1. Safety and security with Modern Glass Doors
Unlike classic wood or solid core doors, glass interior doors allow light to filter through while obscuring clear views into the room. However, contrary to popular belief, glass doors are quite secure when made of tempered or laminated glass.
Tempered glass is treated with extreme heat to withstand more pressure and impact without shattering. When it does break, it fractures into small rounded chunks rather than dangerous sharp shards, making it a safer choice.
2. Preserving Privacy with Frosted & Tinted Glass
Tinted glass doors have special coatings or films for colour and privacy. Gray, bronze, green, and other hues can match your décor while preventing people from quickly seeing inside. Tints can be light to moderately dark, depending on the level of privacy desired. Consider the tint’s opacity and desired light transmittance for each room.
3. Low Emissivity Glass Doors for Energy Efficiency
Low emissivity (Low-E) glass is specially coated with a microscopically thin metallic layer to reflect interior heat back inside. This creates an insulating effect for energy efficiency. Low-E glass reduces heat loss in cold weather and reflects solar heat gain in warm weather.
Low-E coatings are often added to one glass surface facing the sealed airspace between panes on modern dual-pane glass doors. This acts as a thermal buffer zone, slowing heat flow for improved insulation. Some glass doors even have Low-E layers on both inner surfaces for further efficiency.
Key Factors When Selecting Interior Glass Doors
With many styles and customization options now available for interior glass doors, it’s important to consider key factors for your home or office’s specific needs:
- Desired aesthetics – Browse modern interior glass doors like French, room dividers, bi-fold, sliding, swing, or full-lite doors to find the right visual look. Also, decide on framing finishes and hardware styles.
- Functionality – Consider access, openings, and traffic flow through the space.
- Room lighting needs – Clear glass doors beautifully illuminate rooms with natural light. Frosted glass diffuses light softly while still allowing brightness through. Tinted glass controls glare and heat gain if there is too much direct sunlight.
- Noise control & privacy – Glass material, seals, gas fills, dual panes, gaskets, and installation quality all play a part in sound transmission if noise management is important. Privacy levels vary widely depending on glass opacity.
- Durability – Assess door location, likelihood of damage, and ongoing use levels. Tempered safety glass is very durable and required for glass near floor level.
- Energy efficiency – High-performance Low-E glass makes a difference in climates with cold winters and hot summers. Look for ENERGY STAR ratings to indicate good U-values, R-values, and solar heat gain performance.
- Price range – Interior glass doors are pricier than solid doors but provide beautiful looks, natural light, and good insulation over time. Set a budget while factoring in long-lasting quality to match your needs.
- Accessibility and safety code compliance – If needed, ensure doors and hardware selected meet accessibility standards and fire codes for commercial spaces or multi-family residential buildings.
Conclusion
Take time to analyse the above factors when choosing interior glass doors carefully. This ensures the perfect custom fit functionally and aesthetically for your residential or commercial space. The right glass doors can enhance any room with style, light, and innovative use of space for years to come. You can reach out to AIS Glass to get the top-quality glass for your home or office.