Considering an exterior glass wall system for your home? Chances are, you love the elegance and modern feel these structures lend to any space. Glass walls make a room feel spacious and bring the outdoors into the home. Of course, there are some visual and engineering elements to consider as you design your perfect exterior glass wall.
While not all Glass Doctor locations design or install exterior glass walls, our teams are on hand to help you repair or replace these glass panes. Read on to learn what our expert service professionals think you should know as you design your dream exterior glass wall and how we can help you maintain it for years to come.
What Is an Exterior Glass Wall
Great question! An exterior glass wall refers to any exterior wall made primarily of windows and window framing.
Exterior glass walls may be constructed of fixed panels or panes, glass doors or a combination of both. When you begin designing your space, you may need to balance the aesthetics of large panes of glass against your need for framing or other engineering.
Environmental Considerations for Exterior Glass Walls
Should you choose to install an exterior glass wall in your home, you'll have many options to choose from. Much of your glass wall design might be determined by where you live.
For example:
- In sunny regions, homeowners may keep harmful ultraviolet rays out of your home by installing reflective low-emissivity (low-E) glass.
- Homeowners who live on the Gulf or Eastern Seaboard should opt for glass designed to withstand strong weather patterns, often called hurricane glass.
- In extremely hot or extremely cold regions, homeowners should choose insulated or double pane glass windows for maximum efficiency.
Designing Your Exterior Glass Walls
There are a number of factors that will affect the kind of exterior glass wall you install in your home.
These include:
- The dimensions of the space
Do you want to convert one wall into glass, or multiple? Does the wall include a door that you'll need to convert, as well? Your local Glass Doctor® service professional may help you to determine the optimal panel size, frame thickness and frame placement.
- Focal points and features
Maximize the aesthetics of the outdoors with your custom exterior glass wall. Your local Glass Doctor may work with you to design a wall that showcases everything you love about your view.
- Engineering the wall
There's a bit of engineering required here, too. This means you will need structures like pillars or frames to carry the weight..
- Sliding or swinging doors
Glass walls may include sliding or swinging glass doors. A glass door of any design can be an incredible statement piece for your home. There are many innovative solutions for space or aesthetic concerns, including stacking or folding doors, multitrack designs or even simple swinging doors.
How Does Glass Doctor Maintain and Repair Exterior Glass Walls?
Designing and installing exterior glass walls often requires significant engineering. While our service professionals are not architects or engineers, they are experts in maintaining the glass in these walls for the long term. If you currently have an exterior glass wall in your home that requires repair or you've recently installed an exterior glass wall and would like to know more about maintenance or other upgrades, contact your local Glass Doctor. Call or request an appointment online to get started.
