What to Look for When Choosing the Type of Glass for Storefront Doors

Customers often get their first impression of an establishment even before they enter. For this reason, which storefront doors you select matters.

Many owners believe that they need to research only the type of glass used in storefront doors, but many other factors exist. Whether you’re looking for a door that gives your customers extra privacy or security, there are a number of choices that could potentially increase foot traffic and improve your customers’ shopping experience.

How to Pick the Best Glass for Storefront Doors

When considering entrance doors for your business, first think about how you want your customers to feel when entering and exiting your store. Do they need to feel safe despite being in a crime-ridden or hurricane-prone location? Is it essential that they feel like they are in an isolated environment for privacy? Should they feel like your store is more open, like an extension of the outside?

Before you delve into choosing a type of glass for your doors, there are important factors to consider such as the following.

• Durability: How durable your storefront doors need to be depends on your location and climate. Do you need your doors to be able to withstand high winds? Extreme heat? Frigid temperatures? When making your choice, keep in mind why you need strong doors.
• Safety: Similar to the durability factor, safety can mean many things. Is your building located in a crime-ridden area? Are severe weather conditions such as hurricanes or blizzards a concern? Be sure to choose a glass that meets your specific security need.
• Privacy: If discretion is an important part of your business, you may want to choose a glass style that obscures the outside view such as frosted or tinted.
• Aesthetics: How important is the outside look of your store? For some, it only matters that the store is secure or private. For others, visuals outweigh privacy. If you’re looking for a large open space, it may be best to choose an option with long transparent glass.

Type of Glass Used in Storefront Doors

Specific types of glass in storefront doors are used for different purposes. Below we’ve listed some of the best options to help you make an informed decision:

Tempered

Tempered glass offers safety, durability, and options for privacy. It is one of the strongest types that exists, as it’s manufactured by applying heat to toughen the exterior. In addition to its strength, it is a safe option since it simply crumbles into smooth, round fragments when it breaks. It’s also possible to order tempered glass in tinted or frosted form for added privacy.

Laminated

Laminated glass is known for being a safe and durable option. It is frequently used by business owners who are concerned about break-ins and in service doors that get heavy use. Made with two sheets of glass that have vinyl in the middle, laminated glass stays put in its frame when shattered. It’s also faster to replace should it break. Laminated glass can be upgraded to frosted or tinted, giving it some flexibility to be customized.

Fire-rated

This option consists of fire-protective and fire-resistant glass. If your business is located in an area where there’s imminent risk of a fire, you may want to take a look at fire-rated glass doors. The fire-protective variety prevents the spread of fire and smoke while fire-resistant doors block both the spread of fire and radiant heat.

Hurricane

Hurricane glass is built to withstand high impact winds of up to 200mph, along with flying debris. Known for its sturdiness, this glass type is preferred by store owners facing either severe weather conditions or a heightened risk of theft.

Security

Security doors have a film coating that’s fitted over the glass. If you’re concerned about having to replace an entire pane of glass should it break, security film may be your answer. In the instance of a crack or break, only the film needs to be replaced, as the film will make sure that the original glass stays in its frame. It also is a viable option for those who are looking for storefront window or door tinting.

Wire

Wire glass is known for its unique design. It’s made by embedding a wired configuration into a glass sheet just before it enters the rollers. Although the embedded wire will hold the glass in its frame should it break, wire glass is not the sturdiest option on the market.

Bullet-resistant

Made up of laminate and glass, bullet-resistant glass bears a name that gives away its purpose. A polycarbonate layer in between the glazing absorbs the impact of bullets. Its effectiveness increases with its thickness.

FAQs about Commercial Glass Used in Storefront Doors

Can commercial glass storefront doors be made of regular glass?

Storefront doors are usually made of tempered or laminated glass for safety reasons. There are some older storefronts that use annealed (or “regular”) glass, but the safety and security advantages of other stronger glass types make replacing annealed door glazing well worth it.

Is there a type of commercial glass door that is unbreakable?

No. Even the strongest type of glass will break if the right amount of force is applied. However, “breaking” looks different for every glass type. For instance, broken laminated glass cracks but stays in its frame, whereas shattered tempered glass exits its frame in small, smooth pebble-like pieces. Tempered glass that has been laminated does not fall out of its frame at all.

Our Storefront Glass Door Repair

Your local Glass Doctor technician can help you repair existing storefront glass or install a glass type that fits the needs of your business. Call us today or schedule an appointment online for immediate service.