Front Door Glass Panels: The Pros and Cons

Homeowners certainly have a lot to think about when selecting a new front door. In addition to choosing things like the door’s material and finish, you must also decide which additional features (if any) you’d like your door to have.   

The possibilities are nearly endless and range from decorative wrought iron accents to charming dentil shelves to interesting molding and trim. But glass panels are undoubtedly some of the most popular features modern homeowners look for in a front door. 

But are glass panels always a good idea? Do they present any drawbacks?

We’ll dive into this question and explain some of the key things you’ll want to think about when considering doors with glass panels below!

The Benefits Glass Panels Present

Glass panels offer a number of clear benefits, which is part of the reason they’re so popular among modern homeowners. Some of the key benefits they provide include:

1. Natural Light

Windows allow sunlight to pass into your home, which not only provides more illumination, but it also helps improve the “feel” of the room – most people would rather spend time in rooms with natural light than those that are entirely lit by artificial means. 

But even more importantly, homes with natural light are typically associated with lower rates of depression and accidents. Natural light can also help promote healthy sleep habits, which provides an array of second-order health benefits.  

2. Aesthetic Appeal

While individual tastes clearly vary, many people find doors with windows to be aesthetically pleasing. This means that you will not only enjoy your home now, but it’ll also increase your home’s curb appeal, which will allow you to increase your asking price. 

It is worth noting that while you may enjoy unusual or especially distinctive windows, potential home buyers may prefer more middle-of-the-road choices. So, consider whether you are more interested in selecting windows that appeal to your specific preferences or as a way of increasing your home’s value.  

3. Improved Views

Front door windows provide the chance to see your front yard and neighborhood more, which many people find appealing. This can be particularly beneficial for homeowners who put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into their lawn or garden. 

If the idea of better views is an important part of your front-door-selection algebra, you should probably opt for doors with large windows. For example, our Full Lite Mahagony Door features four large windows that will provide an excellent view of your yard. 

4. Safety & Security

It’s never a good idea to open your front door unless you can see who is standing on the other side. That’s why many doors feature peepholes in the first place. However, peepholes provide a fairly limited (and often distorted) view, which is less than ideal. For example, you probably wouldn’t be able to read a nametag or package label through a peephole. 

But with even a moderate-sized window, you should have a clear view of everyone and everything on the other side of your door. 

5. Individuality

Because many doors are available with several window options, they give you a great chance to express some individuality and ensure your front door doesn’t look like every other one on your street. 

For example, you can not only select doors with windows of different shapes, sizes, and numbers, but you can also decide whether or not to add other accessories. You can even select different types of glass for many doors, including both completely transparent and opaque options.  

The Drawbacks Glass Panels Present

While glass panels can certainly offer value, they do present a few drawbacks, which homeowners should consider before choosing a front door. Some of the most noteworthy things you’ll want to think about include:

1. Privacy Concerns

Earlier, we mentioned that windows provide improved views and characterized this as a benefit of doors with glass panels. However, there is a flip side to this: If you can see out of your front door, that means other people can see inside your home. 

Some homeowners opt to install curtains or other types of window treatments to prevent nosy neighbors from peering inside, but that prevents you from enjoying the improved views. Instead, a better idea is to simply install a privacy tint film, which will allow you to see out of your home, while preventing others from seeing in. 

2. Security Risks

For the most part, a high-quality front door fitted with a proper lock can be considered safe and secure. However, windows represent a very real vulnerability; it isn’t hard for a criminal to chuck a rock through a piece of glass. 

You can slightly decrease this security risk by installing bars over the windows, but this tends to reduce the visual appeal of the glass and block your view (which is part of the reason you likely wanted the windows in the first place). Accordingly, most security-minded homeowners who want a front door with windows maintain things like home monitoring systems or video doorbells to help provide as much security as is possible. 

3. Increased Maintenance

It’s important to clean your front door periodically, even if it is completely solid. However, well-finished front doors often continue to look great for quite a while – meaning weeks or months – between cleanings. The same cannot be said of window glass. You’ll usually find it necessary to clean glass panels about once a week or so. 

It probably won’t take you very long to clean the windows in your front door (especially if you choose a door with small windows), but it is something to consider when making your choice. 

4. Fragility

One of the obvious downsides of glass is that it can break. Now, the high-quality glass used in Knockety front doors is actually quite durable, but the fact remains that glass is more likely to break than wood, fiberglass, or other materials. 

Of course, you can purchase replacement glass if your front door windows become chipped, cracked, or shattered, but that will hit you in the wallet a bit. Broken glass will also represent a safety hazard, which is worth considering — especially if you live with pets or small children. 

5. Cost

One final drawback to glass that’s worth considering is its cost; doors with windows typically cost more than similar models that lack windows. This is primarily a reflection of the materials cost involved, but there is also additional labor to factor in, as it is simply more time consuming to construct doors with windows than it is to build solid doors. 

Now, these costs may be offset by the increased curb appeal and home-sale price we discussed earlier in the benefits section. You’ll just have to consider the issue carefully, if the increased costs are an important factor in your decision-making process. 

One Other Consideration: Insulation

Historically, front doors with windows presented one more significant drawback: The glass would allow drastic temperature swings, not only making it more challenging to keep the temperature in your home comfortable but also increasing your heating and cooling costs. 

However, modern, high-quality doors with built-in windows — such as those in the Knockety lineup — usually feature double- or triple-pane glass, which help to provide more effective insulation. This has all but eliminated the insulation problems that were formerly common among doors with glass panels.  

Whether You Want Glass Panels or Not, Choose a Knockety Front Door

No matter whether you feel that glass panels make sense for your front door, or you’d prefer a solid model instead, Knockety offers an array of high-quality options. 

From our Knotty Alder Solid 2 Panel Square Wood Door, which doesn’t include any glass, to our 1 Lite Narrow Profile Fiberglass Door, which is mostly glass, we have a model that will perfectly suit your home and tastes. 

But no matter which model you choose, or how many glass panels you’d prefer, you can be confident that you’ll receive a high-quality, US-made door that’s assembled by professional craftsmen, rather than the mass-produced, low-quality options offered elsewhere. 

Check out our full lineup of front doors here or stop by our Houston, Texas showroom to see them in person!