How To Add Windows to Your Garage Door

Adding windows to an existing garage door is no easy task. Many times it requires the use of a jig to make sure the windows are cut straight and centered. This usually requires a garage door company to remove your section and take it to a distributor. There is lots of time involved with this including driving, removal and reinstallation of section, the time it takes the distributor to cut the windows, and the cost of the glass and frames.

This is the reason why this type of service is not usually offered by a garage door company. Many times the cost of having something like this done outweighs the benefits of the windows. On some occasions, you can have a complete new door installed for a little more money. Enter faux window kits.

Inexpensive Faux Window Kit

Changing the style of your garage door can have a dramatic effect on the look of your home, especially if your garage door faces the street. Installing faux decorative magnetic garage door windows will improve the look of your garage door and home and they can be installed in minutes. Faux window kits are easy to install and add value to your home at a very inexpensive cost.

For less than it cost to go out to dinner, you can transform the look of your home. Faux garage door magnetic window kits are inexpensive and provide a perceived value many times their cost. This is one of the best budget home improvement projects you can do that will add years of satisfaction every time you drive up to your home.

Faux Windows Will Fool a Garage Door Pro

Faux magnetic window kits are so realistic looking, they can fool a garage door pro. When driving by a home, you will not be able to tell the difference between faux windows and real windows. From a distance they will fool even the most seasoned garage door pro.

I hate to admit it, but they fooled me while out on a service call. On the outside it looks like blacked out windows. You don’t think twice about it because why should you. Once you get inside the garage there is no glass. I had to do a double take while at a customers home changing a spring. It was the first time I had ever seen faux magnetic windows on a garage door.

Get the Look and Keep Your Privacy

One of the biggest benefits of faux garage door windows is you get the transformative look of windows on your garage door while maintaining security and privacy. Not having actual glass in the top prevents anyone from looking into your garage. It also prevents a thief from breaking the glass in your top section and pulling the red emergency release rope to gain access into the garage. You get the decorative look without giving up on safety and security.

Easy Installation

Faux magnetic garage door windows are attached using magnets. There are no screws or glues involved. All you have to do is attached each piece to the garage door and position them so they look correct. That’s its! Anyone can install a faux window kit and no tools are required.

Garage Door Return on Investment

On most homes today the garage door makes up one half of the front of the home. Changing the look of your home will add drastic curb appeal and increase the perceived value of your home. New garage doors have an average of 94% return on investment and continually rank as one of the best home improvement projects. Adding a faux garage door window kit to your existing garage door will have a similar affect.

Real Windows Can Be Expensive

Like we discussed at the beginning of this article, adding windows to an existing garage door can be expensive and labor intensive. Many garage door companies will not cut windows into your garage door section while at your property because it is hard to cut the windows straight without a jig or template. Garage door distributors and manufacturers use a jig which is a template that guides their router so windows are cut straight into a section. This jig provides perfect results every single time.

In addition to having the windows cut, you will need to purchase the glass, window frames, and window inserts. The window frames provide the finished look and hold the glass in place. The window inserts are installed from the outside and create the preferred style. All of these parts add up quickly and many times its cheaper to have a new section with glass ordered if your brand and model of garage door is still available.

Model of Garage Door is No Longer Available

If your existing model of garage door is no longer manufactured, many dealers will not touch it. The reason for this is if a mistake is made by the garage door company when cutting windows into your section, they will be responsible for replacing the section.

The bigger risk runs if that particular model of garage door is no longer available. The garage door company attempting to cut windows into your existing garage door would have to replace the complete door if they make a mistake when cutting windows onsite. This is the main reason why it is usually not done at the customers residence… not to mention it is very time consuming when doing it free hand without a jig or template.

Many garage doors installed by home builders are purchased on a national contract and the doors are discontinued every 2-4 years so there is a constant rotation of new garage doors being sold. It’s a game the manufacturers seem to play. If you need replacement sections, you end up having to replace the whole door.

You Must Check Your Garage Door First

The first thing you must do is make sure your garage door is magnetic. You can test this with a refrigerator magnet to see if it will attach to your garage door. If it does, then you are good to go.

The next thing you need to check is the raised panel impression on your garage door that the magnetic windows are to be installed on. The minimum panel size will be stated on the manufacturer specs as well as the magnetic square dimensions. Four squares make up one window and simulate a window with a decorative window insert on the style we saw in the field. The kits usually come with high grade black coated PVC magnets that are weatherproof and washable.

If you are looking for a fast, budget friendly home improvement project, try installing a faux decorative magnetic garage door windows. This improvement will transform the look of your home. Heck, you may even pass up your home the next time you pull into your neighborhood. If they can fool a garage door pro, they can fool anyone.

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