How to choose the right glass door for your home

Glass doors are gaining more and more space in the different environments of the house. They appear in modern constructions integrating both external and internal areas with a lot of elegance.

The use of glass allows a smoother transition from one room to another, especially in the case of outdoor areas with gardens, where you can create the feeling that the plants are part of the house interior as well.

The neutrality of glass doors makes it easier to think of combinations with furniture and coverings. Another advantage it offers is the ease of cleaning, all you need is a cloth with soap and water and in minutes your door will be clean again. The possibilities are many for this type of material, if necessary you can even have your door custom made.

Because it is a popular item, it is common to find many specialized professionals who will know how to guide you about the necessary care after installation. When well located, the glass helps to take advantage of the natural light inside the house, helping to keep your space well illuminated throughout the day.

After reading about some of the advantages of using glass doors, it is easy to understand why they have become a trend over the past few years. Therefore, opting for glass doors is a good start for those who wish to adhere to architecture with a modern touch.

Where can I use glass doors?

Because they do not ensure as much privacy as a wooden or aluminum door, it is very common for glass doors to be used in social areas of the house, such as living rooms, kitchens and balconies.In a more delimiting way, without worrying so much about the environment's luminosity, it is possible to use films or sandblasting techniques that make the material more matte.

If you want to optimize the rooms in your house, the option for a sliding glass door is a sure thing. Widely used in small environments, this type of door saves unnecessary use of space, allowing the area that would be occupied by a common door to be used for other purposes.rails and pulleys

Flávio Fernandes, director of FF Vidros, a specialist in the segment, shares some of his knowledge with us: "Some time ago, glass doors were used at most in closings from the living room to balconies. However, today with more modern decorations, glass is being much more explored. As in divisions from the living room to the kitchen, bathrooms, lavabo, and especially from the kitchenfor service area, since it is common to see apartments with kitchen and service area integrated practically in one corridor.

Below we will go into more detail about each of the spaces where glass doors are welcome.

External glass door

It is not very common to use glass entrance doors, except in more commercial or corporate buildings. Nevertheless, it is possible to innovate at the entrance of your home by using glass doors with textures or even frosted glass.

In addition to enhancing the aesthetics of your property, glass is usually resistant and marries very well with areas that get wet frequently. A good example are the doors that divide the balcony or the garden from the rest of the house's interior, in these cases, the transparent ones are the most indicated, because they bring elements from the outside to the inside of the house.

Although glass is a more clean and minimalist material, there are color variations that match different styles, such as greenish and smoked glass.The important thing is to create a balance between all the elements of the decoration.

Internal glass door

The glass that is part of the house has different thicknesses according to its location, wind incidence, and its total area. In the case of internal partitions it is indicated to use 8mm thick glass, a little more resistant than the thickness of conventional windows.

The development of this area in recent years has made it possible for glass doors to also gain thermo-acoustic function. In other words, you can purchase a glass door for your living room, for example, without worrying about the noise coming from the television in other rooms. Made of two layers of glass separated by an air chamber, double glazing has become the best choice to reduce the noise produced by the television in other rooms.noises.

Glass door separating kitchen and laundry room

"The presence of glass in the partition between the kitchen and the laundry room adds charm to the environment, takes up no space and requires no construction work in the apartment.normally the only entrance of natural light is in the service area," explains Fernandes.

The functionality of this partition, especially in apartments, is to prevent the smell of food from reaching the clothes in the laundry room. In addition, the door separates two very distinct environments, preventing visitors entering the kitchen from finding a pile of clothes in the laundry area or the noise of the washing machine.

Available types of glass for doors

The versatility present in the glass available in the market is considerable, which makes it difficult to choose which one best suits your needs. Over the years there has been a great improvement in the quality of the glass used in constructions, taking into consideration characteristics such as hardness, sound insulation, transparency, thermal conductivity, and many others.

Therefore, it is important that you pay attention to the factor that is most important for your environment when choosing the ideal glass for your door.

Sandblasted glass

Blasted doors are sought after when a solution is sought for more private areas, such as offices and even bathrooms. In this type of door, grit blasts or abrasive powders are used on the transparent glass to transform it into translucent and slightly roughened glass.

The disadvantage of sandblasted glass is that over time it can accumulate dirt such as fingerprint marks, grease, among others. And, since it is a rougher material, these soot ends up getting impregnated in the material, making it impossible to clean.

However, there are already replacements for the traditional blasting technique, one of them being adhesives that imitate the matte effect of the process very well. Another option is to apply substances that will protect your door and make cleaning easier.

Tempered glass

Tempered glass is known for its hardness, with mechanical resistance up to 5 times greater than ordinary glass. In its production a thermal shock is performed, in which the material is heated and cooled quickly, making it much stiffer. This type of glass, when broken, does not produce sharp shards, but small rounded pieces.

Due to its strength, this glass does not allow any kind of cutting after the tempering process, so the addition of screws or the polishing process must be done while the glass is still in its natural state, otherwise any kind of perforation in the material can cause the whole piece to shatter.

Square and dotted glass

This type of glass brings delicacy to the environment together with a certain degree of privacy and luminosity. This texture can be used perfectly in the division of the kitchen with the laundry room.

The dotted glass, which is also textured, helps to distort images and diffuse light.

Crystal glass

Crystal or transparent glass is the popular common glass widely used in windows and, when it breaks, it ends up resulting in several sharp and cutting pieces. It can be said that this is the least resistant glass when compared to tempered and laminated glass. Its use is not recommended for doors, due to its fragility and low hardness.

Laminated glass

This type of material is manufactured with two glass sheets, which can be textured, tempered, or even tinted. After being glued by a transparent film (PVB, EVA, or resin) the sheets are pressed until they are totally glued. This process results in a type of glass that when broken does not cause any shattering, because the fragments remain glued to the film.

Laminated glass is considered one of the most expensive of all safety glass, but its mechanism can avoid countless incidents, especially when there are children in the house. There is a variation of the common laminated glass, which is the acoustic laminated glass, where a special PVB is added, which works as a great acoustic insulator.

Types of finishing for glass doors

Before acquiring them, it is important to understand the different materials that compose them and analyze the most adequate for your case.

The professional Flávio Fernandes explains that for him the finishings are the most precarious part when it comes to glass doors: "The types of finishings and fittings don't leave us with many options, and the great care that one should take when hiring the service of a glazier is with the quality of the material".

He continues, "In today's market, more and more materials of dubious quality are appearing. With the growing competition, many sell a service and don't value the quality they deliver, seemingly only concerned with the sale of the moment and not with the satisfaction of the client, who will soon be in trouble.

For this reason, despite being seen as mere details, the finishing touches must receive special care so that in the future headaches can be avoided. Even if the glass is handpicked, it is of no use if the other finishings are of poor quality. Learn a little more about the most commonly used materials, their advantages and disadvantages.

Aluminum

If this is your finishing option, the tip is to acquire those that receive a chrome or satin chrome bath, because this component will increase the aluminum's durability.

Despite the attractive price and the possible resemblance to stainless steel, the daily contact of time and grease from hands causes aluminum to oxidize and eventually darken over time. In the case of coastal regions or regions with high humidity levels, the care with the pieces must be doubled.

Stainless steel

The stainless steel is usually highly recommended for places with a large flow of people, because its material is resistant to various types of abrasive agents, including rust. Unlike carbon steel, also known only as steel, the stainless steel receives a homogeneous layer of chromium throughout its surface. This component, when in contact with air forms a resistant layer that protects thesteel.

The stainless steel finishing options usually leave the house with a modern and elegant touch, because this material has a unique shine. It is very common to notice its presence in current constructions, especially in external areas, where there is continuous action of weather effects. Its cleaning is simple, just water and soap for its shine to return. For its quality and durability, this material is usuallymore expensive than the others, so it is necessary to consider if it is really the ideal one for your finish.

Wood

Wood has become increasingly sought after in recent years, some attribute this to its value, which is usually low. Because it is a little more delicate, wood finishes are indicated for interiors, so that they do not suffer damage from exposure to sun or rain. Its natural appearance will leave the environment with a more rustic atmosphere and in some cases will addsobriety.

Types of glass doors

Besides the traditional opening door, there are a variety of glass door models that must be chosen according to the available space in the room and the aesthetics of the environment.

Opening glass door

This type of door is normally used as a substitute for the traditional wooden doors. "To avoid possible accidents, the opening glass door can have a hydraulic spring for operation, especially at entrances to gyms, buildings, and restaurants," says Fernandes.

Sliding glass door

For the specialist Flávio Fernandes, the sliding door is considered one of the best, because it takes up little space and, depending on the type of installation chosen, the opening gap is much more used. In addition, this type of door integrates environments more easily, the kitchen, for example, can be integrated to the dining room during special occasions.

Stanley sliding doors

This type of installation allows larger openings. Fernandes explains that, "depending on how many sliding leaves are placed, the opening can be up to 80% open, which requires a certain amount of care in its use. It is important to consult a professional in the area to explain your needs and understand the pros and cons of each type of sliding door.

Boomerang Glass Door

With a more refined finish, this type of door has a higher cost than the others. "They are often used by those who want a luxurious finish in their home. But, I always remember that the acoustic and thermal insulation of this installation is not among the best. However, it is worth using it when possible", says Fernandes.

Glass pivot door

For Fernandes, "pivoting doors are usually used at the main entrance of the house or apartment, because we can have a wide opening door, giving more refinement and passage space at the main entrance of the residence.

Glass Shrimp Door

"Popular in videos on the internet, swing doors seem like the solution of the gods for small spaces. Despite this, it is one of the installations I least recommend. I consider it dangerous, because it is not that simple to handle and requires greater attention to its maintenance. In the case of a possible breakage in the largest supporting part, the others will also break and may result in a seriousaccident," says Fernandes.

20 beautiful and functional glass doors

After understanding a little more about glass doors, check out examples where they have been responsible for adding value to different spaces in the house. Get inspired by these incredible environments!

1. the glass door allows the room to gain natural light

2. the feeling that nature is part of the room is inevitable

3. it is common to find glass doors as partitions between external and internal areas

4. the kitchen, usually a darker room, was enhanced by the luminosity

5. the sliding door allows for great air circulation in the rooms

6. the finishes can harmonize with the rest of the room

7. small rooms marry very well with sliding doors

8. pendants help with the modern touch

9. handles end up gaining prominence in plain glass doors

10. a simple pull door can also be the ideal solution

11. the colors and materials chosen gave a tone of sobriety and grandeur to the outdoor area

12. great example for those who want to dare in the use of glass

13. doors with integrated blinds help control sunlight

14. aluminum finishes range from matte to high-gloss

15. the light tones harmonize well with the wood of this outdoor area

16. tall doors are synonymous with greatness

17. green glass is popular when it comes to outdoor areas

18. in addition to letting in natural light, this type of door adds a lot of style to the room

How to clean and lubricate glass doors?

There is no mystery in cleaning glass doors, Fernandes considers the process very simple, the important thing is to be careful not to use abrasive materials.

"A good example of material that should never be used when cleaning glass is the green side of cleaning sponges, as the tiny steel wires can cause irreparable scratches on the glass. Warm water with mild detergent and a good cloth to dry is one of the best ways to clean glass. The key is to remember to always dry after cleaning. Letting it dry naturally will usually leaveIn some cases it is even recommended to apply car wax or something of the sort, which forms a transparent film, and will make it easier for the water to drain more and not stick to the surface of the glass. It takes some work, but it prolongs the useful life of the glass", explains Fernandes.

Glass tends to accumulate residues such as dust, stains and fingerprints very easily. The frequency of cleaning will vary according to the location of your glass door, places of greater movement or exposure to the weather, for example, will require more frequent cleaning. Try to perform periodic maintenance, because with the help of a glazier the useful life of your installations will be much longer.larger.

The variety of styles and colors allows any internal or external environment to receive a glass door, so don't be afraid to use and abuse this material to enhance the beauty of your room.sliding door.