Commercial glass doors can be a great addition to your business site, adding a barrier against intrusion, sound, or outside air while improving a sense of openness in the office. You've got a lot of options, so knowing some glass doors basics can help you narrow the choices before you start your search for the best door. Whether you're looking for exterior or interior glass doors, sliding glass doors or industrial glass doors for a warehouse or factory setting, you can find a number of specialists online.

Glass door providers offer products for residential or commercial settings in a number of styles. This guide details some of the options available:

1. Find glass business doors for any office or industrial setting.
2. Choose your own look with help from custom glass door manufacturers.
3. Get installation services as well as products from many glass door makers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find online glass door providers offering products for any business setting

Glass doors for business settings can be appropriate for most workplaces. A glass exterior door lets potential customers or clients see into your place of work and invites them in. Glass doors in business sites foster a sense of community among employees by giving an air of openness. Find online manufacturers and suppliers selling standard glass doors to fit your business needs.

I recommend: Atascadero Glass provides a wide variety of glass door systems for commercial and residential projects. Pella provides a variety of commercial glass doors available in an array of sizes.

Contact a custom glass door manufacturer to meet specialized needs

Sometimes standard glass door products may not fulfill your business requirements. If you need a size, shape, or look that most glass door manufacturers don't offer, you can find a number of businesses manufacturing custom door products.

I recommend: Steiner Doors creates custom glass doors to architect specifications in addition to offering a variety of standard products. Liberty Glass and Metal has a long history of creating custom glass door storefronts in a variety of styles.

Use glass door providers offering installation and repair services

Glass door manufacturers are not only adept at creating the product you want, but are also skilled at installing, replacing, or repairing glass doors. If you need a new door installed or want an old one taken out, contact glass door suppliers for their expert services.

I recommend: Barr Commercial Door Repair offers excellent installation and repair services for all kinds of commercial glass doors. Collier Warehouse carries glass doors from a number of brand name manufacturers and offers installation of all kinds of glass products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find the best deal for your company by shopping around. Request price quotes from multiple glass door makers before deciding on a product.

Glass doors aren't just for retailers any more. Businesses increasingly use glass exterior doors to provide an appealing, attractive entrance with the added benefits of improved energy efficiencies from natural lighting. Glass interior doors can create an open work atmosphere where the productivity of employees can be viewed whether doors are open or closed. Retailers know how exterior glass doors and entranceways offer a peek at products for potential buyers passing by, and service-oriented businesses can consider how decorative glass doors might create a more inviting, less corporate atmosphere throughout. 

Glass doors come in many forms-stained, beveled, etched, mirrored, sand blasted to name a few-and can be customized to create a one-of-a-kind, lasting impression. While aesthetics typically plays an important role in a decision to choose glass for doors, many other considerations should be made as to how the glass door may affect other aspects of business-namely security, privacy, maintenance, and energy costs.
 Inside this guide, you'll find:

1. Advice on choosing the best glass doors for security and weathering the elements.
2. Considerations for ensuring maximized energy efficiencies from glass for doors.
3. Tips on glass door designs that pay off but still allow privacy.
4. Direction on how to narrow your glass door options.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose glass doors that will stand the test of time

While pleasing to the eye, glass doors are much more fragile than their wood counterparts. Businesses will want to consider what types of glass exterior doors will require the least amount of maintenance and hold up under extreme weather conditions.

I recommend: Glass doors can be framed by a number of different materials including steel, aluminum, wood and fiberglass. I recommend companies like Masonite, Pella and Dawson Doors that have longstanding histories as reputable providers of both fiberglass and steel framed doors, which are recognized for durability and low maintenance. Lowes and Home Depot offer these and other respected brands. Business.com also offers a list of vendors specializing in fiberglass and other commercial doors.

Ensure both interior glass doors and exterior glass doors are properly secured

Because glass doors are more easily broken, considerations should be made to protect your business against theft and unlawful entry or natural disasters.

I recommend: Double-strength and impact-resistant glass exterior doors may be a consideration if you're concerned about vandalism and break-ins. Testing standards set forth by the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) must be met before glass for doors is certified as impact-resistant. In addition, the Window and Door Manufacturers Association sponsors the Hallmark Certification Program for identifying products that have been manufactured in accordance with preset performance standards. 

Ensure glass doors meet the highest energy ratings

Glass doors can improve energy costs by allowing your company to take advantage of the benefits of natural lighting. On the other hand, glass doors can also decrease energy efficiencies if not properly manufactured to deflect heat and cold from the outside.

I recommend: Look for products that have an appropriate government-backed Energy Star rating. Thanks to a host of new technologies, ENERGY STAR-qualified glass doors are designed to keep businesses cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

Determine whether glass doors provide enough privacy

Exterior and interior glass doors that allow clear views of what's inside can provide benefits from a number of angles-managers can easily see what employees are doing, and potential retail customers can easily view products. In some work environments, though, the need for privacy is paramount.

I recommend: Businesses can garner the benefits of aesthetics and natural lighting that glass doors offer by purchasing products from companies that offer diffused glass, stained glass, or other art deco looks that distort images inside.

Narrow your glass door choices

Consider your market before seeking out glass door manufacturers and specific styles, and be aware of distinctions between industrial, residential, and commercial markets. You will also need to consider whether the glass doors in your business will need to be custom-made.

I recommend: Consult with the experts. Many companies will offer free estimates and advice about the different types of glass available. Some companies specialize in wood only while others offer innovative fiberglass and steel options for glass. Seek out expert advice on custom retail aluminum and steel storefronts as well.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Companies seeking to make a statement with glass doors should look to companies that offer custom glass door looks instead of styles that are pre-manufactured. Consider one-of-a-kind designs that portray an element or characteristic of a particular business-such as a logo or product.
• •  Keep safety of staff, customers and products in mind when choosing glass for doors as an alternative. Consider needs for fire resistance, impact resistance and security.
• •  Keep maintenance considerations at the forefront when choosing glass for doors. Be aware of the extra time or cost entailed with keeping glass clean.

There's no better way to add an extra level of transparency to your business than with glass doors. Add light and visibility to the interior of an office building, or to refrigerators in your restaurant. It pays to shop around when searching for commercial glass doors so you can be sure you're getting the best quality for your money. Many commercial glass door makers charge for their products by the square foot, so the larger the door, and the more intricate or industrial the glass pane, the more you're going to be paying.

Before signing a contract for exterior or interior glass doors and installation services, check out the pricing and costs of glass doors. This guide gives an idea of the costs associated with a number of glass door products, including:

1. Find sliding glass exterior doors at the price you need.
2. Get the best price on specialty glass door panels.
3. Compare prices on glass door refrigerator products.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase sliding glass doors for a home or business

When constructing a house or improving a business setting, sliding glass exterior doors can transform the look of a patio or break area. Standard two-door high quality and name brand sliding glass doors can start around $1000, especially with wood trim, while slightly less expensive material will cost at less than half as much.

I recommend: Andersen is a leading manufacturer of sliding glass doors, and supplies a variety of models with a number of features, ranging between $1000 and $3000. House of Windows is a glass door manufacturer offering instant online pricing for a number of products, including double and quadruple sliding glass doors and replacements.

Locate low costs on specialty glass doors

If you want to add a refining touch to glass doors in a residential or business setting, turn to a company offering custom or standard glass designs. Glass door designs carry a higher set price than standard doors, and custom glass door design will vary on the intricacy of your specifications.

I recommend: Glass By Design offer glass doors specially designed to meet your needs. Simple designs will cost your business around $200 per square foot. Glass Doors Direct is a wholesale direct supplier of a variety of beveled glass inserts at low prices.

Find the right price on refrigerator glass doors

Refrigerators with sliding glass doors are a great addition to any restaurant selling cold beverages to customers, by allowing patrons to see the variety of drinks available. Smaller, compact counter top models start at around $300, while taller, standalone products can run from $1500 to well over $3000. The sturdier the product, with more industrial glass doors, the higher the price.

I recommend: NexTag.com lets you compare prices on refrigerator glass door products from multiple vendors, so you can find the best deal on the product you want. Ace Mart is a restaurant supply company with multiple standalone glass door refrigerator products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Many glass door manufacturers may offer similar products. If you don't see prices readily available on their websites, request price quotes to compare deals between different suppliers.