What comes to mind when you see the words "iron door?"

Something big and bulky, right? An absolute beast of an entry door that lets no natural light in because it's essentially a slab of metal guarding the entrance to your house. And in some cases, that's what an iron door is.

Sometimes.

At PINKYS, we think your front doors should have more curb appeal than that, which is why our single-door designs and double doors have glass panes. But that brings you to a question - Is a glass front door a good idea for your home?

Let's find out.

The Benefits of Iron Entry Doors with Glass Panes

What makes iron entry doors with glass panels a good idea? We can think of a few reasons to go down this route.

Surprisingly Solid Protection

No matter the glass style installed in a door, you're going to have the same worry - what if somebody smashes through it? It's a valid concern to have and there's no way around it. Iron doors that contain glass aren't as good for your safety (certainly for when you want to protect your home) as solid iron doors. They simply can't be. No matter what type of glass you use, from double glazing to decorative glass, it's going to be easier to break through than metal.

But it's perhaps not as easy as you think.

First, the glass. PINKYS uses Low-E (low-emissivity) glass that's tough enough to handle minor impacts. It's not going to stop a crowbar or something similar, but you'll also notice its qualities if the glass smashes. Low-E glass has a thin film placed over it (which plays into another advantage mentioned later) that makes it a touch harder to break through or shatter into pieces.

There's also the fact that iron is involved.

A glass front door needs support from a frame and relevant hardware, all of which are made with iron. That's a tough metal. And it's one that's essentially going to act as a filter inside your glass door - somebody may smash a glass pane, but they still need to get past the iron frame supporting that pane.

Natural Light for Days

Moving away from the security discussion for these types of exterior doors, we find one of the main reasons why people use iron doors with glass is the tons of natural light that comes through with glass.

Imagine you have a solid metal or wooden door. It's tough. It's bulky. You'll feel confident about what it can do for protection when you're installing it, but, as we’ve mentioned, it's also solid so it darkens both your porch and your foyer. Light can't get in or out.

Your home's interior (especially the foyer) looks dull and lifeless as a result.

Adding glass into the equation allows light to stream through, opening up the foyer space and giving you more interior design options. Mirrors and light paint colors reflect that light around, spreading it throughout the space and making your doorway a more welcoming place to be.

Low Heat Emission and Transmission

Let's come back to the specific type of glass that PINKYS uses - Low-e glass.

It's the most popular glass used for residential properties in the United States, with the American Energy Innovation Council pointing out that it's used in 98% of modern residential window installations.

And there's a good reason for that - Low-E glass keeps heat in your home and prevents heat from getting in.

Those seem like opposing qualities, but it actually makes sense when you think about how the glass works. Manufacturers create Low-E glass by creating a film and laying it over the glass pane. That film is like a mirror - it reflects the light that hits it. But unlike a mirror, it also reflects heat, hence it can serve the dual purpose of keeping a home warm or cool, depending on your needs.

For instance, let's say that it's freezing cold outside. You have your heating system turned up to the max to keep your house warm. With normal glass, much of that heat escapes through the glass and into the great outdoors - about 30% of your home's heat, according to the Department of Energy. But when you have Low-E windows, up to 85% of the heat you'd lose bounces off the window film and back into your home. Your house stays warmer, you spend less on heating it, and you cut your CO2 emissions to boot.

As for cooling, the same applies but from the outside. The sun's rays hit the glass and the film reflects up to 85% of those rays back.

Create a Contemporary Look

"Modern."

That may be the last word that comes to mind when you think about traditional iron doors. You're thinking more of a bank vault than a modernistic home feature, and, indeed, some iron doors lean greatly into the traditional look - heavy, hard to install, and, frankly, boring to look at.

But not a PINKYS door.

One of the big advantages of combining glass panes with iron is that it gives manufacturers a chance to play around with modern design concepts. You see this in almost any PINKYS doors. Bold black lines formed by the iron. Geometric shapes and patterns that match contemporary design aesthetics. You get doors that are far from traditional, even in cases where the doors may use an old-fashioned design idea that they bring up to date.

Take Dutch doors, for example.

A favorite of the farmyard, a Dutch door opens horizontally as well as vertically. In other words - it splits in half so you can open the top while keeping the bottom closed (or vice-versa). It's a rustic and old-fashioned design idea, but one that's been brought into the 21st century with the introduction of glass panes. They take what would have been a heavy wooden door and turn it into something that looks sleek and lets plenty of natural light through.

A Couple of Downsides of Iron Doors with Glass

Iron doors featuring glass panels may be beautiful - both in design and in terms of allowing light to stream through your foyer - but there are some downsides to consider before you go for this type of entry door.

Privacy and Glass

There's an obvious point to make about glass and privacy - you can see through glass, so your front door won't keep prying eyes at bay if it contains glass.

For some, that's not necessarily a bad thing. You may love being able to see into your foyer as you approach your house, as well as being able to view the world immediately outside so you can always see who's coming. But for those who don't want others to see in, a glass front door may be a bad choice.

But there are ways around these privacy concerns.

Curtains, for one - install some over the door and draw them when you go out so nobody can see inside.

If that doesn't work for you (curtains can be annoying when you constantly have to negotiate your way past them to get into your house), try decorative glass instead. Patterns, tempering, and warping can combine to prevent people from seeing inside, even as the glass lets light through.

A Little Bit More Maintenance

It's true that glass front doors require a touch more maintenance than straight metal or wooden doors. That's not to say the maintenance is difficult - some warm water, a window cleaner, and a clean cloth do the job - but you have to clean glass more often.

Why?

Stains. Smudges. Muck. It's all much more visible on a pane of glass than it is on other door materials. For instance, using your hand to push a wooden door open doesn't leave a murky handprint on your door. Doing the same with a glass front door does.

Cleaning the glass is a minor task, and not doing it won't damage a pane's integrity, but it's one that needs doing nonetheless if you want to maintain the modern look an iron and glass door provides.

PINKYS - Multiple Options for Steel and Wrought Iron Doors

By now, you have an idea of whether a glass front door is a good idea for your home. All that's left is to find a manufacturer, which is where PINKYS comes in.

Inspired by Californian sunsets and contemporary design philosophies, a PINKYS door brings iron (or steel) and glass together to create something special. In some cases, that something special meshes the old with the new, offering a unique take on a classic design, as you see with PINKYS Dutch doors.

In others, new ideas take the lead. PINKYS pivot doors are a great example - they do away with traditional side hinges for hinges at the top and bottom of the door that allow you to pivot (or rotate) the door open on a different axis.

And, of course, there are more traditional iron doors. Singles. Double doors. Arched doors. Patio doors. They're all available from PINKYS, and each shows you how special the combination of iron and glass can be.

Perhaps you'd like to learn more? Contact PINKYS online or call (844) 843-6677 to discuss your installation and the cost involved. And if you're feeling especially adventurous, we'd love to welcome you to our Showroom Shopping Experience - see PINKYS glass front doors in person to decide if they're right for you.