Finding a commercial glass door on the internet is very difficult! If you've already searched on Google for COMMERCIAL GLASS DOOR or OFFICE GLASS DOORS or other such glass door terms, you've already seen that most of the results have NOTHING to do with what you want! Hopefully this simple web page will provide you with the information you need or at least point you in the right direction! At the very bottom of the page, you can read about my frustration with trying to get my office finished and why I spent the time to make this web page for you!
The right installation order:
You've got to plan out the install of your new door so it doesn't get broken or scratched. As with nearly every construction project, you want to get your flooring done first. Then move on to painting the walls, wiring and other fixtures. The last thing is touch up work and finally to install your new commercial glass door on your interior or exteriorframe!
What do you call a commercial glass door?
Most heavy duty or light duty glass entrance door are called herculite doors. Again, good luck finding them on the internet... The Herculite brand offers anodized, brass clad or stainless steel clad doors, frameless glass, top-hung stacking, bottom or top rolling, full-framed, balanced or with patch fittings. Transoms or side lights can also be added. To find your dealer or local glass company try our links.
You are going to need a drywall or Masonry guy too!:
If you are doing a renovation job, you will need to remove the door frame to expose the stucco (exterior job) or drywall (interior job). Your drywall guy will need to make a corner bead and get the drywall darn near perfect. The glass door installer will give you the measurements you need to make the opening. He usually gives you 3/8" all the way around the opening for a small margin. 3/8" sounds like quite a bit but mark my words it is not and your drywall guy HAS to be a true expert at making the wall not only straight but within tolerance!
How to pick a competent installer:
First off, if your glass herculite supplier isn't going to install then make sure you pick a licensed, bonded and insured installer! We all have heard the advice but seriously, if you don't and your door gets chipped or broken do you think a $10/hr handyman will fix it? To locate an installer try doing a Google Search for "contractor (state)". Another good tactic is to ask OTHER contractors for the name and number of the commercial glass door installers that they know. Don't let them talk you into them doing it... insist on a referral to a specialist.
Cost:
An 8 foot tall by 4 foot wide commercial glass office door costs ~$500-$1,000 wholesale! Retail Prices are 25-50% higher. Until I did my research, I never thought they were so expensive.
Where to buy your new door?
Home Depot and Lowes are great places for buying common construction items. Unfortunately, they do not carry commercial glass doors. You can do Google searches but you are not going to come up with many vendors selling these. Another option is to take a look at the merchants below and at the top of the page. I recommend you take a look at links that specifically say "commercial glass door", "office glass doors" or "glass doors". You can also ask contractors for vendors and call them for a referral.
