What is a door lite and how does it differ from a window?
A door lite is a door component consisting of a glass panel with a frame that is fastened into a steel or fiberglass door, sidelight, or transom. The glass can be clear or decorative and is usually insulated for energy efficient performance. A window is usually a fixed or operable sash unit made of wood, vinyl, aluminum, fiberglass, or other material that is not designed or intended to be a means of entry/exit.
Are door lites made with safety glass?
All Western Reflections door lites are manufactured with tempered safety glass. All glass used in or adjacent to doors (excluding transoms) is required by law to be manufactured with tempered safety glass.
Are Western Reflections door lites an ENERGY STAR® certified product?
Western Reflections is proud to be an ENERGY STAR® stakeholder. As door components, door lites by themselves are not ENERGY STAR certified. However, they play an integral part in a door system's seal and thermal performance, enabling the door system to meet ENERGY STAR requirements. Western Reflections offers a complete selection of door lites that can be used in certified doors to meet ENERGY STAR requirements.
Do Western Reflections door lites have IGCC-certified seals?
Yes, Western Reflections offers a full line of decorative, clear, and blinds-between-glass products certified by the Insulating Glass Certification Council (IGCC) as meeting ASTM E 2190 requirements. They can be used in certified doors to meet ENERGY STAR® requirements. U-factor and SHGC values vary by glass type, size, IG thickness, and the door in which the glass is installed. Learn more about energy efficiency or contact us for more information.
To which surface of the insulated glass (IG) unit is the Low-E glass coating applied?
Surface 2, or the inside of the glass panel when viewing the doorglass from the outside of the house.
How long will the Low-E coating last?
The Low-E coating is warranted for 10 years by the coating manufacturer.
How can I tell the difference between Low-E and clear glass?
Low-E glass will have a bluish green or gray tint when compared to clear glass. The tempered glass stamp in the lower corner of the glass will reference Low-E or Lo-E.
What is the cut-out size of Western Reflections door lites?
Cut-outs for door lites are typically 1" larger than the glass size.
What are the outside dimensions of the door glass in the frame?
Standard profile doorglass frames are 1-7/8" larger than the glass size.
Decorative glass door lites feature designs made with different glass textures, usually held together by metal caming. The decorative glass panel is hand-assembled by skilled craftsman to replicate old-world manufacturing and assembly techniques. Decorative glass pieces often contain bubbles (seeds), wavy lines, color variations, and surface imperfections, which are characteristic of decorative glass and are not considered defects.
For glass designs with textured glass, which surface of the insulated glass panel is textured?
When viewing the glass from the inside of the home, the texture is on the inside of the insulated glass unit, for easy glass cleaning.
Do all decorative glass designs have matching sidelites and transoms?
All Western Reflections decorative glass design families include matching sidelites, and most also have matching transoms. For those designs that don't have a matching transom, we offer our Universal Beveled Transoms, which are designed to coordinate with almost any decorative glass entryway.
SDLs, or Simulated Divided Lites, replicate the look of the true divided lites seen in wood doors and windows. Because SDLs are constructed from single panels of glass instead of many small panes, they are more energy efficient than true divided lites. The external grids for SDLs are wider than standard external grilles and feature a classic divided-lite profile.
What is the thickness of the external grids on Western Reflections SDLs?
SDL Craftsman grids 7/8"
SDL traditional grids 1-1/8"
What is the thickness of the bars in Western Reflections grilles between glass?
Flat bar 5/8", 7/8" and slim 5/16"
Contoured bar 11/16"
How do I paint or stain a door lite frame?
Please refer to the painting and staining instructions on the label adhered to your door lite. Also refer to our downloadable painting and staining instructions for your specific doorlite product.
Why is there caulk on a door lite?
Caulk is used on most door lites to glaze the outer frame to the glass. Caulk acts as a weather barrier/sealant to keep out water and air. If the caulk "squeezes out" onto the glass surface, it can be removed by lubricating with Windex original glass cleaner, running a razor scraper or putty knife under the caulk around the perimeter, and peeling off the excess caulk.
No, Western Reflections' patented TriSYS® Frame System and its Evolve® Frame feature a superior dry-glaze, gasket-type seal instead of caulk. The dry-glaze seal is precision-applied and will not squeeze out. The seal is thermal-set and has been proven to keep out water and air even in extreme weather conditions without the use of caulk.
Can I install a door with a door lite behind a storm door?
Yes. A door using Western Reflections glass can be installed behind a vented storm door. A vented storm door allows air to circulate inside the area between the storm and entry door, preventing excessive heat build up.
What is contained in the clear plastic bag adhered to the door lite?
These are screw-hole plugs, which are designed to fill the screw-hole "counter sinks" on the interior frame to hide the screw head and provide a clean profile. Note: our TriSYS® Frame System does not require screw plugs.
