When shopping for a door, you may hear the term “lite” or “glass lites” used frequently. But what are these lites? What do they do? And how can they improve your door?
Glass lites are, in essence, the glass window panes that can be installed in a door. These are most typically used for exterior doors, but they can be used for interior doors as well. Glass lites come in a wide variety as well, from number to size to style. For certain doors, the style may help to determine the number of glass lites used, if any. Some styles favor lites whereas others go without them. Oftentimes this is due to the era the door was developed in. For example, a style that was developed a long time ago during a time in which glass was not available or not easy to obtain, doors would often go without them. On the opposite end of the spectrum, some styles will use glass lites to the point that there are multiple lites covering the entire door, or one single large lite that fills the majority of the door.
People like glass lites because they offer a variety of great things. One reason is simply the aesthetic nature of lites. Because lites can come in so many different ways, they allow people to customize their door in any number of ways. This includes glass options. Clear panes aren’t the only way to enjoy lites. From baroque to fluted, narrow reed to krinkle, you can pick the ideal way to showcase your door’s lites. Each style has something different to offer, from looking like delicate raindrops to a satiny finish, it’s your choice. Ultimately, your door will be stunning.
Another main reason that people enjoy lites is because of the natural light that they can offer. Some entryways may be dark, or a house’s design may warrant the need for more light. Glass lites allow in sunshine from the day, helping to both warm your home as well as provide beautiful natural light. Certain home styles, such as contemporary and rustic, tend to lean toward the use of lites due to their ability to bring in additional light to a home.
Lites also allow you to peek out in case you don’t have windows or sidelites around your door. This can help provide you with an additional sense of security. For interior doors, they can act as a kind of showcase to a specific room, such as allowing visitors to peek into your beautiful wine room.
No matter what you decide when it comes to lites, they are certainly worth considering and can really make your next door something special.