Big Doors

Moving Glass Wall Systems

Truly remove the boundary between indoors and outdoors with Andersen Big Doors, part of our Architectural Collection.

Create spectacular spaces for relaxing, entertaining or just being. Start by framing your view; capturing it in monumental glory. Then simply open the glass that separates you from it.

Learn how to embrace your outside and a healthy home with Architectural Collection Big Doors moving glass wall products.

MultiGlide™ Door
Sliding Glass Door Systems

Engineered for smooth and easy operation, giving you design freedom with the performance and innovation you expect from Andersen.

• Straight stacking or pocketing for a perfectly unobstructed view
• Contemporary and traditional design
• Sized for openings up to 50′ wide and 10′ tall with sliding glass panels up to 60″ wide

MultiGlide™ Door
Sliding Glass Door Systems

Engineered for smooth and easy operation, giving you design freedom with the performance and innovation you expect from Andersen.

• Straight stacking or pocketing for a perfectly unobstructed view
• Contemporary and traditional design
• Sized for openings up to 50′ wide and 10′ tall with sliding glass panels up to 60″ wide

Liftslide Door

Our premier moving glass wall door, designed with precision engineering for near effortless operation.

• Corner or curved designs and custom configurations
• Straight stacking or pocketing for a perfectly unobstructed view
• Door panels lift onto rollers for nearly effortless motion
• Monumental panels up to 16′ tall and door systems up to 60′ wide
• Complete thermally controlled door systems now available (Info Sheet)
• Available with Stormwatch protection for coastal areas (Info Sheet)

Pivot Door

Designed for a singularly sleek look. Instead of swinging on a hinge, these glass doors rotate on a precision engineered pivot. Perfect for true design lovers, they make a bold, contemporary statement.

• A contemporary, sleek style for a different look (Info Sheet)
• Huge heights as tall as 13′, widths over 6′ (dependent upon material and height)
• A practically unblemished threshold
• Available with Stormwatch protection for coastal areas (Info Sheet)

Folding Door
Folding Glass Walls

A different approach to removing the lines between indoors and out. When open, these moving glass walls fold up to beautifully frame your view. When closed, they create a stately wall of light.

• Up to 10′ tall and 48′ wide
• Top hung system allows for easy operation
• Doors can open from left, right or center
• Contemporary panel widths up to 48” wide
• Available with Stormwatch protection for coastal areas (Info Sheet)

How Much Does A Glass Wall Cost Per Foot?

Typical Range: $240 — $2 180

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Glass Wall Cost

Expect to pay between $25 and $75 per square foot to install a tempered glass wall. A glass door costs at least an additional $1,000 to $3,000. Labor rates range from $35 to $150 per hour depending on location.

Several factors affect the cost of a glass wall. For example, the roof overhang may need to be up to three feet to prevent the house from overheating during the summer, especially for a southern-facing wall. Some installations may also need double or triple glazing to reduce sun exposure. Furthermore, the glass needs to be thicker as the size of the pane increases, such that a pane measuring 5’x9’ should be more than ¼” thick.

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Glass Wall Cost Calculator

Average Cost	$320-$620 per linear foot
High Cost	$2,180 per foot
Low Cost	$240 per foot

*The low-cost includes single panels that extend from floor to ceiling. The medium price tier covers an entire wall, while the high price is for a whole room.

Window Wall Cost

The total cost of window walls ranges from $700 to $1,600 per linear foot. The reason for this wide price range is that these systems are custom to each home installation.

A window wall usually has both horizontal and vertical metal framing members that may contain a combination of components such as windows, panels and lights. Frameless versions are also available, typically for the commercial and luxury residential markets. The primary advantage of this design is that it provides an unobstructed view.

The latest frameless window walls meet the most stringent impact requirements, which is essential if you live in an area subject to hurricanes. Some versions can withstand positive and negative pressures of 110 pounds per square foot (psf), allowing them to be used in High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVMZ). This region generally refers to the southeastern coast of the United States, especially Florida. For example, Miami-Dade County has the most stringent building codes against hurricanes in the country. We can connect you with impact window companies in Miami to help.

The maximum size of a frameless wall window that can withstand high impacts is 12 feet high and 8 feet wide. These windows typically use a variety of coatings, films and tints to control glare and heat gain. Check out the cost of window tinting to protect your home from UV rays and heat.

Compare Costs of Window Walls from Local Contractors

Glass Curtain Wall Prices

The cost of installing a glass curtain wall for the first time ranges from $25 to $75 per square foot, resulting in a cost of $200 to $600 per linear foot for an 8-foot wall. Replacing an existing wall with a glass curtain wall is more expensive, since the original wall must be removed. A replacement costs between $175 to $250 per square foot, or between $1,400 and $2,000 per linear foot for an 8-foot wall.

Important cost factors include the design, thickness and degree of transparency. There is usually no difference between commercial and residential applications.

A glass curtain wall is a glazing system with a lightweight metal frame, typically aluminum. They aren’t load-bearing structures, but are often part of a building’s envelope, meaning they make up part of a wall system. Installers must carefully integrate glass curtain walls with adjacent structural elements like roofs and wall claddings. These walls are available as both prefabricated kits and customized pieces.

Glass curtain walls are most commonly installed by local commercial window installers on non-residential buildings, but you can also install them in your home. The most important consideration is that you can’t simply replace an existing load-bearing wall. Accurate measurements are essential for this task because the frames need to fit precisely. Once the frames are in place, the contractor can install the glass panes with relative ease.

Moving Glass Wall System Cost

Glass walls often move in a variety of ways, generally by sliding, folding or a combination of both movements. The sections below cover these specific types in greater detail. Dealers provide prices after consultation at no cost or obligation.

Milgard is a well-known manufacturer of moving glass walls that specializes in custom installation. As a result, Milgard moving glass wall prices depend on the specific installation. The Milgard design is based on rollers with stainless steel ball bearings that allow you to move them smoothly and effortlessly. Their glass walls have aluminum frames and complete weather stripping for maximum energy efficiency and protection from the elements.

Sliding Glass Wall Cost

The cost of a full wall sliding glass door typically ranges from $1,070 to $2,900, with the national average being about $2,000. They typically consist of two separate panels, so that one panel slides over the other. These models are considerably more expensive than a standard sliding glass door because they take up the entire wall.

Sliding glass walls are normally interior pieces, but they can also be used as an exterior wall. In this application, they’re commonly known as a “patio door,” even though it’s really a wall. They allow a great deal of sunlight into the home and are especially common in ranch-style houses.

Early sliding glass walls were a source of energy loss and also presented a weak point in the house’s physical security. However, they’ve improved greatly in both of these areas. Modern versions are better insulated and stronger, especially when made of impact-resistant glass.

Installing a sliding glass wall will probably require a building permit and licensed contractor. This is especially likely when the installation involves making major changes to a load-bearing wall, which all exterior walls are. Simply replacing an existing glass wall shouldn’t require a permit since the structural changes are already complete. However, any installation that involves changing the framing needs a permit to ensure you address any safety issues. However, if your installation involves changing the framing, you’ll need to budget for the cost of a building permit.

Folding Glass Walls Cost

Folding sliding doors cost between $800 and $1,200 per linear foot, depending on the number of panels, type of glass and finish. This design typically consists of a series of panels connected to each other via hinges. The top and bottom of the panels are set in tracks just like sliding doors are. However, instead of a single section sliding back and forth, the panels fold against each other as the assembly slides across the track.

The primary advantage of a folding door over a sliding door is that a folding door creates a larger, more unobstructed opening. The height of this opening is usually between seven and eight feet, which is the height of a standard room. Each panel may be up to 65 inches wide, with as many as 20 panels per door.

Folding Glass Wall Costs by Width

Width in feet	Price Range
9	$7,200-$10,800
12	$9,600-$14,400
15	$12,000-$18,000
18	$14,400-$21,600

Folding glass walls are available in a variety of configurations, especially with respect to the size of the opening and panels. Panels must become narrower as their height increases to limit their weight. For example, panels with a height of 10 feet shouldn’t be wider than 39 inches. Large walls often have a standard swing door for easy access without opening the entire assembly.

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Glass Room Divider Cost

A basic 3-panel glass room divider with transparent glass and an aluminum frame costs about $11 per square foot. Mirrored glass and a wooden frame can double this price. This type of divider is about 6 feet tall and 5 feet wide, making each panel 20 inches wide in the case of a three-panel model.

A divider with mirrored glass is particularly useful for adding light and opening up a small bedroom, especially when it contains large pieces of furniture. This type of divider also makes a handy dressing area. A divider with frosted glass can break a long, narrow room into sections. You can also create a more progressive look with models that have wide aluminum frames with unique designs.

Exterior Glass Wall Panels Cost

Exterior glass panels cost $15 to $60 per square foot, with an average cost of $20 per square foot. Tall panels can cost more due to the extra thickness required, as will wood trim and custom glass. Exterior panels cost more than interior panels because they’re often load-bearing. Unlike interior panels, the strength of a structural glass wall is regulated by building codes.

You can also use exterior glass panels as a replacement for your garage door. In this case, the panel is closer to a window than a wall, since it doesn’t need to bear weight. Installing a glass garage door costs between $1,000 and $4,800.

Soundproofing is another use of exterior glass panels, although they’re significantly more expensive than standard windows. The average cost of replacing a window is about $650, whereas the cost of installing soundproof windows starts about $950. However, this price can easily reach $1,500 if you also install noise-canceling insulation. Soundproof windows custom-built to architect’s specifications can start at $7,000 per window without installation.

Soundproof glass reduces noise by using thicker panes and more of them, at least two and sometimes three. The thickness of the space between the panes also makes a difference. The total thickness of soundproof glass is at least 12 millimeters (mm), including two panes with a thickness of three mm and separated by six mm of air. At the high end, soundproof glass could consist of three panes with a thickness of four mm each and separated by two air gaps of six mm each, for a total thickness of 24 mm.

Consult with a pro when considering an exterior glass wall

DIY vs. Hiring a Glazier to Install Glass Walls

You should hire a glazier near you for most glass wall installations. This isn’t even an option when the wall must provide structural support, as this work will require a licensed professional. In this case, you may need a structural engineer near you as well as a glazier to ensure the wall won’t crack. Unlike other materials that usually degrade over time, glass can fail catastrophically. Furthermore, a failure of glass materials is also more dangerous than other materials.

Self-cleaning glass is another feature to consider that can reduce the maintenance that large glass surfaces require. This type of glass has a coating that causes water to form droplets or sheets that carry away dirt.

Even if the wall doesn’t need to bear weight, framing the wall requires professional expertise to ensure a good fit. Precision is key to avoid spaces between the frame and wall, which will result in higher energy bills. A glazier can also ensure the track doesn’t warp over time, preventing the door from opening or closing. On the other hand, an experienced DIYer and a couple of helpers should be able to do a simple replacement of a sliding glass panel.

Are glass walls more expensive?

Glass is the more economical choice for buildings taller than two or three stories. Glass walls are generally more expensive than walls made of traditional materials like bricks or drywall. However, the total cost of installation becomes lower for glass as the building gets taller. While the cost of the walls themselves remain constant, glass walls are much easier to lift than individual bricks.

How much are retractable or accordion glass doors?

The cost of accordion glass doors depends on whether it’s an interior or exterior door. An interior door for a closet could cost less than $100 per linear foot. However, an exterior door that needs to protect an entire side of a room from weather costs $800 and $1,200 per linear foot.

Is it cheaper to build a glass house?

It’s very unlikely that a glass house would be cheaper than one made of traditional materials due to the higher material cost of glass. However, this assumes that the house is a separate building of no more than two stories. If the “house” were actually a condominium in a high-rise building, it would be cheaper to build it from glass than other materials.

What is the difference between a window wall and a curtain wall?

A window wall is a load-bearing wall primarily made of some transparent material. A curtain wall is non-structural and serves only to keep the weather out.

How thick is a glass wall?

The thickness of weight-bearing glass wall ranges from 3/8” to 3/4”, depending on its structural requirements. The glass walls in skyscraper are less than ½” thick, but they aren’t load-bearing structures. The glass used to make walls is also tempered, which is much stronger than what you’ll find in your picture frames.