Picture this: a horse barn that sparkles with the first light of dawn, its windows catching the morning sun like jewels. Your barn is more than just a place to house your four-legged friends. Your barn is a space where beauty meets function, and where every beam of light enhances the emotional bond between you and your horses.
This is the dream that we at American Stalls help bring to life, blending safety and style in horse barns for equestrians who want the best for their horses.
Whether you're sketching plans for a brand-new barn or thinking about giving your current one a facelift, adding glass to your barn's design is a game changer. Adding glass to your exterior Barn Entrance Doors, Dutch Doors, and Barn Windows is like writing an open invitation to natural light – and the benefits it brings – to come on in and stay awhile.
The Perks of Adding Glass
It’s no secret that natural light does wonders for horses (and humans!). It keeps sleep cycles in check and moods lifted. It's a game-changer, and our designs at American Stalls are all about capturing as much of that goodness as possible, with an eye on safety and a heart for horse care.
The benefits of natural light in horse barns are well-documented. A study by the University of California, Davis, suggests that increased natural light can improve the health and welfare of horses, impacting everything from their sleep patterns to their behavior (UC Davis Veterinary Medicine, Equine Health).
The addition of glass also allows for bacterial control through light exposure and additional visibility throughout the year. Our focus is to harness these benefits to create a barn that is not only a sanctuary for your horses, but also a testament to your commitment to their holistic care.
The Details & Our Recommendations
Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station cautions that “windows need to be inaccessible to horses and livestock, covered with bars or screening and made of safety glass.” . So how do many of our barn projects utilzie glass in our projects? Below are our recommendations:
- Use Tempered Glass – We recommend that all glass in your horse barn be tempered. What does "tempering" mean? Tempering makes your glass break into small, manageable pieces as opposed to slivers and shards – increasing the safety of glass if and when it might breaks. At American Stalls, both sides of our glass is tempered since horses have access to both sides of any door or window.
- Minimum Thickness of Glass – At American Stalls, we recommend that your glass is a minimum 1/4" thick tempered glass. This allows ample airspace and heavy-duty spacers around the glass – ensuring a built to last barn door or barn window.
Now that we've covered the basic recommendations, let's cover where we can safely add glass design in your barn.
Welcoming Entrance Doors
Your barn’s entrance is the first hello and the last goodbye each day so why not make it shine? Glass in barn entrance doors isn’t just about making a statement; it’s about starting the day bright.
At American Stalls, all of our Barn Entrance Doors are custom built to order so we can build virtually any type of design. Below are a few past designs of Barn Entrance Doors.
The above (left) Sliding Barn Entry Doors feature a single-pane glass design where Glass is added to the top portion of the doors. This is a simple and cost-effective way to integrate glass. The (right) Sliding Barn Entry Doors a complex mullion design where the glass is divided in several custom panes. This design is a large upgrade, but provides a unique appeal.
The below set of hinged Barn Entrance Doors feature a "quad-filled" glass design. This is because there are four panes of glass divided by four pieces of steel tubing and glass retainers. Our "quad-filled" design is among our most common designs.
Dutch Doors with a View
Dutch Doors are the classic barn staple. These barn doors often flank the exterior facade of a barn and are attached to the back wall of each horse stall. While traditional Dutch Doors feature an all wood design (top and bottom), we offer our clients the ability to safely add glass to their top doors.
By adding glass to the top section, you keep that old-school charm while letting in an extra dose of daylight. We utilize 1/4" thick tempered glass and add a fixed (bolted) Grill Guard with 7/8" soid rods. This protective Grill Guard (seen below) ensures that the glass is inaccessible and out of reach of your horse's way.
Our American Stalls Dutch Doors are all about giving you that perfect mix of practicality and elegance, without ever losing sight of what’s best for your horse’s comfort and safety.
Windows to the World
Barn windows do more than offer a peek to the outside world; they let the outside world gently filter in, lifting the barn’s ambiance and bringing a piece of the changing seasons indoors. Done right, they’re not just windows; they’re day-long mood boosters for you and your horses.
At American Stalls, we build our Barn Windows the same way we build the glass door tops for our Dutch Doors. The highest quality 1/4" thick tempered glass is utilized alongisde protective grill guards.
Working with American Stalls means you get windows that aren’t just beautiful to look at; they’re also built to keep your equine family members safe, using the best safety glass in the biz.
Wrapping it Up
When you team up with American Stalls, you're choosing a partner that understands your vision of a barn that’s a slice of heaven for your horses, a place that glows with natural light and radiates safety. So, are you ready to bring a little more sunshine into your stable life?
Our team at American Stalls can help with every step of your project. We encourage you to fill out our Consultation Form and one of our expert Project Managers would love to assist you. You can reach our team at (855) 957-8255 or sales@americanstalls.com. We look forward to speaking with you soon!
