How Much Does a Glass Wall or Floor to Ceiling Window Cost?

Floor to Ceiling 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). 

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.

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.

Here are some common folding glass wall costs by width:

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.

Glass Room Divider and Partition Cost

A basic three-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 at about $950. However, this price can easily reach $1,500 if you also install noise-canceling insulation. Soundproof windows custom-built to the 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 4 mm each and separated by two air gaps of 6 mm each, for a total thickness of 24 mm.

Pros and Cons of Window Walls and Floor to Ceiling Windows

These supersized windows have a lot of benefits, but there are drawbacks to consider, too.

Pros

• Lots of natural light

• With so much light let in, you can see a decrease in your energy bill from saving on electric light use

• Makes a small house look bigger

• Lets in scenic views and natural beauty

• Adds a modern aesthetic that can increase curb appeal

Cons

• Lack of privacy

• Lack of security

• Window wall costs are greater than typical windows

• Requires lots of cleaning and maintenance 

• Requires special framing and glazing

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.

FAQs

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 more affordable to build a glass house?

It’s very unlikely that a glass house would be more affordable 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 a weight-bearing glass wall ranges from 3/8-inch to 3/4-inch, depending on its structural requirements. The glass walls in skyscrapers are less than 1/2-inch 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.