All Glass Herculite Doors and Entrances
Frameless All Glass Entrance Doors, Sidelites and Vestibules
Measured and Installed by Modern Glass Designs Across Northern Virginia
Serving Northern Virginia Since 1997 · Virginia Class A Glass & Glazing Contractor
What Is an All Glass Herculite Entrance
An all glass entrance uses thick tempered glass with patch fittings or top and bottom rails instead of a full aluminum frame, so the doorway reads as open glass from the street or the lobby. Herculite is the brand name that became shorthand for this type of frameless door, and we install all glass doors of this type from several hardware and glass suppliers.
Doors, sidelites and transoms are 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch tempered glass, ordered to the finished opening after the floor and door head are complete, then hung and adjusted by our own crews.
Single and Double Herculite Doors
Single doors for suite entrances and interior openings, pairs for lobbies and main entrances, with fixed frameless sidelites on one or both sides and a clear transom above. Sidelites join the doors glass-to-glass with a strike jamb, and everything sits in a header channel at the top and a channel at the floor.
Layouts include a door with sidelites, full glass vestibules, and interior all glass doors for suites and conference rooms. If the opening is on the exterior and needs weather sealing or an insulated unit, an aluminum storefront entrance is usually the better fit. Aluminum storefronts and framed glass systems are covered on their own page.
How All Glass Doors Hang: Closers, Pivots and Patch Fittings
There are two ways to hang an all glass door. A header at the top with a concealed closer carries the door on top and bottom rails, which is the usual choice for lobbies and main entrances. A floor closer set flush in the floor works with top and bottom patch fittings and keeps the head of the opening clear. Either way nothing is surface-mounted on the glass, and the patch fittings or rails carry the pivot and the lock with ladder pulls or push bars to match.
Where an entrance needs a push-plate or sensor, we install low-energy automatic operators on all glass doors as well.
Hardware finishes are brushed stainless, polished stainless, matte black and satin brass. We confirm closers, locks and handle style with you before ordering, and we set the pivots, hang the doors and adjust the closers so the doors swing and latch correctly.
All Glass Vestibules
A vestibule sets a second pair of glass doors behind the first, so conditioned air stays in the lobby when the outer doors open and the entrance still reads as clear glass from the sidewalk. We build both sets in the same 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch tempered glass with matching rails, pulls and finishes, so the two sets read as one piece of work.
The inner doors can carry their own locks and access control, which lets you hold a suite secure while the outer doors stay open through the business day.
Replacing a damaged all glass door or planning a new entrance? Send us a photo of the opening and the rough width and height.
Options at a Glance
- Glass: 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch tempered glass for doors, sidelites and transoms.
- Door types: single and double swing doors on pivots, hung from a header with a concealed closer or on a floor closer.
- Hardware: top and bottom patch fittings or rails, floor closers, concealed overhead closers, locks, ladder pulls and push bars.
- Panic hardware: push bars and panic devices on the interior face where the building or occupancy requires them.
- Automatic operators: low-energy push-plate and sensor operators where an entrance needs powered opening.
- Access control: mag locks and electric strikes furnished and installed, wiring left accessible for your access-control professional.
- Finishes: brushed stainless, polished stainless, matte black and satin brass.
- Layouts: door with sidelites, full glass vestibules, interior suite and conference room entrances.
Locks, Panic Hardware and Access-Control-Ready Doors
Locks are built into the bottom or top rail or the patch fitting, keyed on the exterior side. Where the building requires it, push bars and panic devices mount on the interior face of the glass.
For lobbies and secured suites we furnish and install door hardware including mag locks and electric strikes and leave the wiring accessible. Your access-control professional connects, programs and commissions the system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Herculite door?
Herculite is a brand name that became shorthand for frameless all glass entrance doors. We install all glass doors of this type from several hardware and glass suppliers.
Can an all glass door be locked?
Yes. Locks are built into the bottom or top rail or the patch fitting. Mag locks and electric strikes can be furnished and installed, with the wiring left accessible for your access-control professional to connect and commission.
Do you install panic hardware?
Yes. Push bars and panic devices mount on the interior face of the glass where the building or occupancy requires them.
Can an all glass entrance have an automatic opener?
Yes. We install low-energy automatic operators with push-plate or sensor activation on all glass doors.
Do you replace existing all glass doors?
Yes. We can replace a single damaged leaf or the whole entrance, matching the existing hardware where it is still available.
Do you work with general contractors?
Yes. We quote from plans, drawings or a site visit, and field-verify before ordering glass. See our information for contractors page.
All Glass Entrances Gallery
