Faux Divided Lite

A faux divided lite is a garage door window that looks like it has multiple small panes. It is actually one piece of glass. Decorative muntin bars are glued or snapped onto the glass surface to create the divided look. The bars sit on the face of the glass. They do not cut through it.

A "true divided lite" is different. It uses separate small panes held in individual openings within the frame. Faux divided lites copy that look at a lower cost.

Why faux divided lites are common on garage doors:

True divided lites are heavier and cost more to make. A single pane with surface grilles gives carriage-house style doors the look of classic multi-pane windows. For homeowners who want a traditional style, faux divided lites deliver that look for much less money.

Grille patterns come in several styles. Ranch layouts use long horizontal bars. Four-pane and six-pane rectangular grids are popular on raised-panel doors. Arched cathedral patterns appear on carriage-house designs. The grilles are usually PVC or aluminum.

For example, a Clopay Canyon Ridge carriage-house door may offer a faux divided 4-lite window. From the street it looks like a hand-crafted door with individual glass panes. You have to get close to see it is one pane with surface bars.

Faux divided lites use tempered glass in most residential doors. If the pane breaks, tempered glass shatters into blunt pieces rather than sharp shards.