Options for Residential Glass Windows
If you're choosing new glass for your windows – whether building a new home or replacing the current panes – you'll have several alternatives besides standard float glass. To discover these other possibilities, read on.
Toughened Glass
If rooms feature tall, expansive windows, they may require toughened safety glass. Building regulations specify when safety glass must be inserted, depending on a window's overall size and height from the ground. Toughened glass undergoes a treatment whereby it's heated to extreme temperatures before being rapidly cooled. This process renders the panes about four times stronger than regular glass, so your windows will be less prone to breaking. In any case, family and friends will be safer around these windows because if toughened panes do shatter, the glass crumbles into harmless small rounded cubes without sharp pointy edges that can cause cuts.
Laminated Glass
Laminated glass is another safe glazing option, which consists of a sandwich of two glass panes glued to either side of a plastic interlayer. The two panes increase the window's strength, while the interlayer holds the pieces together should it crack. A benefit of laminated glass is that some form of barrier will remain in place across the window, even if it cracks, as the plastic film holds the pieces together regardless. Toughened glass, on the other hand, crumbles away when it breaks, leaving an exposed opening.
Tinted and Low-E Glass
Other choices — such as tinted glass — can make your home more comfortable. With added metal oxides, tinted panes can display a tinge of bronze, grey, or green, for example. These windows soften glare, and they prevent furniture from fading under UV rays. Additionally, tinted glass blocks a degree of solar heat, helping to keep your home cooler. A specific tint looks more intense on thicker panes of glass.
Another possibility for your windows, Low-E glass, is covered with a coating that blocks heat from transferring through the window in both directions, depending on how the pane is set up. At the same time, these panes allow for clear visibility.
Double Glazing
Double-glazing helps to combat heat transfer through residential glass windows because of its unique construction, improving your home's insulation. These units consist of two glass panes spaced apart to form a sealed pocket of air or gas. The distance between the panes can range from 6 to 18 mm. Wider gaps increase the window's insulating power. You can also insert other glass types in the units for added benefits. For example, use laminated or low-E panes.
For more information on residential glass windows, contact a glass company in your area.
