There Are Many Types of Window Glass. Which One Should You Get?
Clear glass windows are already outdated and passé. Time to upgrade your fenestration to high-functional efficient glazing to achieve performance peak levels. However, choosing the best among the rest requires you to broaden your window terminology. Sort through all these window glass options below so you can see what the superior fit for your home is.
STANDARD
Float Glass
Certainly the starting point of all window glasses, float glass is produced when a mix of silica, lime and soda is floated on a bed of molten tin. Sheets of glass with no visual distortion are then calibrated based on your preferences and specifications: cut, tinted, coated, strengthened or insulated to your liking.
Annealed Glass
Here’s what annealed glass is all about: from float glass as your baseline, a meticulous and controlled procedure of slow cooling is conducted to relieve the internal stresses of the window glass. This way, your window glass is fortified in strength and won’t crack due to overexposure on temperature fluctuations.
Heat-Strengthened Glass
Thanks to this window glass, your annealed glass just got twice as stronger. While it’s heated to 1200°F, do keep in mind that due to its slower cooling process, its compression strength is much lower.
SAFETY
Tempered Glass
Looking for the next upgrade from the heat-strengthened glass? Tempered glass is your go-to choice. It’s the same as annealed glass, but only 4-5x stronger. While it’s subjected to alternate heating and cooling cycles, this window glass cools faster and is less likely to experience a thermal break.
Laminated Glass
When inner polyvinylbutyral (PVB) layer is sandwiched between two outer annealed or toughened glass, you can say hello to laminated glass.
This window glass is different from tempered glass, such that large shards of broken glasses are held together integrally to the plastic layer, rather than being shattered to little pieces. Clearly, this is what makes it a safety staple not only on car windshields, but also on structural glazing, glass railing, skylight and impact-resistant applications.
Wired Glass
Wired glass is another breed of safety glass. However, its use can only be constricted to fire-resistant applications where the glazing alone would need to adhere to a structural support, specifically when exposed to extreme heat levels.
PRIVACY
Tinted Glass
There’s only so much light you can let in on your interior spaces. Control and diffuse how much light enters when you dress your windows with tinting films, then merge it with metals, dyes and colors to achieve desired performance characteristics. Upgrade even more to smart responsive technology with self-tinting thermochromic glass windows.
Obscured Glass
For extra layer of privacy and luxe look on your bedrooms and bathrooms, you can turn to obscured glass. Choose from different variations and render your window glass translucent with sandblasting, acid etching and frosting.
Reflective Glass
When float glass is topped with metallic coating, you’ll get reflective glass. Best for structural glazing facades, this window glass wields a one-way mirror effect which emphasizes your need for privacy and protection from outdoor intrusion.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Insulating Glass Unit
Go green with double-pane or triple-pane glazing with krypton or argon-filled spacers. This energy-efficient window glass reduces heat transfer and acts as a thermal barrier on your building envelope, further decreasing your mechanical loads and utility costs.
Low-E Glass
Here’s how low-emissivity glazing works in principle: reflect heat, and absorb light. This two-way operation from this peculiar thin-set coating will enable your window assembly to pass such stringent standards on green compliance. Put simply, you have well-lit and cool interior spaces as your top benefit.
With advanced window technology currently in play, you are not restricted anymore to only one option. Here at Bright Windows, we can help you merge different decision points above to produce a window glass for your home that caters to all your needs. Bank on our installation expertise of custom windows and immerse with us via scheduled appointment in our Manhattan showroom located at 135 East 57th St 18-106.