If you’re looking for residential window glass repair or home window replacement, you need to research the type of glass you need to ensure that you make a suitable investment. Different types of window glass are available on the market.
Float Window Glass
The process of making float glass gives it its name. Manufacturers produce thin, smooth, large glass panels by floating molten glass on molten tin. They cut, treat, and frame this basic sheet of glass to create the raw material for windows and doors. People often choose float glass for its low cost, colorlessness, and classic transparent look for windows and doors.
Safety Laminated Window Glass
Safety laminated glass is a security-enhanced, extra-strong glass made by combining two panes of glass within a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB). The manufacturing process entails using high pressure and heat to fuse a powerful glass panel.
If you want to install glass that stays within its frame when cracked, then safety laminated glass is your best choice. It uses the same technology as the glass in your car’s windshield. Instead of spraying the glass shards, it contains the glass pieces within the PVB layer.
Annealed Glass
Annealing is a controlled, slow, and meticulous process of reducing the temperature of float glass. This gradual cooling reduces the stress on the glass by quick cooling and strengthens it.
The float glass is annealed before it’s made into windows and doors. Compared to other types of glass, annealed glass is the weakest and leaves shards when broken.
Tinted Glass
Tinting refers to adding color to any glass. Done to amp up the design aesthetic, increase privacy, and prevent heat from entering the house. Tinted glass can also save you from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
People usually use tinted glass on skylights, decorative panels, and vehicles. You can also use tinted glass for windows for additional privacy.
Obscured Glass
If you want ample natural light to come in, but you don’t want to compromise on privacy, then obscured glass is your best choice. Obscured glass has etched, coated, or frosted patterns so that only vague shadows are visible through the glass. This glass is a popular choice for shower doors and bathroom windows.
Tempered Window Glass
Tempered glass is annealed glass that is four times stronger. You cannot cut tempered glass. Therefore, annealed glass is cut into the desired size, heated to 1,200 degrees, and cooled. After that, the glass panes are heated to 550 degrees to soak the heat. This process of heating and cooling, known as tempering, tests the glass’s strength before its application in real-life scenarios. People commonly use tempered glass in glass doors.
Mirrored Glass
Manufacturers apply a metal coating to one side of the glass pane to create mirrored glass. They then protect this metallic coating with a sealant layer, giving the glass its reflective appearance. People often use mirrored glass on furniture, doors, and walls for decorative purposes.
Insulated Window Glass
These glass windows are best for energy efficiency. Insulated glass consists of at least two or three glass panes with argon filled between the spaces. Afterward, manufacturers will temper or laminate these panes to complete the insulation process.
Insulated glass has a desiccant substance that prevents the glass panes from condensing. Insulated glass is the best choice for exterior windows as it keeps your cooling and heating costs low.
The insulated glass comes in different thicknesses and qualities. Therefore, checking their energy efficiency ratings before purchasing them is essential.
Low-E Glass
Low-E refers to low emissivity. It’s a special coating that reflects thermal radiation while simultaneously filtering the sunlight.
It’s beneficial for your home because it reflects the heat away from your house during summers and prevents the heat from escaping during winters. This feature results in lower cooling and heating costs.
Low-E glass is costly, but you can save up by decreasing heating and cooling costs in the long run. Please note that some low-E coatings have a tint. Therefore, you must choose the glass that best fits your home’s aesthetic.
Wired Glass
Wired glass is a fire-resistant glass. It has an in-built web of wires that keeps the glass shards inside the window frame. Therefore, the glass won’t shatter into sharp shards if there’s a fire. Instead, it will only crack. Consumers commonly use this glass in hospitals, schools, and commercial buildings.
Wired glass can also withstand the pressure of a firefighter’s hose. While it’s ideal for many commercial applications, it’s rarely used in residential window or door designs.
Heat Strengthened Window Glass
To strengthen annealed windows, the glass is heated to more than 1,200 degrees and cooled. Unlike tempered glass, it’s not cooled quickly. Therefore, it’s not very strong. However, heat-strengthened glass is more substantial than other low-grade glass panes but can break into small pieces. That’s why it’s only used for exterior windows if laminated.
Now that you know the wide range of glass available in the market and their uses, you won’t have to think much before choosing a suitable glass for your residential and commercial windows and doors. You can get the look, security, and energy efficiency and change the type of glass you use for each window and door based on its purpose.
About Quality Window & Glass Repair LLC
Quality Window and Glass Repair LLC offers commercial and residential window glass repair services in Germantown, MD. We provide low-cost and same-day window repair services for all commercial and residential glass needs—from glass doors, storefronts, and windows to tabletops and bathrooms. Our team has experience in sliding glass door repairs, frameless glass door repairs, insulated double pane glass, and more. Get in touch with them for quick and affordable service.
