When you think about the glass in your home, you may only think of windows and doorways. However, glass can also be used in a number of different ways around you home to create a unique and interesting look. Although our team of writers aren't experts when it comes to this subject, they do have a keen interest in the use of glass around your home and the glass manufacturing industry. Read on to find out more about the different types of glass available to you, how you can use glass to increase how big a room feels, and much more!
You may take glass windows for granted, not think much about the type of glass you insert when you replace the panes. However, glass comes in different forms that can help homes in various ways. For example, some glazing offer privacy and some glass types are safer than others. You can also create a more comfortable home climate with particular window panes. When choosing a replacement option, think about what you want to achieve with your windows.
Privacy
Glass opens a room to the outdoors, so you don't feel closed and cut off from the world. However, transparent glass also lets passersby peep into your home and disturb your privacy. You can make your home feel more secluded without pulling down blinds or drawing curtains by installing the right glass. Tinted glass is one possibility that is created by adding metal oxides during manufacture. For example, cobalt oxide creates a blue tinge, while iron instils a green taint. You can also install bronze or grey tinted glass in the windows. However, if you replace all the glass in your home with tinted glass, it can feel too dark. To avoid this effect, choose selected windows that face the street or a bedroom, for example.
Safety
Beautiful spacious glass patio doors and windows break down the barrier to your garden and bring it closer. But standard float window glass can be hazardous, as it breaks into pointy shards that can cause injuries. Building regulations can compel you to install safety glass in some instances, depending on the window size and wall position. Two possible types are toughened and laminated glass.
Toughened glass undergoes a tempering method whereby it's quickly heated and cooled, which renders it about four times stronger than standard glass. Additionally, if toughened glass breaks, it crumbles into rounded tubes that are unlikely to inflict injury. Another type of safety glass is laminated glass, made by bonding two pieces of glass onto a middle plastic interlayer that holds the pane firm even if it cracks after an impact. Your replacement windows will be safer than those that you are replacing.
Comfort
It's easier for heat to flow through a glass pane than a thick wall. Thus, windows allow the summer heat inside. In winter, they also provide an escape route for the heat to drift outdoors. You can hinder this heat transfer by installing energy-efficient glass. For example, during a glass replacement connect double glazed units with two panes on either side of a gap filled with air or gas. This space blocks the free flow of heat through the window. Another possibility is Low-E glass, which has a covering that reflects heat. You can set up the Low-E glass to stop the sun from heating your home and also to prevent warmth from leaving.
If you are looking to undergo glass replacement on any of your windows, consider these options.
Share2 June 2021
