The type of glass you choose is perhaps the most important decision you make
when purchasing windows. After all, 80-90% of a window is its glass unit. Your
choice of glass can dramatically affect and enhance the architectural appeal of
the building. It also affects the building’s energy efficiency. Energy Efficiency Due to rising energy costs, single-pane
windows are just about obsolete these days. Most windows are now built with
double-pane, insulated glass. Insulated glass is essentially a “sandwich”
of two pieces of glass separated by a spacer bar and sealed on all four sides to
create a dead airspace between the two panes. Today, a typical window will have double-pane glass with an airspace between
1/2" and 1". They may also contain a special low E coating or argon gas injected
between the panes to increase their energy efficiency. Spacer bars have also
been specially engineered to provide greater energy savings and longevity
against seal failure. . Historical Homes Depending how concerned you are about the architectural appears may determine if you choose single pane glass. Historical window sashes are not designed to hold the insulated glass due to the design of the profile of the wood sash. When people are truely retaining their older home, most choose single pane because of this. Also, with an older home you should never permantly remove the storm windows. First they are a historical character, but add another layer of glass. The way the window unit is built is designed to receive a storm window, so if you were to remove it, the window exterior may look funny. A & A Millwork is a company that manufacturers historical window sashes, if you want more info click here, http://www.aamillwork.com/w_dblhng_win.htm What is some of this glass lango you here now a days mean? Argon Gas: An inert gas
that is often injected within the dead airspace of an insulated glass unit to
enhance its efficiency. Since it is a naturally occurring component of the
atmosphere, it is 100% safe. Argon gas-filled windows are approximately 6% more
energy efficient than windows without argon gas. Krypton Gas: An inert gas that is often mixed with argon and injected into the dead airspace. It is more prevalent in triple-pane windows since it is more effective when the glass panes are close together. Low E Glass: Low E glass
contains a highly engineered surface designed to reflect heat before it passes
through the window. While early versions were often mirror-like or tinted,
today's Low E glass is designed to allow most visible light to pass through it
and doesn't appear any different than ordinary glass. In addition, low E
coatings often are designed to reflect UV light to protect draperies and
interior furnishings from sun bleaching. By incorporating low E glass,
manufacturers can decrease energy loss through double-pane glass by up to 50 Hopefully this helps give you some insight on choosing glass for replacement windows. Thanks, Nicole Aune nicole@homeresourceweb.com |
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