A Summary of Window Glass Options

Posted: Aug 20, 2012
Author: G&S Contracting, Inc.

Window glass comes in all shapes, sizes and varieties, each specialized according to the specific needs of a window. You wouldn't use the same windows for the bathroom as for the kitchen windows. But what about the sliding glass side-door? Won't the skylights make the house too hot? The first thing about window glass options is that there are so many. People have been making glass for over 5,000 years, and there have been plenty of variations. Here we won't get into specifics on the process of making window glass, but rather the appropriate uses of some of the finished products.

Not all windows have the same uses, and therefore, aren’t made of the same glass. Some window glass, for example Low-emissivity (or Low-E) glass, is coated with special substance which only lets heat pass through one direction. The light passes through unhindered. The Low-E coating is placed either on the outside or inside of the window glass pane, depending on whether you want to keep the heat inside the house or outside. This is especially useful for window glass in skylights, which, though visually appealing, may give your living room some unwanted warmth in the height of the summer.

Insulation isn't the only thing to consider when choosing your window glass: keep safety in mind as well. You may think your sliding glass door is made of just regular old window glass, but regular glass comes with a degree of danger. If someone is to fall through the glass, that person could sustain serious injuries. For that reason, extra durable glass is often used for sliding glass doors. Another option is tempered glass that will not shatter into sharp pieces, but rather small chunks (like a car windshield breaking) that are much less likely to cause injury.