What Type of Glass is Used in Windows?

Windows are made up of frames and glass and hardware for the most part. Different frames contribute to different stages of energy efficiency and aesthetics, and so is glass. Glass invites natural light into the house and is good for ventilation, making it warm and fresh. When it comes to glass selection, it seems there are too many choices to make a good one. Not everyone buys windows every day, so you probably have not much knowledge about glass types. Therefore, why don’t you start by getting to know more about glass types?

Different Types of Window Glass

Glass can be classified by its panes and styles. You can call glass by its panes. If it’s one pane, then it is a sheet of single-pane glass, which is not frequently used for windows now. If it has two panes with a spacer bar between them, you can say it’s a sheet of double-pane glass, the most common choice that homeowners will make for their windows and door and has the best cost performance for energy efficiency, being the most popular glazing options. For three-pane glass, surely it is with two spacer bars among them, which is good for areas with extreme climates and costs much more than double-pane glass. Two or more pane glass is also known as insulated glass units (IGUs). Normally windows do need to go over two-pane windows since double-pane windows with some upgrade options on frame and accessories meet most of the needs.

If you name glass by its styles, you will find there are annealed glass, tempered glass, laminated glass and heat strengthened glass. Low-E glass is a glass type with Low-E coating to reduce the low emissivity of ultraviolet and infrared light that comes into the house through windows. The coating can be finished on any type of window. Apart from Low-E glass, there is frosted glass with the invisible surface to provide better privacy. You may apply it to your bathroom or bedroom windows.

Annealed Glass

Annealed glass is a traditionally normal glass and it takes a long time to cool down. It has not been tempered or heat-strengthened. Annealed glass is out of date for use in windows and doors since it doesn’t provide enough safety and strength for windows and doors.

Tempered Glass

Tempered glass, or toughened glass, is known as the classical safety class, which is heat-treated based on annealed glass. After the treatment, tempered glass can be up to four times stronger than annealed glass. If it breaks, it won’t break into big, sharp pieces but small and still united ones. So it is less likely to get someone hurt. Tempered glass brings more safety to windows in the long run. Tempered glass is not only used for windows and doors, but also for smartphone screen protectors, diving masks and cookwares and other applications. Most of the window manufacturers are now making tempered glass as their standard configuration for windows and doors, not normal glass.

Laminated Glass

Laminated glass holds two glass panes together, typically polyvinyl butyral (PVB). It double increases the thickness of the whole glazing, bringing double strength for the windows to provide more safety and excellent sound insulation. Laminated glass is widely used in windows and doors for extreme climates, and more widely in automobile windshields and curtain walls, and others.

Heat Strengthened Glass

Heat strengthened glass is kind a combination of tempered glass and annealed glass. It is a semi-tempered glass and its strength is between annealed glass and tempered glass. Heat strengthened glass provides the necessary strength and if it breaks, it breaks into edges.

How to Select the Right Type of Window Glass for Your House?

There a are few factors to consider when you are selecting glass for your house. Glass for new windows or replacement windows can be different or sometimes the same. For replacement windows, simply go with the same window type and that will be fine. For new windows, you need to think about all the factors from your climate to housing styles and your budget.

Climate plays a key role in selecting windows. Find out what your climate is like and then decide whether double-pane glass windows are good for you or you need double-pane laminated glass windows. The next is your budget. How much you plan to spend on the windows depends on how many choices you can choose from. For the window style, modern windows use bigger and larger glazing with thinner frames while traditional windows remain the normal window sizes and styles. Before you make your final decision, take a whole look at at least the above three factors (or maybe more), then you can start to consult some window manufacturers and let them know your ideas and then see what they do for your windows.