Different Types of Window Glass

Glass panels and window glass stacked in warehouse

At Springfield Glass Company, we repair, replace and install new windows in homes and businesses. When beginning a project for a customer, one of the first things we need to know is what type of glass is needed or wanted. There is a huge variety of choices to pick from to satisfy any need or match any design vision. In today’s blog, Springfield Glass Company discusses some basic information we need to work through to get started.

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Window Pane Options

Single-pane or double-pane glass? Many windows and doors are glazed with a single piece of glass while many newer installations are glazed with double-pane, insulating glass. In some cases, the glass is even triple-pane. This number is not how many separate panes of glass are in a window that has divided lites; instead, this number refers to how many pieces of glass separate the interior from the exterior within the particular lite opening. The most common insulating glass is double-pane, where an inner and outer pane is separated by a sealed space that is filled with air or argon.

Low-E Coating

Does the glass have a low-E coating (short for low emissivity)? Many double-pane glass units contain a coating on the glass between the two panes that are called low-e. This is a microscopically thin layer of metals that help reflect heat, keeping the warmth inside or outside depending on the design. The coating is nearly invisible, though it can have some impact on glass color.

Glass Tint

Is the glass tinted? Both single and double-pane glass can have tinting. Glass for homes and buildings can be tinted much the same as the glass tint on our cars. Glass panes can have an applied film tint, or they can have an integral tint where the tinting is actually part of the glass—like an old green soda bottle. Tinting is available in just about every imaginable color and in many different degrees of reflectivity. The purposes of color tinting are to change the appearance of the glass and to reduce the amount of sunlight and heat entering the living space.

Safety Glass

Is safety glass required? This consideration comes into play mainly when the glass is in or close to a doorway and when it’s close to the ground. Building codes require glass in these areas to be a safety type that won’t turn into large deadly shards if it gets broken. There are various types of safety glass that we can help you select from.

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Contact Springfield Glass Company for Your Glass Needs

These are the basic design criteria that must be determined for any window or door glass installation. It is important for any building that the correct selections are made so the appearance is right and the building is in compliance with safety codes. Call the Springfield Glass Company at (417) 883-6555 or contact us online. We’re happy to help you determine which selections match your installation to avoid unnecessary expense due to appearance mismatches or building code violations.

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