The Effect of Poorly Insulated Glass in Your Windows

The Effect of Poorly Insulated Glass in Your Windows

The Department of Energy estimates that over 20% of the heat loss or gain in your home may be due to radiation which comes through poorly or non-insulated glass. It is not uncommon for apparently well-built homes to have windows that measure a high (U) Factor (which is undesirable). To reinforce this point, here is a direct quote from a Department of Energy publication:

"Windows can be one of your home's most attractive features. Windows provide views, day lighting, ventilation and solar heating in the winter. Unfortunately, they can also account for 10% to 25% of your heating bill. During the summer, sunny windows make your air conditioner work two to three times harder. If you live in the Sun Belt, look into new solar control spectrally selective windows, which can cut the cooling load by more than half." (Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy and Money at the Home)

The Department of Energy publications are replete with advice on how to reduce the cost of energy in your home, a major factor of which relates to inefficient windows. If you check your windows now and find the glass is single pane, you probably would have been wise to replace them sometime ago.

Beautiful Stained Glass Windows to Decorate Your Home

Beautiful Stained Glass Windows to Decorate Your Home

In this article, we will be discussing some of the magnetic facets of stained glass windows.

Stained glass windows are the patterns of transparent mosaic that are composed of panels of colored and dyed glass and it is then organized to create an abstract design or pictorial image. As we are aware of the fact that the such windows have gone through the tests of time and some of them have showcased a prominent feeling than others. If you ever across a real antique stained glass window, you should take into consideration various steps to renovate the same as it has a priceless feeling attached to it. With the help of refurbishment of such a window, you can give a fresh look to the stunning window. You will definitely enhance the beauty of your house with its presence. Stained glass windows are the windows that truly have a magnificent effect and certainly make you feel that you are living in another world. When the bright shining sun takes a glimpse at your house, you will get a feeling that air of your house has become kaleidoscopically enchanting.

At times, you view the work of art in antiquated buildings in the old country that is in a state of dilapidation. It would not be wrong to say that it is an art that is slowly and gradually vanishing as people are getting more inclined towards the use of other materials. They are on the verge of discontinuing the expensive glass that was vigorously exploited by medieval artisans.

Laminated Glass As Replacement Glass is the Answer For Broken Window

Laminated Glass As Replacement Glass is the Answer For Broken Window

Laminated glass, popularly known as the safety glass is one of the most marked inventions of its time. It was accidentally discovered by the French chemist during his experimentation. The benefit of the discovery of laminated glass has since then made life literally very convenient. Laminated Glass was also used during the First World War. One of the classic features of laminated glass is that when it is severely damaged, it doesn't break in to small pieces. This produces a characteristic "spider web" cracking pattern when the impact is not enough to completely pierce the laminated glass.

Laminated glass  is widely used in automobiles and building structures to prevent damage during accidents and unforeseen contingencies. Such glasses cannot cause any severe damage due to breakage, as they do not shatter into small pieces. In times of breakage, replacement is easily available. Replacement glass is available in all shapes, sizes and combinations. Of late, a lot people prefer using a variety of glasses as replacement glass for their broken window and doors. Instead of ordinary glass, laminated or frosted glass is used as a tougher replacement glass. Broken window is now no more a pain to worry about. It is very easy to find a replacement for your broken window.

Why You Should Consider a Modular Glass Railing System

Why You Should Consider a Modular Glass Railing System

The function of any railing system is to add safety to a staircase while adding beauty to the home or business. A carefully designed stair railing will complement any type of architecture, becoming a focal point that grabs the attention of all who enter. There are many reasons to consider a glass stair railing system when designing or remodeling a home or business staircase.

A modular glass railing system is sold as a standard or custom-made kit and is easily assembled by the homeowner, business owner, or contractor. Glass stairs add their own particular ambiance to a residential or commercial structure and do not require any maintenance other than occasional cleaning. Unless you are one of those people who hates washing windows, a glass railing may be just what you need.

A modular stair railing kit makes installation easy because it comes with all of the parts you need plus complete instructions. If you are replacing parts of an existing stairway, you can have custom parts made to your exact specifications. If a kit is not exactly what you need, then custom parts can replace some of the standard parts or a complete kit can be created to give you a one-of-a-kind stairway.

In either a family or business application a glass railing is safe, elegant, and modern. Being a solid structure, children cannot squeeze their bodies between railings or throw objects through. In a commercial setting, glass railings increase the visibility of merchandise and encourage sales. If you purchase the right kind of glass, your glass rail system will last a lifetime.

Glass Window Security

Glass Window Security 

Glass window security is very important for any house as windows are the first place which is targeted by the burglars for getting inside the house. And having good glass window security will ensure that not only your house is saved from being burgled or robbed but it also would attract attention which would be helpful in getting hold of the burglar. Having good quality glass window security installed at different and important parts of the house would be a very good way to go about this problem. We would, in this article, look at the types of glass window security which is used by house owners and that which helps them in keeping the burglars at bay.

Laminated glass is one of the most popular glass window security options that are available in the market nowadays. This type is basically made of vinyl or plastic inner layers which are basically kind of sandwiched or situated between couple of layers of glass. And this combination as a result adds more strength and toughness to this kind of glass window security. This toughness can be proved when a burglar without knowing that it is made of laminated glass tries to break up the glass security window and ends up on the losing side. If the burglar really wants to get into the house breaking such kind of laminated barrier, then he would have to make multiple strikes at the same spot to get some kind of an opening. But by the time he makes that opening, the whole neighborhood would have been woken up listening to the huge banging noise made by the burglar. And this is one reason why most of the burglars avoid such kind of windows to ensure that they are not caught while making an attempt to burgle the house.

Installing Sliding Glass Shower Doors

Installing Sliding Glass Vigo Shower Doors

Many of us enjoy doing projects on our own and installing sliding shower doors may be a rather simple thing to do, provided you are handy. The first thing that you really need to do is to familiarize yourself with every step that is involved in installing these shower sliding glass doors, as many of them will depend on each other in order for the entire installation to go properly. This is not only true if you're installing a frameless sliding shower door but also if you are installing something that is a bit more standard. There are also some sliding glass doors that are customized for a variety of different reasons, and these also need a customized installation.

The first step in installing the sliding glass shower doors is to measure everything properly in order to make sure that you get the doors that you actually need. This would not only include taking a measurement at the base of the shower door, it would also include taking one every 12 inches as you go up the wall. Keep in mind, not all walls are built plum and it may be necessary for you to either shim out the frame of the shower door at the bottom or the top in order for it to fit properly. If the frame of the shower door is not plum, you will have leaks as a result.

The next step is to install the base track for the shower sliding glass doors that are going to be installed. The only time whenever you will not be doing this is if you get a trackless bottom, which is commonly installed in order to allow handicap access. If this is true, you may still need to install a track at the bottom, although it will not be a guide for the door itself. It will simply be something that flattens out as the wheelchair runs over it but it will still be in place in order to direct the water back into the shower pan.