Different types of glass
Our glazing options are wide-ranging and can be customised to suit your exact requirements.
Whether you live on a busy street, a noisy neighbourhood, or have hard to reach windows, we can help you choose the right type of glass to suit your needs.
In most circumstances, we can fully customise your glazing so that it has several features, such as double glazed, acoustic and self-cleaning and we can work with you to establish the best fit for your needs. All of our glazings come with a 10-year guarantee.
Double glazing
To ensure as much authenticity as possible, we install slim glazing units (using specialist 11mm thick glass) which minimises the double reflection from the glass and, for homes in conservation areas, this glazing is generally approved by English Heritage. Using slim glass units allows traditional methods, including solid glazing bars to be used, maintaining the window’s original detailing.
In most unlisted properties, we recommend and use 20mm double glazed units. These have a U value of 1.6, so are incredibly thermally efficient. They provide an excellent level of insulation, help prevent condensation and are very durable. Combined with an acoustic glazing and our custom made window shutters, they are also virtually sound proof.
Single glazing
When double glazing is not possible, we recommend and use 4 mm – 6 mm single glazed units.
Single glazing is often preferred in listed buildings because it preserves the original appearance of the windows.
Acoustic
The main benefit of acoustic glass is the reduction in noise level, by as much as 10 decibels. This makes a significant difference and is particularly effective against traffic noise when used in windows facing onto busy roads.
Acoustic glass is thicker than regular glass as it includes a soft plastic ‘interlayer’ which absorbs sound waves. By varying the thickness of glass and the number of interlayers used, we can also achieve various performance levels.
An added bonus of acoustic glass is that it is harder to break, making it stronger and safer than regular glass.
Self-cleaning
Self-cleaning glass features a transparent coating which reacts with the sun’s rays to break down dirt and grime. When it rains, the decomposed dirt naturally just rinses away. As the surface is hydrophilic, it attracts water over its entire surface so rain forms a sheet of water over the glass, rather than droplets which can make rain marks.
Toughened/safety
Safety glazing has been specifically designed to reduce the risk of accident by impact, fracture or shattering. Such glazing is available in toughened and laminated forms. PVB laminated glass consists of one or more sheets of glass, bonded together with one or more PVB interlayers. While it’s no stronger than ordinary glass, in the event of a glass breakage it will hold together. Laminated glass also provides an extra level of sound and thermal insulation.
Toughened glass, on the other hand, is made by a controlled thermal treatment. While significantly stronger, up to five times, toughened glass is still breakable on impact. However, unlike ordinary glass, if broken it breaks into small cube-like pieces which are less likely to cause injury. The key benefit of toughened glass is its strength in terms of the impact required to break it.
Obscure/patterned
For homes and rooms which require an extra level of privacy, we can fit obscure glass.
This glass comes in several varieties, colours and styles, and we can influence the transparency of the glass surface, as well as the light transmittance, dependant on your needs. An ideal choice for bathroom windows.
Talk to us about your project…
Email: [email protected] | Call: 01225 920 900
(Please note, we are unable to take on projects with fewer than three windows.)