One of the most effective ways to increase the energy efficiency and visual appeal of your home is to upgrade your glass windows. With how hot it gets in North Texas in the summer, choosing the right glass is important to reduce your utility costs. Let’s take a look at the features of high-end glass windows.
Low-E Coatings for Texas Heat
Low-E stands for low-emissivity. This glass has a thin, transparent coating that reflects infrared and ultraviolet light, keeping heat out in the summer and keeping heat in during the winter. Because they block over 75% of UV rays, they can prevent your furniture and carpets from fading.
Tempered Glass: The Safety Standard
Standard glass, otherwise known as annealed glass, breaks into large, sharp fragments when it breaks, leading to potential safety hazards. In contrast, tempered glass breaks into small, blunt granules, reducing the risk of injury. Tempered glass is heat-treated and can be up to five times stronger than normal glass, meaning that it is much less prone to breaking in the first place.
Keep in mind that DFW mandates tempered glass for most doors, sliding doors, low windows, and glass near stairways. If your home is an older home, upgrading to tempered glass, otherwise known as safety glass, can help make your home a safer environment to live in.
Insulated Glass Units for Energy Efficiency
Insulated glass units consist of argon between two glass panes. These double-pane windows have a protective seal to prevent the argon from leaking out.
If you have windows that are fogging on the inside, it’s possible that there are microscopic cracks that are letting moisture in. As a result of this, the insulation may not be working properly and your utility bills may be a lot higher.
Due to the intense heat in Texas, insulated glass units, or IGUs, may occasionally need replacing. The good news is that you can often just replace the panes instead of the entire frame.
Professional Measuring for Replacement
Precise measurement is the foundation of a successful glass replacement. Because tempered and insulated glass cannot be cut or modified once manufactured, our team follows a rigorous, multi-point measurement protocol to ensure a perfect fit for every project.
- Three-Point Width and Height: We measure the width at the top, middle, and bottom, and the height at the left, center, and right. We use the smallest of these measurements to ensure the new glass unit fits into your frame without being forced.
- Checking for Squareness: We measure the frame diagonally from corner to corner. If these two numbers differ, your frame is out of square, and we calculate a custom-sized unit to compensate for the offset.
- IGU Thickness Analysis: For double-pane windows, we measure the overall thickness of the entire unit. The two glass panes, plus the space in-between. This is critical for the glass to sit correctly.
Get Your Crystal-Clear Quote
We make it easy to start your project. You don’t even need to wait for a technician to get a preliminary price.
Simply take a photo of your window or door, and then submit the photos and other details on our contact form.
We’ll provide you with an up-front pricing based on your photos and approximate dimensions. When the quote is approved, we’ll schedule a measurement to get the exact professional dimensions before ordering your custom glass.
In many cases, we can do the measuring and installation within the same week.