Window Installation, Replacement, and More in Las Vegas and Surrounding Areas

Float glass is the standard glass type, untreated and uncut. It is used as a base to prepare all other window glass types. Float glass derives its name from turning molten glass into large, smooth, and thin glass panels by pouring or floating molten glass into a tin. Float glass is cost-efficient but weak and has no energy, color, privacy, safety, or security features.

Manufacturers create laminated glass by fusing two float glass pieces around a thin PVB or polyvinyl butyral layer, using high heat and pressure to bond the glass pieces. It is a safety glass, also a part of windshields and storefronts. Laminated glass is a robust window glass option that adds structural integrity and prevents the window from shattering if it breaks. Laminated glass is ideal for business or hurricane windows.

Obscured or patterned glass is ideal for windows in areas where privacy is a priority, like bathrooms or extensions where windows overlook neighbors’ windows or are closer to a busy street. Some building regulations also mandate obscured glass use over other glass types. It is translucent and has patterns, designs, or features imprinted to make it challenging to see through it. Obscured glasses for windows are ranked from 1 to 5, where one offers minimal and five offers maximum privacy.

Tempered glass is highly durable and robust. The float glass undergoes an annealing process that cools the glass slowly and maintains its strength. Some annealed glass undergoes an additional process called tempering to boost its strength further. Although tempered glass can shatter when hit hard enough, it breaks into small pieces, which does not pose a significant safety hazard. Tempered glass is ideal for low or big windows or those near busy spaces.

Double or triple-pane home windows usually use insulated glass. The panes of glasses have argon or krypton gas filled in the spaces between for insulation between panes. These gasses boost the windows’ U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient, which measure how well a window blocks the sun’s rays. Insulated glass is a good choice for homes with energy efficiency as a priority.

Low emissivity, or Low-E glass, has a special coating that reflects UV and infrared rays while allowing natural light to enter the home. UV rays filtering through the windows can fade furniture and furnishings and damage the building materials, while infrared light can heat the home in the summer. Low-E glass prevents this and keeps the heat inside the home during winter. Low-E glass’s ability to reflect thermal radiation lowers energy bills throughout the year.

A soundproof or acoustic window glass dampens surrounding noise to keep the interiors quiet. It offers a feasible way to combat noise in a busy neighborhood or keep noise from a workplace. Soundproof glass is manufactured by joining two glass layers with PVB between them. Windows with soundproof glass reduce anxiety, elevate mood, and help homeowners enjoy undisturbed sleep.