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Glass Options

Windows from Heritage Millwork and Windows are available with a wide variety of glass types and options. Below is information on some of the more common options chosen by customers purchasing windows from Heritage Millwork and Windows. For additional information on these and other glass options available from Heritage Millwork, contact a sales representative today.

Low E Glass
Argon Gas
Tempered Glass
Laminated Glass
Obscure and Tinted Glass

Low E Glass

If you are concerned about energy efficiency then Low E is the glass for you. Low E glass can dramatically increase the insulation properties of your windows, helping to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Low E (or low emissivity) glass was first introduced in 1979. Low E glass is made with a thin metallic coating on or in the glass. This coating reflects heat back to its source.

Among other things, sunlight contains visible light, UV light and infrared (IR) light. Visible light enables us to see things, ultraviolet light damages skin, wood, fabrics and causes colors to fade and infrared light is basically heat. Low E glass works by allowing visible light to pass through the glass while blocking certain amounts of UV and IR light. In the summer, this helps to keep your house cooler by reflecting heat away from the glass. In the winter, heat already inside of your home is reflected back into the home by the Low E Glass.

Low E Glass comes standard with Vinyl and Fiberglass Windows from Heritage Millwork and Windows and is available as an option on all door and wood window products.

Argon Gas

Argon is a colourless, odourless, non-flammable, non-reactive, inert gas. Argon gas is used to reduce heat loss by slowing down convection inside the air space between window panes. Argon gas is extremely cost-efficient and is typically combined with a Low E glass coating to improve the insulating properties of a window and reduce heat loss.

Tempered Glass

Tempered glass is a kind of safety glass used in applications where standard glass could pose a potential danger. Tempered glass does not break into sharp shards when it fails but rather shatters into small oval-shaped pieces, eliminating the danger of sharp edges. Tempered glass is manufactured by heating the glass to near melting before rapidly cooling it. This process makes the glass four to five times stronger and gives it its unique breaking properties.

Tempered glass may be required by building codes for certain construction applications. For more information on tempered glass and where and when it might be required please contact a Heritage Millwork and Windows sales representative.

Laminated Glass

Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that holds together when broken. It is constructed using two or more layers of glass separated by a thin interlayer, typically made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB). This interlayer adds strength to the glass, preventing it from breaking into large sharp pieces and bonding glass fragments together. This produces a characteristic "spider web" cracking pattern. Laminated glass is normally used when there is a possibility of human impact or where the glass could fall if shattered. Skylight glazing and automobile windshields typically use laminated glass.

Obscure and Tinted Glass

A wide variety of patterned and tinted glass types are available for use in your window construction. Obscure glass, available in a variety of patterns ranging from translucent to semi-opaque, can give you the privacy you desire without sacrificing light and ventilation. Glass is also available in a variety of tints for applications where shading from direct sunlight might be required.

Click here to view sample images of some of the obscure and tinted glass options available from just one of our suppliers, Rogue Valley Doors. 

For more information or to view samples of obscure and tinted glass types available in your window or door project, contact a Heritage Millwork and Windows sales representative today.