glass repair vs glass replacement

Glass Repair vs. Glass Replacement: Which Service Do You Need?

glass repair vs glass replacement

Sometimes when a glass piece or structure in your home you consider important gets broken, cracked, or chipped, you may find it difficult to let go of it. It may be something you spent a substantial amount on to install or have sentimental value. You will try to exhaust all efforts to restore the item to save it. While a few glass damage can be solved through repair, most require glass replacement as a permanent solution to completely restore the glass condition and prevent more serious consequences with damaged glass.

Considerations in Glass Replacement

Safety should be the foremost consideration in a glass replacement. Addressing glass problems with a replacement glass can go a long way in maintaining the safe performance and longevity of service of your glass structures such as windows, doors, and railings.

Energy efficiency is another good reason to want to replace the glass. Under-performing windows and doors reduce the energy efficiency in your home. They result in a massive loss of money going out through the window or door. Very obsolete windows have to be replaced with modern double or triple glazed designs with 5-9 R values. Energy-efficient windows can save 22% on your annual heating and cooling costs. For exterior doors, it pays to go for a low U-factor that ranges from 0.00-2.00. The lower the U-factor, the better the door keeps in heat.

Other reasons that warrant a replacement of glass or your windows/doors include:

  • Improper locking or closing of the window or door
  • Out-of-date style
  • Doesn’t fit the architecture of your home
  • Cracks, chips, or discoloration
  • Drafty or leaking
  • More than 15 years old and already shows signs of wear and tear

Glass Repair or Replacement?

In some cases when the glass in the structure such as windows and doors get damaged without affecting the frames, replacement glass may be all that’s needed. You don’t need to replace the frames, which can let you save a substantial amount of money compared to if you have to replace the complete units. Replacement glass is also the solution when you just want to update glass for a better appearance and function. In situations when the frames holding the glass are old and damaged, installing replacement glass will not give you the improved look you desire. In such cases, to update glass without considering upgrading the frames may be a waste of investment.

Some glass damage may be repaired even on your own if you have the time, skill, and patience. However, other glass pieces are too delicate, valuable, or complicated. Large or delicate jobs such as broken or shattered windows and cracked door should be handled by a professional glass repair shop and staff with the required skill, experience, and equipment.

You can take temporary safety measures to keep the cracked glass from spreading but temporary fixes won’t last forever. Eventually, it will need to be replaced. The extent of the glass damage and the condition of your glass windows, doors, railings, etc. will tell you whether you need a repair or replacement.

Cracked Glass

One of the common conditions that will justify glass replacement is cracked glass. Here are the most important things to know about cracked glass:

  • You can stabilize and slow the spread of a glass crack but eventually, the glass will have to be replaced for safety reasons.
  • A cracked glass greatly compromises your safety including those of your guests. It is best to have an expert replace the affected glass as soon as possible.
  • Using tempered glass can lessen the danger of broken glass. Rather than repairing just the crack, consider replacing the pane with tempered glass to keep you safe in the future.
  • Remember that fixes are only temporary because once the glass is cracked, the crack will spread. You can’t stop the crack from spreading.

Glass Replacement Near Me

Replacing window glass can be a difficult and time-consuming process. In our more than 25 years in the glass industry, we at New Town Glass have experienced all types of situations that needed immediate glass replacement. No matter how homeowners try to save their glass structure by having them fixed, repair simply wouldn’t suffice; a permanent solution through glass replacement becomes inevitable.

We normally recommend our customers to replace or update glass that:

  • is broken and has created a safety hazard.
  • is broken and no longer encased within its frame.
  • has a crack that has broken the seal in a double-pane window.

 

So, if you are constantly asking yourself “Where can I find a glass replacement near me?”, you need not go far. New Town Glass is the Kelowna glass company you can go to for your glass replacement and other glass services. Being glass experts, we can guide you in determining whether your glass windows, doors, and other household glass items can be repaired or need replacement. We serve the areas of Kelowna and surrounding areas including West Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, Summerland, Lake Country, and Peachland in the Okanagan Valley. Give us a call for a no-obligation consultation and estimate.

glass cubicle for offices

Advantages of Installing Glass Cubicle in Offices and Buildings

glass cubicle for offices

There are strong arguments for and against a fully closed office. Companies and organizations that favor walled offices in their buildings believe this setup promotes personnel privacy that leads to better productivity and creativity among employees. However, those that support the ‘open door policy’ are opposed to the idea and maintain that in a walled office, the staff tends to keep things to themselves and fail to collaborate with their peers for ideas. Both sides raise valid points.

A glass office or glass cubicle can consider both those concerns. The glass walls in a glass office are like a middle-of-the-road solution that addresses the issues. With its transparent and acoustic features, office glass offers many benefits including privacy while promoting openness and collaboration at work.

The benefits you get from a glass cubicle far outweigh any disadvantages it may have.

Improved Productivity

Installing glass partitions to create glass cubicles in offices or buildings enhances productivity among the workforce. In a glass cubicle, clear glass walls avoid disturbances and distractions from co-employees while creating a lively and interactive ambiance. The glass walls allow employees to see each other fostering communication. Installed office glass also discourages employee laziness while encouraging accountability, which both contribute to higher levels of productivity.

Improved Acoustics

Glass walls are somewhat soundproof helping to reduce noise pollution in the office. Distractions are minimised and the employee can focus better on his or her job. The tranquil atmosphere stimulates the staff’s productivity; creativity flourishes.

Flexibility

One of the biggest advantages of a glass cubicle is the amount of flexibility it offers. Depending on your company’s needs and circumstances, you can always create a glass office to alter your layout. When you need extra space or want to add a segment in the office, a glass cubicle will be a convenient and practical solution. Glass walls are easy to install and just as easy to remove when you need to. You have the flexibility to move the office glass to another location from time to time. You can rapidly reconfigure your space in response to client needs and requests.

Easy Maintenance

A glass office is easy to maintain. Wiping down the office glass quickly with a window cleaning solution is all it takes to give it a fresh and clean shine. For treated glass panels, it is advisable to clean them using a microfiber cloth. Unlike other office wall materials, glass walls do not need repainting or coating to maintain.

Improved Lighting

Lack of lighting in offices often results in employees’ low workplace energy and even fatigue. You can improve the lighting in your office through a layout that can let sufficient natural light in. Office glass, being transparent, improves lighting and effectively lessens the need for electric lighting, especially during the day.

Energy Efficiency

With the glass cubicle, the amount of energy you consume is minimised saving you a substantial amount of money. Your energy efficiency helps significantly in reducing your company’s carbon footprint, which is a boost to the environment.

Privacy

Privacy issues being raised against installing glass offices can be addressed using frosted glass, etched designed glass, or lightly tinted glass. With these options, you get just as much natural light as any other type of glass and the same open plan feel, without compromising privacy. Phone conversations remain confidential as staff keeps their focus. Glass partitions are getting more popular with the increased number of options when it comes to design that can effectively address concerns on privacy.

Aesthetic Value

Office glass is elegant, sophisticated, and beautiful providing a corporate look and feel to the office. Gleaming glass walls suggest a lot of positive things to your clients. Aesthetically pleasing, they reflect professionalism, honesty, modernity, and progress. In these times when the competition is tougher and winning customers gets more difficult, it pays to have an impressive office that can help win clients.

Durability

The use of glass walls is the most versatile partitioning option. The correct type and standard of glass thickness for your glass office partition can withstand the wear and tear of daily office use. With proper care and maintenance, your office partitions can look pristine and last for a much longer time than traditional walls. They can be serviceable for many years.

Low-Cost Remodeling

Glass is a cost-effective option than traditional walls when you want office remodeling. The material cost is reasonable aside from having the ability to dismantle the partitions and use them for other future layouts where you will just need minimal investment. You can even take the partitions with you when you move. The flexibility of office cubicles is one of the biggest financial gains you can get from its use.

The advantages offered by glass partitions could make all the difference to your long-term profitability. It offers a cost-effective solution, with significant advantages over traditional office walls. They improve productivity, flexibility, efficiency, aesthetics, and a high-quality corporate image.

Consider glass office a solution for your company. New Town Glass can help you install it for you. We are glass experts with over 25 years of experience in the industry. We have helped many companies achieve cost efficiency and other benefits with the glass cubicles we have built for them. Call us for your glass office and commercial storefront needs.

glass company in Kelowna

The Importance of Choosing a Trusted Glass Company for Your Renovation Needs

glass company in Kelowna

Choosing the glass company to work with is as important as knowing the style of glass product you want to be installed for your home renovation. If you want a replacement for your glass windows, glass railings, glass shower, or glass patio door, you shouldn’t only be interested in how you want the glass structures to look. You should also be concerned with how they will be installed. A glass installation for your home that has been shabbily carried out may not function as you expect, can be a cause of a safety hazard, and altogether a waste of a substantial investment.

Quality installation is made possible by a professional glass company that will expertly execute your home improvement project. It pays to assign your renovation project to a trusted glass company. You should spend some time doing proper research to identify the responsible supplier that you can rely on for your home’s safety, comfort, and aesthetic improvement.

Choosing a Trusted Glass Company

Who is a glass company you can trust? Many years of experience and being in the glass business can be an indicator of a company’s dependability. The company’s track record of successful project completion will tell you that they are experienced and knowledgeable. With their years in the glass business, they should know how to address your glass needs and requirements. You could expect them to have the technical skills to be able to provide sound advice on your concerns such as style and design.

You can trust a glass company that is abreast of modern installation techniques and uses state-of-the-art tools and equipment. The wide options of glass materials for different applications that they offer effectively make them a one-stop glass store or glass shop. You can rely on that a trusted company demonstrates exceptional customer service. Their glass business is characterised by great customer support. They can render assistance during emergencies when you need them such as when your glass installation is shattered in an accident or by a strong storm.

How to Determine if a Glass Shop Can be Trusted

Doing your homework and researching data on glass companies in your area will pay off greatly.

Get the following information on the glass company, glass shop, or glass store, which could also be the criteria to test them against in making your final selection:

  • Number of years experience in the glass business, which will give you an indication of how good they are in their trade
  • Technical capability or the knowledge and skills in glass installation
  • Tools, equipment, and process employed in the installation
  • Availability of many glass options to choose from
  • Customer service practices such as number of service day and time, availability of a quick-response team, and call response time
  • Quality of installation

You can get the information you need through:

  • Asking friends and neighbors who have had a glass project done by a glass company and their experience with the said service provider
  • An internet search about the glass store or glass shop
  • Reading online reviews about the supplier
  • Checking previous work, if possible personally seeing for yourself the result of the company’s projects

Speak with their staff about any questions you might have before making the final decision.

Validating a Glass Company’s Worthiness

When you have a shortlist of the most likely candidate companies you prefer to work with for your renovation project, you can probe a little more as a way to validate your initial results. In your discussion with the prospective glass company, ask to check for the following:

  • Their glass options available should be wide for you to be able to make a good selection
  • The source of their glass must be established quality glass manufacturers
  • Procurement and installation process to ensure quality materials and job
  • Proof of licensing to meet the city’s legal standards
  • Credentials of their staff including qualifications, experience, and knowledge
  • Track record of performance including the number of successfully completed projects
  • Their quote must be competitive compared to others.

Trusted Glass Company in Kelowna

New Town Glass is a professional glass company that has been in the glass business for over 25 years. We have established ourselves as a leader in the installation of glass windows, doors, shower enclosures, railings, and many other home structures made of glass. We have transformed hundreds of Kelowna homes to become modern valuable properties through our renovation projects.

Our glass installers are some of the most qualified staff in the industry. Along with their strong technical competency in glass installation and home remodeling gained from many years of hands-on experience, they provide outstanding customer service. Friendly and professional, they are licensed and insured. They are abreast of modern glass technology and installation techniques regularly undergoing specialised advanced training so they can more efficiently execute new installations and glass replacement.

We offer a wide range of quality glass products and design options that suit your home’s style and your taste. We expertly carry out renovation projects using state-of-art equipment and tools. Our rates and warranty are among the industry’s best.

We are committed to providing Kelowna homeowners the enjoyment, safety, and aesthetic upgrade they desire for their homes. Call us to know how we can help you and for a no-obligation consultation.