It is a common belief that glass window replacement is not that important, hence, it always falls last on the list of things to fix or replace in the house. Sturdy and high-quality windows can indeed last for years, even decades, without window replacement, but proper maintenance and prompt repairs are required.
For most homeowners, window replacement and glass updating only come to attention when the window is completely broken, but there are a lot of signs that you should look out for that tells you that it’s time to retire your old windows for new ones.
SIGN #1: The irregular temperature in the house
Feeling a sudden change in temperature in one of the rooms of your home may indicate a damaged or worn sealant or gasket, or maybe the windows were improperly installed, to begin with. Cracks on the glass are easily noticeable, but damages on the materials around the windows can be difficult to spot.
The irregular temperature in the house may also indicate poor insulation. Perhaps the window glass is single glazed which still allows significant heat transfer. Your heating system or air-conditioning may work extra hard to maintain the proper temperature that you are comfortable with, increasing energy consumption.
When you feel a draft of cold or hot air inside your house, even when all the windows are closed, it is time to call a trusted company that replaces windows.
SIGN #2: Dark and dull house
Lights are very powerful in creating a vibe of a place. Dark and dim houses or rooms can feel a little too constricting and dull, while bright rooms can create a more relaxed and positive atmosphere.
Natural light is an important element in making a house feel vibrant and happy, that’s why large and energy-efficient windows can instantly brighten up a house and the mood of the people living in it.
If you’re living in a dark house with small windows, chances are, you are consuming more electricity to brighten the place using artificial lights. Maybe it’s time to let the sunshine in and get glass updating.
SIGN #3: Difficulty in opening and closing windows
If opening and shutting your windows feel like a strenuous exercise, there’s something wrong with the window. They should be opened, shut, and locked with ease. Difficulty in movement may suggest that the mechanism may have some rust or the surrounding areas may have succumbed to wood rot. There may be a thick layer of paint that may be blocking the way, or the window lacks balance due to faulty installation.
These damages and defects can prevent your windows from locking properly, making your house an easy prey for opportunistic robbers. Immediate glass window replacement is necessary for these situations to restore the feeling of security while in your own house.
SIGN #4: Water damage and condensation
If your windows are leaking, you will notice signs of water damage such as chipped paint, wood rot, frame decay, cracks, and mold. You may also notice condensation and fogginess in between the panes of double or triple glazed windows. Faulty sealants, gaskets, and poor installation may be the cause of these water damages.
Letting these problems go on without fixing them may significantly damage your house’s structure and decrease the property value, so best to call a professional who replaces windows and get the extent of the damage assessed so they can do the necessary repairs or glass window replacement.
SIGN #5: Too much outside noise
Hearing the loud noise of cars and people outside can be uncomfortable especially if you’re trying to relax in your home. If the outside noise is too loud, your house may have single-pane windows that offer little soundproofing, or your sealants are defective.
Get glass window replacement and opt for energy-efficient triple-glazed windows that will help in reducing the noise, and it will also increase your privacy as it prevents your neighbors from hearing what goes on in your house.
Despite the potential cost of the materials and the installation, you will be saving a lot in the long run, when you opt for energy-efficient windows. Not only do they elevate the style and sophistication of your house, but they will also help in making the house more sustainable, thus increase its property value. You’ll feel safer, more secure, and comfortable and you’ll enjoy more privacy with updated windows.
New Town Glass and Window Renovations provides glass updating services and replaces windows that are damaged, failing, and dated with professionally installed modern, energy-efficient, and sustainable windows.
Your glass windows and doors can make your home look new or worn down depending on how well you maintain them. However, for most people, glass window or door care is often delayed or even put off until something breaks which leads to unnecessary glass repair. Don’t wait for someone who repairs glass to tell you that the damage is irreparable before you pay attention to your windows and doors.
Learn more about some tips on how to preserve your home’s beauty and style by caring for your glass windows or doors.
Why Do You Need Maintenance?
For most modern houses and buildings, glass windows and doors are perfect for improving sustainability by letting in more natural light; however, these large windows often get neglected because of the potential cost of repair. Unmaintained glass makes that house look old and decreases its perceived value. Broken window repair is relatively cheaper than the potential damage a broken window or door can bring such as leaks that can drastically damage a house and depreciate its value.
Doing regular maintenance and inspection can enhance the longevity of glass windows and doors, improve the lighting, increase the sense of security, prevent leaks and dirt build-up, and it can save some money on glass repair or replacement.
Tips on Maintaining Glass Windows and Doors
1. Clean windows properly.
Regular cleaning keeps the debris and dirt from accumulating. It is advisable to do it at least twice a year or after every storm or rain that can leave marks on your glass window. It’s best to use a microfiber cloth and non-corrosive cleaners. Make sure to use lubricating oil for movable parts that pose a difficulty.
2. Do a routine inspection.
The cost of calling someone who repairs glass can accumulate if done a lot of times, so it’s best to prevent any damage from becoming irreparable. To keep this from happening, identify and fix small damages them as soon as they start to show.
A routine inspection is preferably done by a professional, but as a homeowner, you can do it as long as you know what to look for. Check for the accumulation of debris and damages in the seals. Note if the movement of movable parts is smooth, and observe for any condensation. If you notice any damages, glass window repair should be carried out promptly.
Professionals specializing in broken window repair can do a more thorough inspection as they can evaluate every part of the window and doors including:
Glass
The material and coating of the frames
Handles, doorknobs, locks, hinges, latches, and other hardware
Weather-stripping
Gaskets and sealants
Any sign of leaks and water damage
3. Know when to get a glass repair or replacement.
If you can see visible damage on your glass windows or doors, it’s best to call a trusted company that repairs glass immediately before the small damage escalates into a bigger problem.
A glass window repair service provider can evaluate the extent of the damage and provide the necessary glass repairs that you will need to prevent any further damage.
Some signs that you should look out for that may indicate that you need a professional glass window repair or replacement service include the following:
Hot or cold air coming in from closed windows or doors indicate a broken window, sealant or gasket
High energy consumption may suggest you need to upgrade to more energy-efficient windows and doors
Any sign of water leak near or around the windows including chipped paint, or wood rot
Difficulty in moving, shutting and locking doors and windows
Seeing gaps from under the door or around the windows
Fogginess in between double glazed windows
As a property owner, seeing these signs may mean it’s time to call for a professional glass window repair service.
Frequency of Maintenance
A well-maintained and properly installed glass window or door can last for more than 30 years without needing glass repair services. Generally, inspection and maintenance should be done twice a year but the frequency can vary depending on various elements. For instance, a large window facing an ocean on a high building will get more rain, wind, and abrasive dust than a small window facing the city, thus, the former may need more attention and more frequent broken window repair services.
Work with Professionals
When it comes to finding a company that repairs glass, it is important to find experts who are professionals at what they do. New Town Glass and Window Renovations have perfected the craft of glass repairs and replacement. Should you opt for more beautiful, modern, and energy-efficient windows and doors, learn more about our services here.
Frameless shower glass doors can be either bypass or pivot. Bypass doors are just sliding sheets of glass that permit entryway into a shower/tub.
A pivot door is a factor of you reading this short article in the very first place. These are hinged pieces of thick glass that pivot open/closed, much like a door.
Neo Frameless Shower Glass
Among the most significant setbacks when it comes to buying a frameless shower glass door is the lack of criteria.
One seller will define a frameless shower glass door in various methods from another, and a third one will choose yet another meaning. Truthfully, it can be pretty puzzling to many homeowners. Two terms a person will stumble upon are fully frameless and semi-frameless showers
Some glass shower doors use the channels at the bottom or sides of the door to secure it. While some sellers will still say, this is a frameless shower glass door, the more precise term settled on by many in the industry is semi-frameless.
Other frameless shower glass doors use clamps to secure the glass door to the wall or a set glass panel, which is what many refer to as a fully frameless glass shower door.
Another critical problem is the type of hardware used on the door. That describes the product utilized in U channel (for semi-frameless glass shower doors) and the clamps (for fully frameless shower glass doors) along with any other component consisting of the hinges.
You will find terms like brass construction, aluminum construction, and anodized construction. If possible, always choose brass hardware.
Framless shower glass doors are rather heavy, often weighing up to 200 pounds. The hardware utilized should have the ability to bear all that weight securely and ensure structural stability.
Brass is far better at this than aluminum and numerous other materials in your experience.
Benefits/disadvantages of Frameless Shower Glass Doors
Looking to resolve the problem of messy wrap around shower curtains or concerned about hazardous chemicals found in many shower curtains?
Here, at New Town Glass, Kelowna, we offer Agalite frameless glass shower doors and frameless tub enclosure that significantly reduces health risks associated with vinyl shower curtains.
Easy to clean and practically maintenance-free, you will never have to handle a musty shower curtain again.
Readily available in an infinite variety of shapes and textures, now you can experience the clean looks that only the appearance of pure glass can provide.
Traditional framed glass shower doors utilize metal, rubber, or some other product to secure the glass along the edges. The result is a bulky look that can become an eyesore specifically for small restrooms.
A frameless shower glass door eliminates the framing, creating a cleaner and less cluttered look. Many homeowners will likewise concur that a frameless shower glass door is less of an inconvenience to clean and maintain. A quick wipe suffices to get it looking gleaming clean.
However, the charm and airiness of our Agalite frameless glass shower doors include a few disadvantages.
For one, the cost of a frameless shower glass door is much higher than that of framed doors. That is due to the increased complexity of designing and install frameless shower glass doors.
Secondly, these doors feature a greater danger of leaking water into other areas of the bathroom. Correct design is vital in preventing this.
With quality installation and proper maintenance, a frameless shower glass door is one of the best bathroom upgrades you can make. It leaves your bathroom sensation airier, brighter, and more substantial.
While frameless glass shower doors are getting steam throughout the country, many homeowners still utilize ordinary framed shower doors.
The Difference in Cost
To no surprise, framed glass shower doors cost less than their frameless counterparts. According to our estimator, you can save between $200 and $500 on your total project.
Frameless shower glass doors are much more expensive because the glass is way thicker, and they also require unique hardware
Seamless shower doors require extremely tough nuts and bolts to hold up. Given that security is always a concern, producers do not only take extra time determining the door but also picking out the ideal hardware for your shower remodel.
As you may anticipate, frameless glass shower doors cost more than your typical glass shower door. In truth, the average cost of a frameless glass shower door installation is $1,000. However, we have seen frameless glass shower door sets up cost as low as $900 or as high as $1,300.
You can save money on your frameless shower glass doors cost by installing the doors yourself (roughly $300), however, provided what you spend on the door, we recommend letting professional shower specialists mount these expensive and heavy doors.
Thicker glass – frameless shower glass doors do not have the structural advantage of metal framing; the glass must be thicker.
Glass is generally about a quarter-inch thick.
Massive – a 72″ x 36″ frameless door might weigh as much as 70 pounds. Compare to a framed glass shower door, which might weigh about 45-50 pounds.
Shower door hinge combination shower doors are notched where hinges attach for added security, strength, and safety.
There are several hardware styles a wide range of materials and finishes are offered to complement taste or to match the existing bathroom fixtures.
Our Kelowna frameless glass shower doors are 100% glass. They do not require frames and supply a modern and sleek addition to an existing shower enclosure. Frameless glass shower doors can swing open or shut.
Strong hinges are attached to the nearby wall with specialty hardware made to hold more massive doors. Frameless shower glass doors require little maintenance, look much better, and last longer than conventional shower curtains.
Glass Shower Doors & Enclosures
While they do cost more than typical shower enclosures, frameless shower glass doors create a more open and seamless bathroom. They are easy to maintain, and potential buyers love them.
Agalite glass shower and bath enclosures fabricate custom heavy frameless shower glass enclosures, the intricacy involved in frameless shower glass doors and enclosures.
Browse through New Town Glass, Kelowna’s website under Services-Glass Showers for frameless shower options
Expensive – costs range from the $400s to the thousands. Framed shower doors easily will cost 40% less. Much easier to clean – a strong sheet of glass has no framing to hinder cleaning.
Complex to install – because of the frameless door’s excessive weight, care needs to be required to ensure that it is safely installed– a task frequently best left to experts.
When choosing a glass shower enclosure, the decision on whether to install frameless glass shower doors or a framed ensemble will be required.
Each has its benefits, and it is a matter of aesthetics and performance that will aid in deciding in which kind of shower enclosure to install depending upon the existing space readily available and style desires.
Frameless Shower Glass Enclosure Maintenance
You go to the shower to cleanse your body, so it just makes good sense that your shower and frameless shower glass doors are as clean as can be. Fortunately, when it comes to glass shower door maintenance, cleaning is 90% of the work. If you clean and do the other maintenance product pointed out below, the frameless shower glass door ought to last for a minimum of a decade.
Daily cleaning: ensure to buy a squeegee and keep it in the shower. Attempt to clean down the inside of the frameless door as frequently as possible.
Deep cleans: buy glass cleaner. However, using white vinegar is appropriate, also. It is excellent for removing scum and preventing mold. Use it to the inside of the door and spray it down with water to rinse.
Still not sure if frameless glass shower doors are best for you?
Beyond cost, all potential buyers should weigh the other pros and cons of such a remodel. Considered that frameless shower glass doors can cost upwards of $500 more than standard glass shower doors, the benefits need to deserve it.
Very first, as we have stated, 2 of the best features of frameless shower glass doors are the sleek and trendy appearance. Homeowners who choose glass shower doors have a lot more freedom in regards to designing and decorating the bathroom rather than having to work around a shower curtain.
In truth, frameless shower doors draw the eye towards your beautiful floor and shower tile. If you spent additional money on bathroom tile, frameless shower glass doors would improve their look.
Furthermore, Kelowna frameless shower glass doors can be custom made so that they can fit any shower or bathroom layout. The very same cannot be stated of shower curtains or pre-made shower stall doors.
Beyond design, frameless shower glass doors are much easier to keep clean. The only thing homeowners have to stress over is soap scum, which can build up on glass with time and end up being difficult to remove. Luckily, all it takes is a weekly spray with white vinegar or first glass cleaner to avoid this from happening.
Glass doors are also really resistant to mold and mildew, which can become a common problem in damp restrooms. As such, frameless glass shower doors are an ideal alternative for bathroom spaces that are not well aerated and may experience mold or mildew problems otherwise.
A frameless shower glass door finishes a luxurious bathroom like a Viking range perfects a kitchen. Consider how much of your life you spend in the bathroom; between brushing, bathing, showering, shaving, and doing makeup/hair.
You deserve a room you can genuinely relax in. It’s not surprising that the ancient Romans thought about the bathroom among the essential rooms in the house!
Frameless glass shower enclosures from our Kelowna supplier Agalite, can create a focal point that changes a bathroom into a spacious place of respite.
In the past, shower doors required metal frames around the edges to hold the glass in place. With such framed glass shower doors, metal surrounded the entire glass door, leaving no exposed edges.
Because these doors were built of thin, relatively inexpensive glass ranging from 1/8″ to 3/16″ density, they needed a metal frame to maintain their structural integrity.
Sturdiness was restricted, however, and water and soap scum could quickly gather in the metal crevices, resulting in mildew and deterioration.
For more information or any questions you may have, I’ll be happy to answer them or check out our website.
You do need to know basic terminology about windows and how many kinds are available, all the while you need not be an expert.
Picture windows
Picture windows are stationary windows that add views and value. They are flanked by units or narrow casements.
Hopper windows
Tilt-in hopper windows are installed in crawlspaces and basements. The sash locks when unlatched and the top tips in toward the interior.
Float Glass
The name Float glass is the process of forming molten glass. It floats molten glass on the molten tin, creating a possible thin glass panel. This is a simple sheet of glass before it is cut, treated, upgraded, and set into a frame. A starting material for your own window.
Safety Laminated Glass
Laminated glass is an extra-strong, security-enhanced glass created by fusing at least two panes around an interior layer of PVB (polyvinyl butyral). This process utilizes a pressure fusion procedure and high heat to create a super-strong panel. If you require glass to remain put in the frame if it is broken, for safety or security reasons, this would be among your best choices.
Obscured Glass
You cannot see through an Obscured glass, although it is clear. Obscured glass patterns might be frosted, etched, coated, or otherwise designed so you can’t look through or see further than vague outlines or shadows of what’s behind it. That is why this is the most popular type of glass for bathroom windows, shower doors, and entry door areas.
Annealed Glass
Annealing is the controlled, meticulous, and slow process of cooling a panel of float glass. By reducing the stress caused to it by quick cooling, the objective of this process is to strengthen the glass, which is the next step for float glass, and further upgrades can be accomplished.
Heat Strengthened Glass
Heat Strengthened Glass To create annealed glass panels twice as hard, it is reheated above 1200 degrees and then cooled. It’s not cooled quite as fast as tempered glass, so it’s not as powerful.
Tinted Glass
Tinted glass is added. This can be done for many reasons, including design aesthetic, privacy, and reducing heat from sunlight. Tinted glass may be a form of protection against harmful UV rays.
You usually see tinted glass on vehicles, skylights and decorative panels, but you can also use it for outside windows to bump your privacy factor and reduce harmful UV rays on a particular side of the house.
Tempered glass
The tempering process takes place only after the glass is finished and is cut into size. Tempered glass cannot be trimmed. The glass is heated to over 1200 degrees and then cooled. And to make heat-soaked tempered glass, the panes are baked at 550 degrees.
Having glass tempered makes it break in a particular manner that is safer than annealed glass. You are most likely to have tempered safety glass in your vehicle so that you can break the window out in case of a crisis.
Insulated Glass
Insulated glass windows come in a unit that is optimized for energy efficiency. There are two or three panes of glass, with argon gases in the spaces between the panes. An insulated glass unit also has a desiccant component, ensuring that condensation won’t form in between the panes in which you can not wash off.
Insulated glass windows are an excellent choice for exterior glass that’ll help you keep your heating and cooling costs down.
This coat is sealed with an additional coating, creating a mirror effect. You usually find mirrored glass being used in a decorative capacity, like on walls, furniture, and doors. Low-E Glass, Low emissivity glass is coated to reflect thermal radiation.
Why is this so beneficial for homes during the summer?
Heat is directed away from your property; in winter, your indoor temperature reflects back into the house without escaping through the windows. That translates to reduced heating and cooling expenses. Low-E glass may be a costly investment, but the savings, in the long run, can make it worthwhile.
Wired Glass Cable
Wired glass isn’t always considered a security glass. However, it is a fire-resistant glass. That is why it’s most widely utilized in schools, hospitals, and other industrial buildings. The grid of wires built into the panes will hold the glass in the frame if it shatters under high heat, such as a building fire.
Aluminum, this material is the basis for the kind of window frame as a result of its ability to support a great deal of glass with a little bit of aluminum.
However, aluminum frames conduct a lot of heat, which makes them a wrong selection for Kelowna window frames where heat has to be retained in/out of the house. It is suspect to condensation, meaning that it may not be the best option for wet weather climates.
However, the weather may cause the wood to shrink or swell and can be more expensive than other types of frames.
New Town Glass & Window Renovations U PVC Window Frames.
Otherwise known as vinyl windows are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with ultraviolet light stabilizers to prevent sunlight from breaking it down.
The advantages of vinyl window frames are they also have a high level of moisture resistance and that they don’t need to be painted.
New Town Glass Fibreglass frames are thermally efficient and considered all weather windows.
These windows are unique because not only are they powerful, but undergo shrinkage or expansion due to the weather. Fiberglass can get expensive, and there might be limited availability in some regions and for some colors.
Types Of Window Glass And Seals
The glass doesn’t shatter as in the event of force it will become stuck into the interlayer creating a spider web effect.
Glass is difficult to break and is frequently employed as a security measure to stop break-ins, or even restrict damage in places with extreme weather conditions.
Here are some of the most common kinds of glass that are available:
Laminated glass is composed of 2 pieces of glass with a coating of material in-between, usually polyvinyl butyral.
Low E glass is very efficient, and can also reduce the glare from the sun. To maximize thermal efficiency, which is very handy in the weather, Kelowna Windows are exposed to.
Low E Glass may be combined with other types such as glass.
However, it should be noted that Low-E Glass is not suitable for cold weather climates which depend on the winter sun for natural heating.
New Town Glass & Window Renovations will select the proper glass types based on your feedback.
Window Seals
Insulate the window with glass panes hermetically sealed, leaving an insulated air space that separates.
Since the insulation restricts the transfer of cold air, this sort of glass is excellent at energy efficiency.
Also, the noise entering your building is significantly reduced by the insulated glass. These seals usually contain an insulating gas like argon or krypton.
Choosing the perfect size for your windows
Window size is crucial because it will determine the amount of lighting and ventilation within the room or building, as well as how the area that is cold or hot will be.
Picking windows’ idea is to go with regular sizes, where there will be a range of kinds of windows to select from.
The climate for your window’s size is also vital.
Especially in hotter climates, you’ll want smaller windows on the west to minimize the afternoon sun entering the room.
The shape of your windows is also essential, as the light is let in by rectangular or big windows.
Proper Window And Door installation
When storing your windows before they’re installed, they need to be put in a clean and dry place away from building materials.
Frames should be stood upright in their sills on pieces of wood or brick.
Don’t remove the bands or corner braces that might be attached until after your window installation.
Make sure to consider these three points, when having windows installed in Kelowna:
Leave titles, rating numbers, and identifying information on windows for reference.
Eliminate cement and plaster from windows immediately.
Ensure that all cleaning acid is removed to prevent it from causing damage.
Windows should be installed by a professional window company using proper window installation guidelines and procedures.
Don’t trust just any contractor to do the job as they may not have had dedicated experience when it comes to window installation.
Windows and doors have to be installed with precision for proper operation.
Any deviation from this can void the manufacturer’s warranty.
So be sure to get a window store to do the job for you if you don’t think you have the proper window renovation experience.
