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Tempered Or Insulated Glass...Which Is The Best Material For Your Replacement Windows?

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When you are tired of watching treated air escape through your windows and knowing that it's a bit like throwing small amounts of your money away every day, it's time to invest in new glass for those units. Even though there are several options to choose from, two popular options that present with unique insulative and protective properties are tempered and insulated glass. Therefore, when you need to be sure that you will get the maximum benefit from the glass in your new windows and you have narrowed down the choices to those two, the following facts are likely to be quite helpful:

Understanding The Use Of Tempered Glass For Residential Windows

Tempered glass is often a popular choice for families with children, pets and accident-prone persons due to its intrinsic strength. Specifically, it's known as one of the strongest types of glass and if it does break, it's less likely to injure the persons or pets around it because it breaks into big, contained pieces. In addition, the protection associated with its strength also permits it to do well against high winds, even if those winds are at tornado levels.

However, you should be aware that tempered glass is not without its flaws. For instance, its strength means that it cannot be cut without shattering. That means that customizing tempered glass for unique window sizes can be very challenging or even impossible. It also tends to be expensive and can be scratched or otherwise damaged quite easily. 

Considering A Future With Windows Containing Insulated Glass

Insulated glass is also a viable option to consider. It's also a strong glass, but presents primarily with superior insulative properties, even though it is still impact-resistant. The energy efficiency of an insulated window pane improves dramatically and the temperature of the glass itself has been known to almost double what it would be otherwise on a cold day. If you work from home or work nights and find that the neighborhood noise makes it hard to work or sleep during the day, you'll appreciate the ability of that insulation to minimize the outside sounds from making their way into your home.

Unfortunately, insulated glass is quite costly and although it will help you to save money on your heating and cooling costs, it will take some time for the savings to cancel out the high purchase and installation cost. In addition, if insulated glass is damaged, it can usually not be repaired and must be replaced. That is due to the presence of the gas between the two layers of glass that provides the necessary insulation, as its leakage can compromise the structural integrity and functionality of the entire unit.    

In conclusion, tempered and insulated glass both have features that make them ideal additions to many residential seep windows. As a result, it's a good idea to consider the information discussed above when you need to choose between the two.      

Contact a company like Ryan's All Glass for more information and assistance. 


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