Visage PVCu Double Glazing - Glazing and glass options
When purchasing a house-full of
double-glazing or a conservatory
please think about the choice of
glass - this is an area that is
often not given as much importance
as it deserves. Glazing styles can
provide an important key in reflecting
the character of a building or,
in many cases, bringing a character
to it. Window decoration is not
limited to the colour of your frame,
its style or curtains. The beauty
of any glazing style is that it
can complement interior decor and
furnishings as well as the exterior
of your home.
Insulation
Double-glazed units usually consist
of 2-panes of annealed glass (usually
4mm in thickness) joined together
with an airtight sealing. Good PVCu
systems can hold 28mm units which
leave an air-gap of 20mm - the recognised
optimum air space for efficient
insulation. In contrast, timber
frames commonly use a 14mm sealed-unit
with a 6mm air-gap.
There are a few other areas we
need to point out here. For instance,
low emissivity glass such as Pilkington's
K-glass improves insulation even
further by a microscopically thin
coating on 1-side, reflecting heat
back into the room whilst allowing
the heat from the sun in. Another
option is where the air-gap is filled
with a gas such as Argon. This can
claim a further 15% insulation over
normal double-glazing. Finally,
thermally broken spacer bars are
also available which reduce the
amount of thermal movement via the
metal bar dividing the glass units
having a separation.
Whatever the reason for choosing
double-glazing, be it thermal capabilities,
safety and security, low maintenance
or budget, the sheer individuality
of stylish glazing can make a property
different to those around. These
may include: -
Georgian (or window) bars
These are most commonly used now
to reflect the Georgian era, although
they are equally pleasing in simpler
forms such as single, vertical bars
in cottage or farmhouse styles and
the crossbars of a much grander
house. The bar construction originates
from the use of smaller panes, glass
then being very, very expensive,
brittle and liable to break, and
almost impossible to make consistently
in large sizes. Thus, with Georgian
bars it is very easy and relatively
inexpensive to replace these smaller
sizes. Now window bars only draw
on a period style that is attractive,
serving little practical purpose.
These are usually available in white
(for white frames), and brown or
gold (for woodgrain effect frames).
Always use with the appropriately
coloured spacer bars (available
in silver, gold, white and black).
It is sometimes useful to ask to
see a drawing or sample with the
number of bars and positions - this
will give you a much better idea
of how it will turn out.
Leaded windows
If you have ever tried to clean
traditional leaded windows, you'll
immediately appreciate the easy
caring nature of this decorative
style - it is strong, stable, easy
to clean and equally attractive.
Although of an earlier period, like
the Georgian style, lead provided
the perfect answer to using larger
panes. It also allows the use of
stains, colours and inserts to make
pieces of artworks and decorations.
Diamonds and rectangles are patterns
now mainly used, often with complementary
colour overlays and decorative lead
outlines.
Bevelled or etched glass
Jewel-like bevels and etches used
to be an elegantly crafted window
decoration only for the very rich.
Window companies can now offer bevels
and etches to a much broader market
producing panels of stunning brilliance
to be enjoyed whatever the property.
These consist of pieces of glass
with ground and polished edges,
often seen in clusters. This attracts
and redistributes the light into
the room and adds pleasing edges
to a window, door or conservatory,
bringing distinction to an otherwise
purely functional window.
Coloured overlays
These are modern interpretations
of the traditional stained glass
window and are mainly influenced
by the Victorian and Edwardian periods.
Colour overlays work particularly
well with diamond and rectangular
leaded windows or as a total design
with lead in its own right. Used
as door panels, numbers or names
can be incorporated to great effect.
Applied sparingly on toplights,
doors and sidescreens, overlays
add distinction to any property.
The panels are fully detailed on
both sides, so look equally good
inside or out.
Obscure glass
As the name implies, obscure glass
'obscures' vision through it, utilising
a surface moulded decorative pattern.
This makes it particularly suitable
for washrooms, bathrooms, door panels
and sidescreens where restricted
visibility is desirable. There are
many surface designs in this type
of glass, from autumnal influences
to contemporary moods.
In some cases annealed glass may
not be suitable, in which case toughened
glass can be used. This is up to
5 times stronger and when broken
shatters into small, harmless pieces
similar to a smashed car windscreen.
Alternatively, laminated glass can
be used, containing a tough, plastic
layer, sandwiched between the 2-panes
of glass. If attacked, the glass
may crack but is held together -
in fact it is so strong that it
is often used in areas of security
and, hence, is more expensive than
toughened glass.
Finally, all safety glass should
be clearly marked with British Standard
BS6206 Class A, B or C, with Class
A offering the highest resistance.
|
