low-e, with bars (muntin bars/grills), without bars, and so on.
A typical insulated window glass (or I.G.) consists of two panes of glass
sandwiching a metal spacer. Weather resistant sealant is then applied
around edges to seal the air space between the panes. The spacer
contains a desiccant to soak up any moisture trapped inside to prevent the
I.G. from fogging up immediately. If the seal is broken, was never sealed
correctly in the first place, or has deteriorated significantly, the insulated
glass will fog up once the desiccant can no longer absorb moisture.
Windows that are exposed to the sunlight for a significant portion of the
day will tend to fog up faster than those in the shade.
The thickness of the spacer can be: 7/32", 1/4", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 9/16"
5/8", 3/4", or 1".
Glass thickness can be approximately: 3/32", 1/8", 3/16", 1/4".
The typical overall thickness of a small clear I.G. is: 7/16" (consisting of
3/32" of glass and a 1/4" spacer).
However over the past 10 years or more, window manufacturers have
increased the thickness of the spacers and sometimes the glass to increase
the energy efficiency of their windows. Therefore, careful measurements
need to be taken in order to assure a proper fit of replacement I.G.s for
your broken or fogged windows.
Window films:
We do not install window tint and cannot replace your existing tint.
Please note that window films will void your warranty, even though some
manufacturers claim they don't.
Low-E Glass:
Soft coat Low-E usually has a slight blue or green tint to it but can
sometimes be difficult to identify for correct replacement, especially if
your home has off white, dark or stained wood blinds on every window.
Hard coat Low-E (rarely used and almost never used after 2003) has very
little tint to it (in most cases) and can be difficult to match. A good glazier
should be able to spot the different types of soft coat Low-E glass, but
because their are so many manufacturers of Low-E, it might not be
possible to match your window glass exactly (especially if your glass has a
darker tint). If you think that your home has Low-E windows, or if your
house was built after 2003, please inform us before we come out.
spacer that contains the desiccant material mentioned above. Over time this seal will
break down (the only question is how long will this take) and there is no way of repairing
the insulated unit. Most of the time the glass will crack as we try to remove the I.G. from
the frame.
