Milestones in window technology | Windows in Plano, TX
Windows are an indispensible part of a home. They allow us to have a connection with the outside world while indoors, let the natural sunlight and air in, etc. We have developed them from their rudimentary phase, which involved using just a single pane window, to now having numerous features such as thermal properties and composition into their construction.
In this article we will discuss several innovations and milestones that revolutionized windows technology and improved our lives.
Insulating glass
We have records of insulated glass being patented as earlier as 1865, but actual products only appeared almost a century later in the 1950s under the same name. The first prototype consisted of two sheets of glass welded together at the edges with ¼ inches of dry air space between them. They became so popular that by the 60s, welded insulation glass was installed in almost half of all windows and occupied a significant percentage of the marketplace. A few more innovations later, manufacturers moved to steel and rubber spacers to bond the glass with sealants and absorb any stress that came as a result of expansion and contraction.
The float glass
Alastair Pilkington was the originator of the idea behind Float Glass and got inspiration after he watched a diner plate floating in the sink. His method involved floating molten glass over a bath of molten tin, this approach allowed flatter and more uniform glasses than were ever possible before. This milestone was perhaps the most important step which paved the path for today’s energy efficient windows. Float glass is now used everywhere.
Vinyl Windows
The first commercially viable designs for vinyl windows were available in the 1950s, but the technology only appeared in the market when Thermal Industries began offering vinyl replacement units to lukewarm response. It wasn’t until the 1980s that vinyl windows began catching steam, but once it began trending, growth became very rapid. According to sales data, vinyl windows occupy about 60 percent of all window sales. The reason for their popularity is quite simple, they offer low maintenance exterior for any window, are durable and provide a great value. Vinyl windows last over 20 years and they save homeowners money on energy bills because the insulation is energy efficient.
Clad windows
The 1960s saw many innovations in windows technology, and in the same era they saw a new category of window emerge called clad windows. The difference between clad windows and non clad windows is that the former utilize a wood window frame that has an exterior cladding made different assortments of material such as fiberglass, vinyl and aluminum. The reason why clad windows became so popular is because they offered the look of real wood windows but without the drawbacks of the material. Depending on the material used for the windows in Plano, they offer superior strength and durability when compared to wood windows because they are not vulnerable to the same elements that adversely affect wood. At the end of the day, homeowners have lower maintenance requirements, warm wood interior, better insulation against noise, resistance to water seeping into the house, and improved energy efficiency to save costs. Clad windows became a success in the US in the late 90s and by 2003 over 93 percent of wood window units were made out of aluminum or vinyl cladding.
Arched windows
Due to their design, arched windows in Plano are able to add a unique appearance to almost all buildings where they are installed. They are not only beautiful but add an element of sophistication to any place. But while the concept of arched windows goes as far back as the Ancient Romans, it wasn’t until the 1980s that the technology was created to develop effective manufacturing processes for arched windows in Plano. This allowed the historic arched windows to be applied with a modern touch.
Low E Glass
During the 20thcentury, people began to realize the harmful effects of sunrays and a fair bit of skepticism began to float around about the sun. This fear proliferated the use of sun screams to filter out the harmful UV spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation. That same fear impressed upon inventors to come up with the bright idea of Low-E glass, a thin layer of transparent metal that reduced energy transfer through windows in Plano. The width of the transparent coating is microscopically thin, being much thinner than a human hair and can reflect long wave infrared energy. The benefit is that it allows homeowners to stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, and the best part is that the coating doesn’t get scratched off because it is applied inside the glass.
Ultraviolet rays can also negatively impact furniture by fading their aesthetics, and low-e glass offered homeowners a cost-effective way out.
Electrochromics glass
The term intelligent seems to be applied to just about every term out there, and windows in Plano are no exception. Electrochromics glass or ‘dynamic’ glass is able to save energy by adjusting its tint to regulate the temperature of a building and reduce cooling (or heating) costs. Some manufacturers are now integrating solar panel technology with their electrochromics glass so that they generate electricity of their own. These windows achieve this through a conductor placed between their glass panels that gradually darkens or lightens up using electric current. The tinting can be controlled using an automated system or through manual means.
Ultrex Frames
Despite their mainstream acceptance by the US market at large, vinyl windows just weren’t very strong and were subject to expansion and contraction as temperatures fluctuated, and this put a stress on window seals. This presented an opportunity for ultrex frames to be introduced. These were made out of fiberglass material which is stronger than vinyl, wood, and aluminum, but has fewer expansion and contraction with changes in temperature while offering superior resistance to heat transfer.
If you feel you still have any questions about windows in Plano and would like more information, you can reach out to one of our expert team members at Energy Window Solutions.