3 unexpected benefits of replacing old glass in your home
Glassmaking has a long and mysterious history. We know very little about the origins of glassmaking as a technique, but it’s widely believed that the Mesopotamians were the first to discover the process of glassmaking around 4,000 years ago.
These days, glass is everywhere. It’s become such an ordinary material that people tend to take it for granted. But at its best, glass is an extraordinary material that can help to conserve energy, reduce noise pollution, and to improve the safety of a property and its occupants.
Many people aren’t aware that the older glass gets, the less effective it becomes as a material. So, if you can’t remember the last time you had your glass replaced, here are some of the surprising benefits of replacing the old glass in your home.
1. Improved energy performance
Ordinary glass generally offers little to no insulating benefits. If anything, traditional windows are a liability when it comes to energy conservation. Windows are usually the biggest culprit of heat loss in a home; it’s estimated that a single pane of glass can lose almost 10 times as much heat as the same area of an insulated wall! This can have serious implications on your electricity bills as it means that you have to rely more on heating and cooling to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.
High-quality energy-efficient glass can do wonders for reducing your home’s energy consumption. By reducing the amount of heat that is constantly transferring out of your home, you’ll be able to maximise the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems. And as the cost of living continues to rise, replacing your old windows with energy-efficient glass is more than likely to be an excellent investment that will pay off in the long term.
2. Reduced noise pollution
If you live on a busy road or next to noisy neighbours, then you’re probably already well aware of just how easily noise can travel into your home. Although a little bit of noise from the outside world is to be expected in any property, too much noise can become a serious disruption. And as more and more people opt to continue working from home post-COVID, noise pollution can be extremely intrusive and detrimental to your daily productivity.
In the same way that high-quality glass can help to reduce energy loss in a home, soundproofing your windows can help to reduce the noise that enters your home from outdoors. The two most common ways to soundproof windows are to either install double glazed windows or to insert another layer of glass over the top of your existing windows. However, if you’re looking for an option that’s both easy to install and cost-effective, Jim’s Glass can fit out existing window frames with Sound Reducing Acoustic Glass (also known as ‘HushGlass’). This option comes at a fraction of the cost of double glazing, but can reduce outside noise by up to 34% in comparison to ordinary glass! So, if you’re finding yourself constantly irritated or distracted by outside noise, it might be time to consider getting your windows replaced.
3. Improved safety
Although glass might seem like a fragile material, glassmaking technology has improved significantly in recent decades. These days, modern glass can be extremely durable and tough.
Safety glass is a type of glass with additional safety features that make it less likely to break and less likely to pose a threat when broken. Since 1989, most states and territories in Australia have made it compulsory to install safety glass in new doors and side panels. If your house was built prior to 1989 and still has its original windows and panels in-tact, then it may be a good idea to consider upgrading your glass.
The two most popular designs of Grade A safety glass are:
- Toughened glass – This type of glass crumbles into smaller granular chunks when broken rather than splintering into jagged shards.
- Laminated glass – This type of glass holds together when shattered. It’s a popular choice for homes in storm-prone areas and for shopfronts, businesses, and properties facing higher risks of burglaries and break-ins.
If you’re unsure about the quality of the glass in your home, you can always contact a qualified glazier to come in for an inspection.
At Jim’s Glass, our glasswork comes with a Certificate of Compliance, which indicates that all work has been completed in accordance with Australian Standards AS1288-2006. We’re so confident in the quality of our work that we even offer a lifetime guarantee on all glazing! If you’re looking to replace the old glass in your home, contact our fully qualified and insured glaziers today. Get in touch with Jim’s Group on 131 546 or enquire online for an obligation-free quote.
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– Top 5 FAQs About Broken Glass Windows.
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