When you are building a new house for your family, you certainly want the best for yourself. This is why you ask questions and seek professional answers. The question of glass is no exception, as you want to know what types of glass, windows, and doors will best suit your needs. We at Gilbert Glass often get calls from our current and prospective customers, who want to know the difference between transparent and opaque glass, as well as the benefits and weaknesses of both. This is why we decided to devote some time to the discussion of these issues.

In order to understand how opaque glass differs from transparent glass you should first learn the principles of glass physics. We have already talked about conduction, and here we must turn our heads to convection. The latter is the way heat moves through gases and liquids. For example, warm air is usually above the air which is cooler: this is one of the basic laws of physics you learn at school. Likewise, heat moves through the window glass, and professionals at Gilbert Glass know that the quality of windows and your comfort at home greatly depends on the way glass transmits heat. This is where the difference between transparent and opaque windows comes into play.

All opaque objects, including glass, do not transmit more than 50 percent of heat and light. Some opaque objects absorb as much as 95 percent of energy and solar radiation. The darker the opaque glass window the more solar radiation it will absorb. So, if you are looking for a sun-absorbing window, use dark opaque glass that will leave all solar energy beyond your premises. For example, in industrial manufacturing units opaque glass can become a real savior and a perfect protection against overheating.

By contrast, transparent glass absorbs only 10 percent of solar radiation, transmitting the rest into the house. Once transmitted, this solar radiation is re-transmitted again by the interior surfaces in the form of infrared radiation. Yet, transparent windows are the best solution for homes, and you can choose among different energy-efficient varieties of glass, to meet your comfort demands. Gilbert Glass is always at your disposal!

Stained glass: what is it? Over years of professional work in glass business, we received dozens of questions regarding the nature, utility, and functionality of stained glass. This is why we at Mesa Glass believe that our customers need to know more about different types of glass, and today we decided to focus on stained glass.

Why stained glass? ? Because for years, stained glass had been associated with one of the most outstanding human creations. Actually, stained glass is colored glass, which has been known to the humanity for at least one thousand years. Look at the windows in churches and other religious buildings. Take a look at the way many museums and architectural developments currently look. Stained glass is everywhere, and you cannot escape its presence. Today, stained glass is not merely a piece of colored glass but a material that enables talented architects to create three-dimensional sculptures and structures.

Stained glass is made of conventional glass, with the addition of metallic salts. These are metallic salts that color stained glass. We at Mesa Glass have learned that stained glass provides virtually unlimited freedom for thought and creativity: with stained glass, you can create different pictures and express your emotions, by simply arranging its pieces in the form of different patterns. Certainly, stained glass is not easy to use. Special artistic skills are required, to develop a truly interesting and inimitable glass window design. Today?s buildings using stained glass include English Coventry Cathedral built in the middle of the 20th century, Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, and Cathedral Basilica located in Kentucky. Additionally, you can see the way stained glass fits in the modern and postmodern architectural designs, in the houses of Frank Lloyd Wright and prairie style homes. The Hungarian Room at the University of Pittsburgh, the Town Hall in Liberec, Czech Republic, and the National Library in Jerusalem, all have stained glass in their designs. Look at them and ask Mesa Glass professionals for more information!

Tempe Glass professionals constantly monitor changes and developments in the glass market. We try to stay informed about the latest advancements in glass technologies, to be able to provide our customers with the most recent information and highest quality glass solutions. We must say that, in the past 10-15 years, the residential glass market has undergone serious technological changes. Residential glass windows are not what they used to be a decade ago. Today?s customers face a wide choice of residential window options, and Tempe Glass professionals are here to help them make the best choice. All they need to know is that window technologies never stop, and there is always something new and surprising for everyone.

The past years witnessed the emergence of several new glass window technologies that have greatly reshaped today?s glass window market. Low-e (low-emissivity) glass coatings represent just one of the many examples of such technologies. With the help of low-e coatings, you can reduce energy losses during winter and reduce the heat gain in summer. Just imagine how much energy you can save, only with the help of low-e windows! Triple and quadruple glazing will be a good way to reduce heat loss through your glass windows. With Temple Glass you can have all these options installed in your home! If you are still not confident that low-e glass is what you need to optimize your energy costs, ask for improved glass spacers that reduce the heat loss. Whatever type of glass you choose, you should know that in the age of technologies, there is nothing you could not do to improve your home. All you need to do is to choose a professional in the field of glass, and Tempe Glass is definitely the best professional choice. Here you can get acquainted with the latest news in the field of glass-making and decide what exactly you wish to do in order to feel more comfortable and warm at home.

Passive solar design: how does it work? It?s a common question, but not all, even the most experienced, glass professionals can provide a good answer to it. As of today, specialists at Tempe Glass know a variety of passive solar design techniques that can enhance the quality and comfort of any window. In this post, we want to talk about the so-called direct gain, which is believed to be one of the simplest and common energy-efficient techniques of window design. Really, we think that direct gain is one of the best passive solar design techniques ever created in the glass industry. In direct gain windows, usually made of transparent glass, the warmth of sunlight comes into the house. It should be noted, that direct gain windows usually face south. We at Tempe Glass believe that this is one of the best ways to make any house more energy-efficient. Once inside, the sunlight energy hits the floor, usually made of a dark well-absorbing material. The floor fulfills a complex function to absorb the energy coming through the window. At night, or in darkness, the floor will convert and radiate this energy back into the room.

Apparently, passive solar design is not limited to windows, and we at Tempe Glass have learned that windows can become energy-efficient, only when they are part of a broader design solution, e.g., floors and walls. You cannot be sure that your passive solar design windows work appropriately, if you fail to use appropriate materials for your walls and floors. If you simply wish to improve the energy efficiency of your home, use water-filled containers inside the living space to absorb, convert, and radiate the energy back into the room. Make sure the glazing area is large enough to let more sunlight energy in. Ask specialists at Tempe Glass about the most ideal thermal mass ratio for your climate. We will not forget to insulate the thermal mass from the outside climate, so that the heat you get from the sun does not drain away from your house.

Gilbert Glass professionals do not simply provide customers with superior quality products but also seek to fit themselves in the latest sustainable development trends. This is one of the main reasons why we are so attentive to the materials and quality of work provided to customers. This is also why we familiarize ourselves with the potential benefits and risks of new construction and design materials. In this blog, we want to discuss the importance of volatile organic contents and their implications for sustainable development in the glass industry. Like any other industrial manufacturing field, the glass industry uses complex chemical compounds to produce sophisticated and functional glass products. Volatile chemical compounds represent an important stage in the development of new glass products, but we at Gilbert Glass should understand that VOC have both positive and negative sides.

No, that certainly does not mean that VOC are necessarily dangerous! Also, that does not mean that all glass products are unfriendly to the environment. It is nothing but pure chemistry, and our glass products meet all standards of quality and safety. The topic of VOC is important mainly because it provides a better understanding to consumers of the glass products they buy and use in their homes and businesses. Today?s manufacturers use complex methodologies to determine and disclose the VOC in their products. Basically, they heat their products and evaporate all volatile contents. Then they weight the product and measure the difference. The amount of VOC is usually expressed as the number of grams per Liter of the substance (g/L). If you need more information about the way glass products are manufactured and whether they meet the basic safety regulations, please, ask Gilbert Glass. We are ready to inform you about everything that interests you in the glass market.