Double-glazed windows with argon gas and low-E glass can significantly reduce energy bills. They also provide extra protection from shattered glass and debris. They are ideal for homes in Florida’s High Velocity Hurricane Zones.
Window replacement experts can recommend the best style for your home. Different options suit different styles, climates, and budgets.
Impact-resistant glass
Window frames are a critical component of a home, and they’re often the first thing to get damaged by severe weather conditions. Fortunately, upgrading your windows to impact-resistant glass can reduce the risk of damage to your home’s interior and exterior.
Premium impact windows are designed to resist high winds and flying debris generated by severe storms and hurricanes. They are engineered with thick, strong glass and robust frames that are built to last. In addition, they can help you save on your homeowner’s insurance by lowering your standard policy rates.
PGT’s impact-resistant glass features an interlayer that provides always-on home security, reducing the chances of break-ins. It also helps to minimize outside noise pollution by reducing the transmission of sound through the window. This technology enables homeowners to turn yells into whispers and traffic into white noise, creating a more peaceful environment inside their homes. Additionally, they can also help to improve a home’s energy efficiency by blocking heat transfer and keeping the cool air in during the summer and warm air out during the winter.
Low-E glass
Energy efficiency is a priority for many homeowners, and it’s an important consideration when buying new windows. Double-glazed windows with Low-E glass can help you save money on your energy bills by preventing heat from being lost through the window.
This type of glass has a microscopically thin coating that reflects solar heat instead of letting it pass through. This reduces your energy costs in the sweltering summer and keeps your home warm in the winter.
This type of glass also prevents harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from entering your home, which can cause sunburn and fade carpets and furniture. It’s an option for homeowners who want a durable, affordable window that’s easy to maintain. Other window options include vinyl windows, which are affordable and offer a classic aesthetic; wood windows, which are more expensive but provide better thermal insulation; and awning windows, which open from the bottom upwards to let fresh air in without soaking your floor.
Laminated glass
Unlike standard glass windows, laminated safety glass features an interlayer between two panes of glass. The inner layer is made from vinyl or film and hardened by heat to make the glass sturdier. This type of glass is often used in commercial buildings to boost security and prevent forced entry.
Retail stores, designer clothing boutiques, art galleries, and electronics retailers can benefit from having high-clarity windows with low-iron laminated security glass. This glass minimizes the green-blue optical distortion that can occur in regular window glass and makes merchandise on display easy for passersby to see.
Homeowners also prefer this type of window, particularly for their enhanced sense of security. While it is not bulletproof, the interlayer will hold together if shattered, delaying the attack and giving occupants time to seek cover or call for help. This type of glass is also a popular choice for bungalow or craftsman homes in Margate that desire a cozy, artisanal feel.
Energy-efficient windows
When homeowners opt for double glazed windows, they get more than just a beautiful home enhancement. They also get energy efficiency that can save them money on their utility bills.
The insulating properties of these windows are the result of the gap between the two glass panes that is filled with an inert gas like argon. The dense gas minimizes convective heat transfer, which reduces your energy consumption significantly.
Moreover, this type of window offers superior protection against UV rays that can damage furniture and fade carpets and walls. The window has a coating that blocks UV and infrared rays, preventing them from entering the home.
This feature, coupled with impact-resistant window frames, makes these windows a powerful fortress against both physical and thermal damage from high winds and high-velocity debris. They are ideal for Margate homes that need protection against the harsh Florida climate. They also look attractive and are easy to maintain. The uPVC frames naturally resist humidity, and they never corrode or need repainting.