The 13 Types of Window Glass and How to Choose

Even if you’ve learned all about the many types of project windows and chosen a few styles, you’re not done with your decision-making! Still left to consider is the type of glass and/or glazing you’ll have installed in those windows.

Modern manufacturing techniques have produced a wide variety of glass types and coatings to meet a number of specific needs.

Below I’ll review the 10 main types of window glass you can choose from, broken up by use, but it’s important to note that some types of glass are required by law in certain situations.

Some Windows May Have Building Code Requirements for Glass Type
For example, wired or fireproof glass often needs to be used in fire exits, and laminated or tempered glass often must be used in floor-to-ceiling windows where the extra strength is needed for safety.

If you’re installing a window that may have special consideration, always check your local building codes.

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The 13 Types of Glass for Home Windows

Standard Glass
1. Clear Float Glass
This “normal” glass is the smooth, distortion-free glass that’s used in many window applications. It’s the material for many other forms of glass, including tinted glass and laminated glass.

The perfectly flat finish is created by floating the hot, liquid glass on top of molten tin.

Heat-Efficient Glass
2. Double and Triple Glazed Glass (or Insulated Glass)

Double-glazed units, often referred to as insulated glass, is actually a collection (or “unit”) of two or three sheets of glass inside a door or window frame. Between the layers, inert gas is sealed in to provide heat and sound insulation.

This gas is most often argon, but can also be krypton or xenon, is both colorless and odorless.

3. Low-Emissivity Glass?
Low-Emissivity, more often called Low-E glass, has a special coating lets heat from the sun in, but prevents warmth from escaping back through the glass. Many double-glazed units are also sold with low-e coatings, though not all.

4. Solar Control Glass?
Solar control glass has a special coating designed to block excessive heat from the sun from passing through the glass. This reduces heat build-up in buildings with large expanses of glass.

Safety Glass (Strong Glass)
5. Impact-Resistant Glass
Impact-resistant glass is designed to reduce hurricane damage. This glass has a rigid laminate layer heat-sealed between two layers of glass, one of which provides greatly increased rigidity and “tear” resistance.

6. Laminated Glass?
In laminated glass, clear plastic is bonded between the layers of glass, which produces a very strong product. If it does break, the plastic prevents shards from flying.

7. Tempered Glass?
Tempered glass is strengthened against impact, and shatters into granules rather than shards. It is commonly used in glazed doors.

8. Wired Glass?

The wire in wired glass stops glass from shattering in high temperatures. Because of thisit is used in fire doors and windows near fire escapes.

9. Fire-Resistant Glass?
Newer fire-resistant glass is not strengthened by wire but is just as strong. This type of glass however, is pretty expensive.

Speciality Glass
10. Mirror Glass
Mirriored glass, also called bronze, silver, or gold reflective glass since it comes in a variety of metalic colors, has metal coating on one side of glass that’s then sealed with a protective sealant. Mirrored glass is great at keeping the sun and heat out of your home.

Unlike Low E coatings, however, which just look like regular windows, reflective glass alters the look of your home or building as well as your view out the window.?

11. Self-Cleaning Glass?
This magical sounding glass has a special coating on its exterior surface that makes sunlight break down dirt. Rainwater washes any debris away so it’s best used in an area where rain can reach the surface (i.e. not under a covered porch).

Reduced Visibility Glass
12. Privacy Glass
Proivacy glass, also called obscured glass, allows light in but distorts the view through the glass. Commonly used in bathroom windows and front doors.

13. Decorative Glass

Decorative glass can describe many types of patterned or privacy glass as well as art glass, including:

Acid Etched Glass
Stained Glass?
Bent/Curved Glass
Cast Glass
Etched Glass
Frosted Glass
Textured Glass
V-Groove Glass

These types of decorative glass are similar to privacy glass in that they obscure the view but they do so with decorative elements that change the look of the window greatly.

How to Decide on a Window Glass or Glazing
Selecting the type of glass in your windows is an important decision but it’s not always an easy one. Two factors to consider are:

Your window’s direction. Often you can select windows with lower U-values for north-facing windows and low e-coatings for the other sides of the house. The U-value lets you know the window’s ability to insulate.
Your location. Depending on what part of the country you live, your windows may need to protect you from hurricane-force winds or from excessive heat.
Five Steel can help you choose windows and decide what type of glass is best in your region and for your needs.

Once you choose a glass, the next step is to choose what type of window frame to install your preferred window glass in. To install glass in wooden frames, you can choose between putty or glazing beads. Metal and vinyl frames often have special systems built into them. Follow the link for help with making that choice.

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