Finishes, Tints, Gasses and Coatings
Finishes:
The finish of an Impact Window or Door is the actual paint color of the frame of the window that you will actually mount into the window opening.
Impact Windows and Doors, regardless of brand, typically come in the following finishes:
White
Bronze
Clear Anodize (Grey)
Some brands now offer custom colors and wood grains.
Additionally, some higher end brands such as CGI have started to make a wood-grain aluminum finish that looks like and is a fantastic option for either an Impact Entry Door or Impact Patio Door.
Tints & Coatings:
Tints are the colors of glass inside the frame of your new or replacement Impact Windows and Doors.
Tints are a great upgrade to your new Impact Replacement Windows and Doors. Tints allow for less interior glare, lower heat, reduced UV, and add a nice exterior look to your residence. Many manufactures offer additional Low-E pyrolytic coating which are applied to the interior surface of impact monolithic glass. These coatings can further reduce UV and U values by minimizing solar heat gain while allowing high levels of visible light transmittance. Low shading coefficient and reduced U-value can be achieved in a single glazing. Standard tinting is typically less per window compared to an aftermarket price. Also, it will never scratch, fade or bubble! *Obscure impact glass would typically be used for bathrooms.
Tinting Types:
Clear
Gray
Bronze
Blue
Green
Obscure
Low-E
Comparing Impact Glass, Low-E Impact Glass, Insulated Glass, and Insulated Low E Impact Glass:
Low-E Impact:
Insulated Impact glass is when two pieces of impact glass are placed together in a single frame and filled with argon gas between them. Insulated Glass offers by far the best U ratings available for energy efficiency.
A quick Comparison of Impact (Monolithic Glass) and Insulating Glass:
| Monolithic Glass | Insulating Glass |
| Monolithic glass such as annealed glass is a single glass. | Double glass such as IG, contains hermetically sealed dry air space between the sheets of glass. |
| It gets heated directly by sunlight. | Double glazing prevents direct contact with sunlight. |
| When air conditioner is used inside the building, the temperature difference between the inside and outside the building is very high. | When air conditioner is used inside the building, the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the building is very less. |
| There is only a thin glass barrier to prevent the outside heat from coming in – resulting in excessive loss of energy. | Due to convection, argon gas circulates inside and acts as a barrier, preventing outside heat from coming inside and the cool air inside from escaping – results in energy saving. |