What Is an Impact Window?

 Orignal What if the three mischievous little pigs had opted for impact windows instead of hurricane windows? Living in Southern California can be so much a pleasure superhouse: going for the surf each day, luxuriating in the sunshine and gentle breezes. However, what if hurricane season came? What then?

In terms of protecting one's home from a severe storm, the choices become relatively clear - hurricane windows and nothing else. However, there are other things that should be considered in terms of protecting the home from wind and rain, respectively. The importance of this particular consideration is something that has been growing exponentially as time has gone on. And in terms of protecting one's home, impact windows glass options are now gaining in popularity because of their proven resale value and energy efficiency.

As previously mentioned, the benefits of choosing this type of window are numerous. As previously mentioned, they help to lower air infiltration into the interior of the house - resulting in lower heating bills. This is especially significant during the coldest months of the year when air conditioners and dehumidifiers aren't as effective. In addition, they provide an excellent degree of sound insulation. Lastly, while they do provide a degree of sound insulation, laminated glass impact windows can also provide an increase in natural light.

When it comes to providing an increase in natural light, the addition of hurricane windows is often combined with a new type of laminated glass. This is referred to as a "Longevity Indicator" laminated glass. An example of this type would be found with the addition of a new coat of paint to the surface of the old, impact windows. The paint provides an additional layer of insulation against heat loss, which helps keep the interior of the house at a comfortable temperature. It is important to note that the addition of paint isn't always a permanent solution, as homeowners may need to remove the old coat of paint in order to gain access to the inner layer of insulation - and then re-apply the new coating in its place.

In addition to being used for the purpose of providing insulation, LIG or "low-gage" impact windows may also be used for decorative purposes. In fact, many companies specialize in the design, manufacture and sale of these types of windows. These pieces of art come in a variety of styles and sizes. In fact, LIG impact windows are available in sizes and shapes that fit into standard frames no matter what type of home you have. As an example, standard American sizes fit most standard window frames, while European and Asian designs are typically larger and would need to be custom made.

LIG impact glass is constructed of an amalgam of materials. The interior glass is constructed using low-density fiberglass (LDPE), whereas the exterior glass is made using a thick layer of hurricane glass called argon gas filled foam. While the interior material is toughened, argon gas provides an extra layer of resistance against impact and wind damage. Both of these materials are combined inside a thick metal frame to form the interior frame.

LIG impact glass is generally made from two types of glass: laminated glass and polycarbonate. Laminated glass features an outer layer of plastic, which serves as a reflector for the incoming light, but does not allow for the removal of dust or any form of physical impact. Polycarbonate is often used in LIG impact windows, as it has a high thermal shock value. A hurricane protector is then added to the bottom half of the laminated glass piece to prevent any unwanted bounces and to increase the durability of the glass.

Many people wonder if hurricane windows can actually prevent the occurrence of hurricanes, since no storm would be able to make its way through all the atmosphere to hit. The answer to this is that, while some storms may appear to move slowly, they do tend to move at a much faster speed once they hit land. Hurricane windows can indeed reduce the amount of energy that comes into a building, and this can make a difference on the amount of heating and cooling needs that a building has. This can have a significant impact on the cost of energy over time, but this is not such a consideration when a building is being built for resale purposes.