Patterned or Obscure Glass

We all know what someone means when they say “like bathroom glass”, right? Glass in bathroom windows is typically patterned or finished in a way that makes it less see-through, or more “obscure”, than regular glass. Obscure glass comes in a range of different patterns. A great feature of Obscure glass is that you can use it to obscure the view through a window and still use it with Low-E glass. That means you get the look that you want and all the benefits of great insulation from heat and UV. Some popular patterns include what we call P62 (which is a pretty basic bathroom glass), Rain, Glue-Chip, and    Reed. You can certainly use patterned glass anywhere in the house where you might want less visibility. Obscure patterns are designed to block the view through a window but still let in a lot of light. Come down to our shop and showroom to see what we have available, or give us a callto set up a free, no pressure, on site visit for a quote on your windows.

Safety Glass for Homes

Safety Glazing
Building codes can vary somewhat on where safety glazing is required and how the local inspectors interpret the requirements, so check locally! What you see below are just generalized interpretations of the codes. Safety glazing requirements are to make sure that glass or windows that are installed in “hazardous locations” are less likely to cause injury.

What is safety glazing?

Generally there are two types of safety glass that are used in windows; tempered glass and laminated glass. Tempered glass has been heated and then cooled quickly in such a manner that it becomes 4 times stronger than regular glass but also, when it does break, it breaks into small pieces that are less likely to cause injury. Laminated glass is the other type of safety glass; the windshield of your car is a good example of this type of glass. Regular laminated glass is no stronger than other types of glass, but it is made up of two pieces of glass with a clear plastic interlayer between them. When laminated glass breaks, the interlayer holds the pieces together so the risk of injury is low. Yes, it is possible (but expensive), to get laminated glass made with tempered glass.

Usually tempered glass will have a small semitransparent stamp in the corner from the fabricator identifying it as tempered. Laminated glass may or may not have a similar stamp depending on the fabricator.

What qualifies as a hazardous location?

Well besides places like battlefields and coal mines, hazardous locations are places where it would be easy to fall into a window and get hurt.
1. All glass in and around shower and tub enclosures are required (any glass less than 60” from the standing surface of a tub or shower) to have safety glazing so that if you slip on a wet floor and fall into a window you won’t get cut badly.
2. Another hazardous location is around doors. In general, any glass in a door, or glass within a 24” arc of a door, is required to be safety glass. The exception is if it is more than 60” above the floor; so a window above a door (a transom), often does not need to be safety glazed.
3. If a window is less than 18” above the “walking surface” and more than 9 square feet in size it needs to be safety glazed.
4. Windows in stairways generally need to have safety glass in them when the bottom of the window is less than 36″ above the stairway or landing.
5. Non window applications and locations considered hazardous and requiring safety glass are glass guards and railings, glass in skylights, or any overhead roof or sloped wall.

Again, check your local building codes for specifics on all of these or have a look at
http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ibc/2009/icod_ibc_2009_24_sec006_par001.htm

Safety glass is often used in conjunction with low-e glass so you get your efficiency and your protection.  For more information on glass, or to see what we offer, please call our offices or stop by our shop and showroom for a hands-on look.  If you would like a consultation on the windows in your home please contact us for a free, no pressure estimate.

INSTALLING REPLACEMENT WINDOWS AND PATIO DOORS IN SOCORRO, NM

Socorro has a long and rich history dating back to the late 1500’s when Spanish soldiers set up camp there, and were helped by the Piro Indians of the pueblo of Teypana. Because of the hospitality of the Piro tribe the Spanish renamed the pueblo to Socorro, which means help or aide.

The first Catholic mission in the area was opened around 1626. At the same time the first mines in the Socorro mountains was also opened. Over the next 250 years or so, the area was inhabited by different people until it became a territory of the United States in 1850.

Today Socorro is bustling city of approx 9,000 people about an hours drive from Albuquerque. Adjacent to the Rio Grande, the landscape is dominated by the Rio Grande Rift and several extinct volcanoes. This gives  the entire community a dramatic and very pretty skyline.

We think Socorro is a great place to make a home. Big enough to serve its citizens and small enough to offer a community of neighbors.

Glass-Rite is proud to now offer replacement windows and custom manufactured windows and patio doors to our neighbors in Socorro. From design, to on time delivery, and professional installation, we deliver the same quality and honest pricing as we do to anyone in bigger cities.

• Energy Quest window replacement
• Vinyl replacement windows
• Wood replacement windows
• Patio doors

It can be hard to find quality window companies in smaller communities in New Mexico. When you need replacement windows or new construction windows installed, it can be difficult to find someone who can deliver without delays or increased costs.  Glass-Rite manufactures your windows locally at our Albuquerque plant and delivers to your location. We are familiar with Socorro and the surrounding areas. We know the terrain, the landscape and the climate. We have trained professional staff who will work with you to ensure you get top quality, energy efficient windows and sliding patio doors installed right, on time, and on budget.

We at Glass-Rite understand that Socorro makes a real contribution to the state and that residents deserve the same quality and service as homeowners in bigger cities.

We know there are many beautiful homes in Socorro and would like the opportunity to show you how we can help to make your home a show place. We can show you how to reduce your energy bills, save money, and increase the value of your home’s investment.

When it’s time, replacement windows are one of the most noticeable and inexpensive home improvement projects you can take on. Not only will it give your home a great looking facelift, it can also greatly reduce energy costs and make your home more comfortable and quiet for many years to come. These things dramatically increase the home’s value.  Choosing a window company you can trust is important. Glass-Rite understands, and that is a big reason we have been New Mexico’s leading window company for 30 + years.

Glass-Rite will custom size each window so you can be assured that your new windows will fit properly. In addition, because we are a local manufacturing company, if something is not just right, we can correct it right away.

Please call us: 505-764-9899 or Toll-free: 1-800-824-1005 FREE FREE or contact us online to schedule yours now.