Glazing Factoids

Glass is actually an inorganic solid type of material that can normally be clear or translucent with different colours. It is really quite hard but is also brittle, and can stand a battering by the wind, rain or even the sun. This material has been used to for all kinds of bottles,utensils, mirrors, windows and lots more. It is said to have been first made in the bronze age around 3000 BC. Egyptian glass beads have been discovered dating back to around 2500 BC. Modern glass was used in Alexandria during the Ptolemaic period, artisans created a mosaic glass in which slices of coloured glass made decorative patterns. London Glaziers supply and fit all types of glass and glazing. Our historians have uncovered that a type of natural glass called ‘obsidian’ was formed for example, inside the mouth of a volcano. This was because of the intensity of the heat that existed inside the volcano when it erupted and sand was melted. It was discovered that early weapons were made from this type of early glass. Obsidian has in the distant past been used for cutting tools and even been experimented with as a medical tool. The glass we use today is a mixture of sand and different minerals that are melted to form a material that is right for a huge range of uses from packaging and construction to many different optical technologies. London Glazing are glass professionals. The glass that we know and use is made in the first instance by melting different minerals at massively high temperatures, and just like treacle, glass is fluid at this high temperature, but its treacle like form, decreases as the temperature is lowered. This means, its viscosity will decrease as the temperature is increased. The water we use, turns from a liquid to a solid at a very low temperature, the glass has no notable melting or freezing point, but is gradually transformed from a solid to a liquid mass as the temperature is raised. The glass is said to have a ‘variable viscosity’, that allows it to be molded into such beautifuland/or practical products.

Anyone who hears the word “glass” might think of the glass in a window glass or a glass to drink from. Well, there are lots of other types of glass. London Glaziers can supply and fit bespoke styles of glass. Glass is a name that is given to any amorphous (non-crystalline) solid that displays a glassy transition close to its melting point. This is the same as the glass transition temperature, which is a temperature at which an amorphous solid becomes soft close to its melting point or a liquid is brittle close to its freezing point. The glass we know is made by mixing of sand and a few other minerals which are melted together at really high temperatures. This process forms something that is ideal for a wide range of uses from packaging and construction to the fibre optic industry. London Glazing are experts in glass. Today, we have totally mastered the glass-making process and make many different types of glass in an infinite array of colours and a massive range of products. Glass, chemically, is actually more like a liquid, but at room temperature it looks and feels like a solid. At very high temperatures, glass gradually becomes softer and more like a liquid. It is this latter property, which allows glass to be poured, blown, pressed and moulded into such a variety of shapes. The production process for glass is to melt silica sand, soda ash and limestone at around 1700°C. If other materials are added it creates different colours and properties. Even when glass is still molten, it can be moulded to form packaging, car windscreens, glazing or numerous other products. Glass can be made to fulfil almost any imaginable need. There are many different types of glass with different chemical and physical properties and each can be made by a suitable adjustment to chemical compositions. It has many specialised applications in chemistry, pharmacy, the electrical and electronics industries, optics, the construction and lighting industries, glass, or the comparatively new family of materials known as glass ceramics.

The Roman glassware that was produced featured many of the greatest items of art ever made and were valued a lot higher than things made using precious metals. But, plain glass vessels like the glass, bowl, plate, and bottle were used for everyday containers, especially, for storing food and drink. The Romans also used their glass because of its decorative appeal and the fact it was placed into mosaics and decorative panels on walls and in furniture. This glass also became windows, and created jewellery, mirrors, magnifying glasses, and sculpture. Even in a powder form it was used for medicine and early toothpaste. London Glazing supply anf fit all styles of glass. The glassmakers of Rome would use a tank furnace to melt many tons of raw materials in one hit, and glass workers used many techniques to manufacture objects from simple household utensils to luxury objects. Cage glasss are some of the Romans’ most remarkable glass creations. An undecorated “blank” with a really thick wall was given to a cold worker, who used cutting wheels and hand tools to take away two-thirds of the glass, that left an open “cage” that enclosed the container. The metal attachments show that this cage glass was a lamp that was to be suspended. The bowl contained some oil and a wick, sometimes floating on a piece of cork. Think about the patterns of light and shade that were cast by the flame as it shone into the cage. London Glaziers are the best choice for all things glass. The 5th and 6th centuries are also known as the “Migration Period,” as people from outside the Roman Empire moved into the former Roman provinces and built small, independent kingdoms. In a lot of these groups, it was customary to bury the dead with personal possessions. This, including glass provided 18th and 19th century antiquarians with the raw material for the study of early medieval culture.

Home windows are available in varying styles. They are flexible and can be used with combinations of the same window, like a bank of casement windows, or you can mix, like a picture window in between two casement windows. If someone is thinking about replacement windows or new build, they will probably find that they will need different styles. London Glazing supply all glass styles. Here are a couple of poular styles: The Casement Window double glazed window is really popular for the larger properties as they are designed to allow in the maximum volume of light. These windows are usually hinged on one side and open like a door only but out and away from the house rather than inwards. The main advantages are the huge amount of light with good air circulation through its design. They are available with many options like dark frames to suit an older property and leaded glass patterns for a more distinctive look. London Glaziers supply and fit all type of window glass. The Georgian Bar Window is quite a versatile double glazed unit just right for older properties or for those who want a distinctive look. Having authentic designs that have the end milling feature that gives the seamless look, there is a large selection to choose from. There are quite simple designs also. The bars of the windows perfectly complement the window frames of the Georgian Bar style of window. This feature allows them to look as though they are an integral part of the window frame, and looking like the patterns that were usually found on authentic georgian houses which is why the georgian bar windows feature so much in older properties. These two examples just skims the surface of the raft of window designs that are now available.

When facing a glazing emergency, time is of the essence. Glazing emergencies, or severely broken windows, can cause a multitude of different problems from personal safety issues to a lack of building security, and the longer these problems go unchecked, the worse the situation may become. A quick response time will allow the customer to minimize their risk for injury or property damage, as their clean up and repair will be able to be repaired rapidly.

It is always recommended that any customer with any type of emergency window repair situation always seek out a professional service specializing in glazing London glass to repair their window. Due to the potentially dangerous nature of glazing, this should be a job left strictly to the professionals.

If a customer is faced with an emergency glazing repair, a quick response time can significantly lower the risk for personal injury or property damage or loss. When a window is broken, glass is often strewn about an area, and these sharp shards can lead to serious injuries with the risk of infection. A glazing service should always respect this risk by being available at all times of the day or night, and by being able to secure or completely repair windows quickly, as well as clean up any mess of glass accumulated by the break. While the physical risk is always evident in an emergency repair situation, the risk to property is also found to be severe in an emergency situation as well. When a window is severely broken or damaged, the contents of the home or business are unsecured from outside sources or the elements, causing a higher risk for property damage or even a break in. A quick response time will cut this risk and allow the property owner, as well as the occupants of the building, to breathe a sigh of relief that they and their property are both safe!

Who invented safety glass?. Glass as a material has been used since early in the 20th century. The glass that we know as safety or laminated glass was actually discovered accidentally. The accident was caused by Edouard Benedictus, a French scientist in 1903, when he literally dropped a glass flask on the floor whilst at work in his laboratory. The flask he dropped had something called cellulose nitrate inside, which is a type of liquid plastic. London Glaziers are glass experts. This actually allowed the flask to more or less maintain its original shape once it impacted on the floor. In the early 1900s a chemist from Austria named Rudolf Seiden, invented tempered glass. In1905 Mr John Crew invented a type of safety glass which comprised of tree resin sandwiched between two layers of glass. In 1909, 6 years after the flask incident Edouard Benedictus actually patented ‘Triplex Glass’. This new safety glass was made stronger using a layer of polyvinyl butyral sandwiched between two layers of glass. This type of glass first had its real practical abilities tested during during World War I used as the lens for a gas mask. Once the performance of the new glass was proven under the extreme conditions of battle, it began its use in car windscreens. London Glazing can advise on safety glass. During the1960s the regulations for safety glass were developed which really motivated and formed the development of the safety glass industry. To make laminated safety glass today the manufacturer places a thin layer of flexible clear plastic film known as polyvinyl butyral (PVB) in between two or more sheets of glass. The plastic film grips the glass so when the glass breaks, it minimizes injury from flying glass shards. This film also stretches, but the glass still sticks to it. It is very difficult to pierce laminated safety glass, unlike a normal window pane. This sandwich arrangement provides some give. It is used widely for windows in public buildings, glass cookware, oven doors and safety glasses. This safety glass also helps to keep the occupants safe in a motor vehicle.

The standard windows that are fitted in our homes provide us with all the light, ventilation and warmth that we need. But there is also a down side to this efficient nature. London Glaziers are professional service that can advise on all aspects of glass. They can also let out as much heat as we think they are keeping in. It is easy for to reduce the energy costs that are incurred just by installing energy efficient windows. If the household budget will not stretch that far, ther are some great improvements that can be made with what there is. There is an option called secondary double glazing which will help to reduce draughts and heat loss, give improved insulation and also noise reduction from thins like traffic, aircraft and other noisy pollutants and this is all without having to replace a window, especially important for a listed building. The actual Energy efficiency rating scheme for windows is from the letter A to the letter G. The rating system is overseen by a body known as the British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC). London Glazing only use professionals to supply and fit all things glass. They have a dedicated website where you can find out more information. There are times when the most efficient of windows can actually cuse some problems. The reason is that because the window is so good at keeping in the heat and doing a grand job, this creates a much more likely chance that the window will suffer from lots of the dreaded condensation due to the heat inside and cold outside air. There are windows that have a set of small set of integrally fitted vents to make sure that there is an air flow. This usually does the job and should counteract the condensation, so bear this in mind before you buy the windows.

Did you know that the venetian island of Murano was and still is the hub and spiritual home of the glassmaking industry in Venice. 1921 saw the moving of the glass furnaces of Venice to the island of Murano, to stop the risk of them setting fire to the city. London Glaziers are glass professionals. The Venetians were inspired by migrant islamic craftsmen and taught themselves to make some of the finest glass the world has seen. This gave them a great advantage and popularity that lasted for centuries. Probably one of the most valuable art objects made from glass in the world is the Portland vase which was probably made in Rome about the beginning of the Christian Era. Long before man thought about how to craft glass, nature was already doing it. If lightning happened to strike sand, the generated heat can fuse the sand, forming it into long, slim glass tubes called fulgurites. The heat generated when a volcanic erupts can sometimes also fuse rocks and sand into a form of glass known as obsidian. In times long gone, people made obsidian into knives, arrowheads, jewelery, and money. Approximately 3000 B.C. is when the first real evidence of manufactured glass by people appeared. The Mesopotamia, Egypt, Syria were all glassmaking. However, you can thank an ancient Roman for the glass in your daily life. Because of their empire creating habits, the Romans took its modern glass manufacturing knowledge to its newly conquered lands. America got its first glass plant in 1608 and was in Jamestown, Virginia. London Glazing can advise on all glass types. In the 1850s, bottles and flasks were first used mainly for booze like whiskey. The Mason (screw top) jar for home storage appeared in 1858. Glass containers can be recycled, in other words, broken up and then melted with silica sand, limestone, and soda ash to make glass for new stuff. Glass can be recycled easily because it does not deteriorate however much it is used or how old it is. The energy produced from recycling one glass bottle can run a computer for half an hour.

Though our modern day double glazing is thought to have been invented in the 1930s, it wasn’t until 30 years late that we began to fit it into all our homes. London Glazing are glass specialists. In the 1960s the UK saw double glazing become more available and since then it has been making homes warmer and safer. Though the majority of homes these days use double glazing, with some people being on their 2nd or 3rd fit, it seems that there are still families out there sill using single pane glazing that sits in damp, rotten frames with green mouldy condensation on the inner surface of the glass. It is amazing just how much heat is lost through a single window pane. Lets go back to the early years: The 1930s saw double glazing travel to America and an inventor called Haven created the Thermopane. This was popular in the 1940s and 1950s, with Thermopane becoming a luxury and very sophisticated. In Great Britain, double glazing only became popular around 40 years ago, during the 1970s. Before this, fairly relaxed building regs meant that people had no real incentive to become energy efficient. London Glaziers advise on glass fitting. The 1970s also experienced an energy crisis, with an oil embargo declared by the Arab Petroleum Exporters. At this point the UK started to rethink just how dependent it was on foreign fuel. The price of energy increased during this time and homeowners started installing double glazing to be more energy efficient and less reliant on oil. Double glazing companies grew quickly to meet demand. They now vary from a simple family business to large nationwide companies. From aluminium frame based windows, double glazing has grown to cover a huge variety of frames and types of glass, including wood and uPVC frames with secondary, double and triple glazing solutions. These days, FENSA (Fenestration Self Assessment) offers a membership to double glazing contractors who give homeowners certificates with a 5-10 year guarantee for their professional work. The double glazing revolution is expected to grow in popularity, as more energy efficient products and money saving incentives appear.