Blog

Thin Glass.
This type of glass has various uses, typically specialised and in lesser volumes and in the technical world. Thin glass is used for in microscope slides, which are normally 1mm thick, and for the similar cover glasses which are only a fraction of a 1mm in thickness. Float glass manufacturing can make very thin glass down to .4mm. Thin glass is used to perform specific functions in a wide array of equipment and appliances, various kinds of mirrors such as electrochromic mirrors and cosmetic mirrors, touchscreens and filters, glass masters and data storage glass discs, displays, and telecom equipment. London Glazing use different glass.

Appliances.
Flat glass is mainly used for home appliances, office equipment, and similar applications. The doors on yor oven are constructed of tempered glass and can stand very high temperatures. The tops of stoves and control panels are made of drilled, silk-screen printed and tempered glass in order to give high thermal and mechanical safety and to look good also. Fridges are equipped with silk-screened, tempered, edged and clipped glass for their shelving, this is so they are shock resistant and cab stand shocks and spills. Washing machines and dishwashers also use tempered glass in their drums and panels. Non-reflective glass is used in order to stop the glare that reflects from televisions, computer screens, glass cases and other screens. Photocopiers, scanners, and fax machines all use highly transparent glass for document images. London Glaziers recommend glass for homes.

Urban Furniture.
Glass is more prevalent in the urban envirnment than you might know, bus and tram stop shelters, advertising stands, kiosks, street lighting, traffic lights, and covered walkways all have large glass parts. Glass is really very easy for cleaning and highly very weather resistant. The best feature is that if it is damaged it can be fixed or replaced and is able to be made to resist vandals.

The glass we use is a mixture of sand and other minerals that are melted together at a really high temperature to produce a material that is perfect for a massive range of uses from packaging and construction to fibre optic technology. London Glazing can advise on glazing for your home.
A form of the glass occurs naturally within the mouth of a volcano as it erupts there is a formation of something called Obsidian which is glass like but very tough yet brittle and has very sharp edges. Obsidian has in the distant past been used for cutting tools and even been experimented with as a medical tool. Glass is actually more of a liquid as it stands, yet feels solid, but will at high temperatures become softer and look like a liquid. Of course this is why glass can be poured and manipulated, molded and blown. Today man has conquered glass productio and can make many different types of glass. London Glaziers understand the process for making glass.

The Making Of Glass.
The glass we know is manufactured initially with the melting of different minerals at really high temperatures. The principle element in this process is something called Silica, (which is one of the most commonly found sands on earth) which combines with limestone and something called soda ash and they are melted at around 1700°C. During this process the manufacturer can add various different materials to change colour or the glass’s properties. Glass can be covered with a coating, treated with heat, decorated or even engraved for different uses. When the glass is in a molten state it can be formed into things like windows, screens for cars or packaging, in fact there are lots of uses for glass. It will depend on it’s ultimate use as to the rate that it is cooled and also it’s composition.

Glass is a really unique element. It is not a well known fact, but glass is the only 100% recyclable material. The fact is, it can be recycled time and time again. This means that less energy and resources are used and that in turn is very good for the planet. London Glazing encourage recycling.

Energy Of Recycling Glass:
The energy or power saved by using one recycled glass bottle is able to provide power for and run:
1). The washing machine for 10 minutes.
2). A TV for 4½ days.
3). A PC for 5 full days. London Glaziers recycle old glass.

Facts:
As stated, glass can be recycled for all time and will never lose its qualities, strength or even its functionality. In other words it is very flexible. The word ‘cullet’ is an industry term that refers to a manufacturer using recycled glass, this means actually that the glass is crushed. This process will actually allow savings of raw material (virgin or unused) of around 2.5 to 3% of saved energy for every 10% of cullet that takes the place of the virgin material. This means that there is no major energy requirements needed to carry out the melting process on the cullet. The increased use of this cullet will also replace carbonates and other raw materials and this in turn will actually reduce the carbon dioxide emissions which is a great achievement. For every tonne of new glassware like jars and the bottle that are made out of recycled glass rather than new materials will save 0.67 tonnes in CO2 emissions. Recycling glass will stop precious raw material wasted by being used and then dumped in a landfill site. It would take 1tonne of cullet to make 1tonne of glass whereas it takes 1.2tonnes of virgin raw material.

Nearly all windows and doors still fitted in properties today are in some cases as old as the house itself. Therefore these are the homes that would really benefit from having new windows and doors fitted. London Glazing can supply and fit all types of glass. They would benefit from the heat retention and draught prevention. Today there is a huge move towards more efficient types of windows and doors. Because of this there is a massive choice of windows and doors for this purpose. These new, energy conscious windows should give a good return for the investment, through low heating, and maybe even the cost of using the lights less in your house. Improvement in the performance of the windows in your home will depend on design, choice, and installation. London Glaziers use skilled tradesmen who can work with all styles of glass.

Energy:
To make the correct choice you have to appreciate the energy performance ratings of windows so you will know what energy performance you need for your windows based on the climate and the design of your home. For the energy-efficient windows, Energy Star ® has created minimum energy performance ratings by climate. This, however does not make allowances for the design, like the window positions etc. These passive types of solar design plans use the glass to maximize solar heat gain in winter and minimize it in summer. In climates that are dominated by heat, major glazing areas should generally face south to collect solar heat during the winter when the sun is low in the sky. In the summer, when the sun is high in the sky, overhangs or other shading devices stop excessive heat gain. It is difficult to control the heat and light coming through east and west facing windows if the sun is sat low in the sky.

The only way to cut any piece of glass to a high standard and also without any damage is to use a glass cutting tool. London Glaziers carry the best quality glass cutters. This is a hand operated tool, that has a wheel specifically made to actually scratch the surface of the piece of glass. The process of scratching or scoring is done on purpose, because it interrupts the tension and makes the glass easier to cut (in other words it weakens it). This is a ‘score line’ in the trade. It is better to start with the best quality cutter that you can afford. This will ensure that your glass is cut correct at the first attempt. If you have the opportunity, look at and try a selection of varoious cutters before you choose. Below is a selection of the glass cutting tools that are available on the market to make sure the glass is cut accurately. Below are two types of cutters:

The Strip-and-Circle.
This type of cutter isn’t necessarily required, but it is very good, especially if you want to make glass boxes or a lampshade. the name gives its function away, you use the strip and circle cutter to cut straight strips of glass and circles. You can adjust the tool to cut almost any size of glass strips from 1⁄2 inch up to 8 to 10 inches It also easily converts into a circle cutter, allowing you to cut circles of glass. London Glazing tradesmen can measure and cut all types of glass.

The Pistol-Grip.
This type of cutter is a real benefit if you have muscular problems or cannot hold your fingers tense for long periods of time. This cutter is custom made to fit very comfortably in the palm of the hand, relieving the pressure from your fingers. The pistol-grip cutter has the same swivel cutting head as the barrel cutter, so it cuts just the same.

To fit your own windows will require, time, patience and quite hard work. The key to success is good preparation, so get all the measurements correct (you can never measure enough). Learn and memorise the names of the various parts of the windows, and what they are for and where they fit. London Glazing can offer advice on all thing glass. If this is the first project you have undertaken, then it is advisable that you begin with something easy, maybe a small downstairs window. however once you have gained experience and your confidence is high you’ll be able to tackle bigger jobs. There is always the back up of callin in a professional service to install for you. Always keep their number handy just in case. Below is a guide to installing a window assuming that the old one is now removed:

This is a basic guide, however it is designed show that fitting your own double glazing need not be difficult.

• Place the double glazed panel moulds into place. London Glaziers use qualified tradesmen for all types of work.
• This may need some heavy treatment. Align the draft proofing strips and begin screwing in the catches and hinges. Fit the glass windowpanes into position.
• Make sure that you consult the planning regulations as permission might be required, because as of April 2002, building regulations have been applied to replacement glazing. Under these regulations, external windows and doors are classed as “controlled fittings” so there are certain standards that will need to be satisfied in order for planning permission to be granted. If in doubt, it would be wise to speak to your local authority or a registered installer. With a little planning, you can save a lot of time and money, and those of you who are confident should have little difficulty installing your own double glazing.

A long time ago it was just a dream to be able to save heat, stop condensation and also keep out noise from our homes. The landscape has changed completely now and it is not now a question of how but how much can we do. Something called the Building Regulation Document ‘L’ is the advocate of heating and energy conservation for every new build home in the UK. London Glazing can provide advice and a first class service for your glazing needs. Below are some benefits of Double Glazing.

Noise Protection.
The sealed double glazed units that are fitted today are very efficient at keeping noises out of the home. This is achieved by the use of varying depths of glass. There is a recommendation that a sealed unit should be made from two different depths of glass for example 10mm with a 6mm second piece. This is said to reduce any resonating frequencies occurring between the two. London Glaziers can supply and fit secondary glass.

Heat Retention.
Heat cannot escape quite as easily if double glazed windows are fitted and draughts are reduced. These attributes are beneficial as they make the overall temperature in the house more comfortable. It’s not just the glass you should look at to retain heat, the casing is just as important, and local climate and indoor temperature will play an important role. The best windows are those that will allow more energy to pass through the glass and into the room, than will be lost through the window. 

Did You Know:

• The life span of a double glazed sealed unit can be from 2 years to over 20 years. This will depend on the quality of the unit installed and the quality of the installation.
• The biggest threat to any double glazing are the sun’s rays and ingress of water.
• These units will fail if they are made from poor materials or are not fitted correctly.

There is an incredible amount of heat lost through windows in the UK each year. The problem lies with poorly fitted windows and glass that just is not good at keeping the heat in the home. The price of the new styles of energy efficient windows has dropped significantly and is now more affordable to the public. London Glaziers use all energy saving glass.

Energy Efficient Windows:
This style of window is made from two single glass sheets that have a gap in between of around 16mm. This is an air gap that will provide the insulation that does not allow any heat to escaping through it. In some styles this gap could also be gas filled. This is called a ‘double glazed’ window, however, there can also be three sheets in thickness or better known as ‘triple glazed’. There is some doubt however as to whether the 3 sheets are better at insulating than the two. These windows also have frames made of different materials which also vary because of the level of sunshine that the window will allow through, the air that is able to escape around the edge of the window and their performance of heat retention. There is a type of Glass that is the best for this and it is ‘Low E Glass’ which is highly energy efficient and uses a very slight metal oxide coating that is normally inside with the air gap. The gap that sits between the panes can also be filled with a gas such as, xenon, argon and even krypton for more energy efficiency. London Glazing tradesmen are experts in all types of glass. Below are some benefits of efficient windows:

– A substantial saving on the quarterly energy bill.
– Little or no formation of condensation, with fewer drafts from the windows.
– Drastic reduction in the noise from outside.
– The green footprint is much smaller.

Is it possible to repair your wooden windows, whilst retaining their style and good looks, while benefiting from modern draught excluding double-glazing. There are companies that specialise in this field, who can repair and upgrade your sash windows and bring them up to modern specifications. In most cases this type of company will take the following steps:

• Take out the window from the sash box and remove any rotten timbers to expose the good wood. London Glazing know sash windows.
• Pieces of wood will be slotted in where needed or the holes will be filled and altered to match the timber.
  The sash cords are replaced and the glass is resealed.
• The window can then be upgraded by adding a bead around all the railings. This will prevent the window from rattling and keep the heat in.
• Secondary glazing can also be installed on the inside of the property. This will mean that the sash window will still look the same from the outside, but the look on the inside may be gone. London Glaziers supply all glass.

DIY:

• Dismantling and removing your sash window can be a difficult task, however, the window can be repaired while still fitted.
• Sand the wood and remove any rotten sections and use filler in any holes and sand so it matches the profile of the sill or rail.
• Cover with a primer and wood preservative and then paint with a quality outdoor paint.
  Scrape away and replace the old putty if required.
• Handles and locks can be bought in DIY stores and can be easily replaced.
  If the sash cords are broken, you can replace them yourself.

Broken Sash:
Take off the beading at the bottom of the sash and cut the cord. The sash will come out in one piece. Remove the old cords from the sash and detach them from the weights. Drop the new cords through the sides of the sash and tie them to the weights. Ensure each cord is the same length and sits straight. Fit the sash back into place and replace the beading.

Two styles of glazing are available to fit today. The first is the sealed glass unit and the second is called the secondary glazing unit that will add to and sit behind an existing windowpane. By its description it is quite obvious that that the send form is the easier to fit, but if you have some credible skills and a “can do” attitude then you could consider the first example also. London Glazing tradesmen can advise.

Secondary Glazing:

• The normal way to fit secondary glazing is to fit it to the frame of the window itself or to a timber framework inside the window frame.
• An ideal width between the original glass and the new glass is around 20mm, making the first option more efficient.
  There is no need for glass because clear plastic sheeting plastic film will work well. London Glaziers supply glass.
• Be careful when placing materials like plastic or glass in front of a window opening and not attached to the window casement, as it can prevent the window from opening.

Demountable Glass:
This type of glass is set in the window casement and secured to the existing window with clear tape or magnets. They will allow you to remove the secondary sheet of glass or plastic if you need to use the window. Or even to take it out in the warmer months.

Operable Glass:
This is a secondary glazing unit that can be fitted into sliding tracks and then attached to the window frame. There are cases where, the window may be hinged to allow it to open. The glass is edged with draught proof strips for added insulation when it is shut. The units are available in kits and are straightforward to fit.