Windows

Tempered glass is treated with heat, resulting in a stronger, more break-resistant window. When it does break, it falls into small pieces that are less likely to cut a person trying to exit the home.

Most often, a broken windowpane will be repaired by a local glass shop. A replacement window involves removing the window and frame unit entirely and replacing it with a new, fully assembled unit with double-pane glass and frame. This is not the quickest or most economical way to address a broken window.

The air gap between two panes of glass is important for insulation. Air by itself is an effective insulating material, but inert gas—since it’s denser than air—adds to the efficiency. Window manufacturers typically use either argon or krypton gas to fill the air gap. Argon is six times denser than air and is the most common inert gas found in windows manufactured for our region. For superior insulation for more demanding climates, krypton—which is 12 times denser than air—can be used.

The U-Factor measures a window’s ability to keep warm air inside the home during winter. Think of it like the insulation in your walls—R-19 is a good level of wall insulation, while R-30 is better for ceilings. In Sacramento’s moderate climate, a low U-Factor such as 0.20 or 0.25 is effective for reducing heat loss.

The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is the fraction of the sun’s energy that passes through a window to the surface on the other side. SHGC is expressed as a decimal, and a window must meet certain minimums to qualify as ENERGY STAR® rated. If you place an object directly in sunlight, that represents an SHGC of 1.0—or 100% of the sun’s heat—reaching that object. Think of a hot sidewalk on bare feet—ouch!

In Sacramento’s climate, a typical SHGC range is 0.35 to 0.28, meaning we want less than 30% of the sun’s heat warming our home. In colder climates, a higher SHGC (around 0.60 to 0.80) is preferred to let in more of the sun’s heat and help warm the home naturally.

An Insulated Glass Unit (IGU) is the glass assembly mounted inside the window frame. An IGU typically includes two separate glass panes bonded to a spacer—often called a Super Spacer®—that keeps the panes apart. Spacers are usually made of rubber and sometimes bonded to vinyl. They maintain the air gap between the panes for insulation and are often filled with inert gas to improve efficiency. This design minimizes solar heat transfer from the exterior-facing pane to the interior pane. (See diagram on Simonton’s website.)

A replacement window is a complete, factory-manufactured unit consisting of a frame and an Insulated Glass Unit. Replacement windows are available in both standard sizes and custom dimensions in increments as small as 1/8 inch. For example, while a 36×48-inch window is a stock size, custom ordering can provide a tighter fit without the need for excessive fillers or messy cutting of sheetrock and framing. We offer replacement windows from Simonton®, Ply Gem®, and many other top brands.