There are many strong arguments both for and against doors with glass, and it really comes down to your personal preferences. However, if you do choose to install glass in your Fair Oaks, CA replacement windows and doors, you need to make sure it’s the right kind of glass. What types of glass works best for replacement doors? And what makes these types of glass so good? Keep reading to learn more.  

The glass in your replacement door will have a big effect on that door’s energy efficiency. You need energy efficient doors to keep your home comfortable and your energy bills down, so you need energy efficient glass. There are two main types of energy efficient glass, insulated and low-E. Low-E glass is an ideal type of effective and efficient replacement door glass. An extremely thin, almost undetectable metallic coating covers this glass to serve as an extra thermal barrier that reflects temperature into your indoor space. For example, in the winter, low-E glass reflects heat back into a room, effectively keeping the room warm while reducing your energy use.  

Insulated glass is actually two or more panes of glass separated from the others with sealed air chambers for increased insulation. These chambers can contain air or gas, but the chambers are usually filled with gas such as: 

• Argon Gas – a colorless, odorless, nontoxic and nonflammable inert gas. Heavier than air, it’s completely safe to be in your home. Argon insulates window glass by reducing heat and cold conduction between the panes and acts as a noise depressant due to its density.  
• Krypton Gas – Krypton gas is much denser than Argon gas, and shares many of the same properties. Its higher density, however, means it’s even more insulating and noise reducing for a tougher door.  

You can also shop for door glass by rating rather than by type. Glass comes with general ratings to help buyers determine efficacy, quality, and value. The following values are very important: 

• SHGC – The SHGC, or Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, measures the amount of solar radiation that gets through glass. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat gets into the home.  

• R-Value – R-Value is a glass panels’ resistance to heat flow. A high R-Value means the window is more effective and highly insulating.  
• U-Factor – U-Factor, or U-Value, is a measurement of heat flow rate through a glass pane’s glazing system. Lower U-Values mean less heat and cold get through the glass, keeping your home comfortable.  

Do you have more questions about glass and replacement doors? The Window and Door Shop, Inc. can help. We have years of experience with doors and replacement windows in Fair Oaks, CA, and can use our expertise to help you choose the best glass for your new doors. Feel free to pay us a visit and meet us in person. You can also give us a call to schedule a consultation or to get more information about what we can do for you.