Expert Window Installers in Portsmouth, VA

Divided light means your window has several smaller panes of glass that are separated by divisions in the window, as opposed to having one solid pane of glass. Today, divided light is simulated with grilles that snap in place on the inside of windows, with grilles placed in between the two pieces of glass in a double-paned window, or with both.

Obscure or privacy glass is any kind of glass designed to alter the view through it, whether it be for decoration, light reduction, or privacy. Mr. Rogers Windows offers a wide range of privacy glass.

Laminated glass refers to glass with a transparent layer of plastic that any broken glass will adhere to, making it safer and also reducing noise. It basically is the same as the material in the laminating machine your teacher used in elementary school. Laminated glass is not the same as the tempered glass used in patio doors. While both have safety benefits, laminated glass is primarily used to reinforce car windows.

Low-emissivity, or Low-E, refers to a type of glass that has a coat of micro-thin metal applied. This coating reduces the heat transmission of your glass. In the summer, Low-E reflects the sun's heat, keeping your house cool. During the winter, Low-E keeps your warmth inside. Low-E does not effect how much light gets into your house. Only the sun's heat, not its light, is being kept out. You cannot see the coating of metal on your windows. The view is kept crystal clear. Note that Low-E glass is not the best glass if you live in a very cold climate. Anyone who lives in the far north and needs the heat from solar gain (and thus doesn't need to cool their house), should look into Hard Coat Low-E glass. This glass lets in more of the sun's warmth, helping to heat the home.

Shading coefficient is a number that measures how much light a window lets through relative to a standard 1/8-inch thick piece of clear, double-strength glass. Most measurements for windows now are in solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). If you want to convert between them, the approximate ratio is that SC = SHGC x 1.15