Summer Heat Wave Imminent. Is Your House Ready?
Vaguely reminiscent of Harrison Ford’s panicky and overheated face in the Frantic movie, Sarah looked like a poster child for global warming. Wiping the sweat from her brow as she stepped into her charming 1920s bungalow, the oppressive heat chased her inside as she rushed to slam the door behind her.
Home Sweat Home
There weren’t enough fans or window units in the whole neighborhood to cool the house down so Sarah made a major investment in central AC which-much to her chagrin–only improved her comfort marginally in the living room. As she collapsed onto her sofa, Sarah’s eyes drifted to the beautiful stained glass front door—the feature that had first made her fall in love with the house. Its intricate patterns cast colorful shadows across the hardwood floor, a small consolation in her discomfort.
Revelations In The Sweltering Heat
Later that evening, as Sarah chatted with her neighbor Steve over the fence, she complained about the relentless heat in her home.
Bob quipped that he felt like he was living in a greenhouse with Mephistopheles when he first moved in. Apparently the charming stained glass windows on the 50 and 100-year-old houses throughout the neighborhood were pretty but dysfunctional.
The next day, Sarah embarked on a mission to find a new door with a delicate balance between eye popping design and thermal efficiency. She measured her doorways and started to research her options online. With the help of a knowledgeable design consultant from a reputable installer she discovered the innovative SmartSun™ high-performance glass glass solution from Andersen Windows.
It provides the benefits of Low-E glass while also helping to shield your home from the sun’s heat. Low-E glass is not actually a gas, but rather a special coating applied to window glass to improve energy efficiency.
The Science Of Comfort
Low-E stands for “Low Emissivity,” which refers to a thin, transparent coating applied to glass during the manufacturing process. This microscopically thin coating is made of metallic oxide and is designed to minimize the amount of ultraviolet and infrared light that passes through the glass without reducing visible light transmission.
Low-E coatings work by reflecting heat back to its source. In winter, it helps keep heat inside the home, while in summer, it reflects heat from the outside, keeping the interior cooler. For homeowners with larger budgets, Low-E glass can be combined with argon gas filling between window panes for even better insulation. Argon is an inert, non-toxic gas that further reduces heat transfer.
One of our expert installers can walk you through the performance metrics. The effectiveness of Low-E glass is measured by factors such as U-value or insulation effectiveness, solar heat gain coefficient, and visible light transmission.
SmartSun™ glass filters out 95% of harmful UV rays while still allowing sunlight to shine brightly through the barrier. But the best part is that homeowners don’t need to compromise between high end design and block and tackle energy efficiency.
This glass option offers improved thermal control similar to tinted glass without darkening indoor spaces, which is particularly beneficial for windows that receive direct sunlight from noon to mid-afternoon. Andersen’s “SmartSun with HeatLock™ Coating” provides additional energy-saving benefits by reflecting escaping heat back into the home, making it especially useful during winter months.
Curb Appeal Without Breaking The Bank
SmartSun™ is available across the full range of options from Anderson Windows including decorative stained glass or “art glass” in the Anderson lexicon. Strategically placed between the panes of glass in the window or door, it protects the decorative element and makes cleaning easier while providing a wide variety of art glass patterns that add elegance to any home style.
You can run with traditional colors like amber, cobalt, deep green, and rose or more unique colors such as iridized green, marbled white, and topaz. If that doesn’t work, our team will work with you to create virtually any custom combination you can imagine.
But Anderson Windows doesn’t stop there. In addition to colored glass, it also offers accent jewels and iridescent accent tiles to enhance the design. So whether you’re leaning towards the Classic Series with a Lotus Pattern, Victoria Design or the Artisan Series featuring Affinity Pattern, Harmonics Design, we’ll collaborate with you to make the perfect choice for your home.
The art glass options can be used to create various effects, from traditional stained glass looks to more modern and abstract designs. These decorative glass options allow homeowners to add a unique, customized touch to their windows and doors while still maintaining the quality and performance that is synonymous with the Anderson brand. Installation day arrived, and as the workers finished up, Sarah could already feel a difference. Her new door, with its high tech insulation, allowed her to enjoy the beauty of her stained glass in total comfort year round.
Cool Conclusion
As July turned to August, Sarah marveled at the change in her home. The once-stifling rooms now felt manageable, even pleasant. She could enjoy the charm of her 1920s bungalow without feeling like she was living in an oven.
Thank you for reading our blog article. Next Level Contractors is a home improvement and remodeling company serving the Capital District in the Albany, New York area. We specialize in exterior remodeling projects, including window installation, roof installation, and exterior door installation.