Living in Greenville, you get to enjoy quite a few beautiful, sunny days. On average, the city sees over 215 sunny days per year. While this is great for enjoying hikes along the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail Network or kayaking on Lake Placid in Paris Mountain State Park, this near-constant sunshine can take its toll on your home.
Over time, UV rays can fade wood-stained fences, older siding, and outdoor furniture. But the problem doesn’t end there. Your indoor furniture, rugs, painting, and more are prone to also fading. But, it doesn’t have to be this way. With low-E glass installed on your home, you can trust that you’re keeping your belongings safe from this fading.
If you’ve dealt with UV damage in the past and want to learn more about how low-E glass can help you keep your home safe from future damage, keep reading.
What is Low-E Glass, and How Does It Stop UV Damage?
Low-E glass, also known as low-emissivity glass, is a standard window pane that is treated with a microscopic metallic oxide coating. This coating behaves like a filter, managing solar energy by reflecting infrared heat. Beyond the infrared heat blocking, low-E glass is also capable of blocking up to 99% of harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. But how does it block these rays?
The coatings on your low-E glass consist of thin layers of silver or tin oxide, and are applied in two or three layers. These metallic particles act like a smart barrier. They allow visible light to pass through, while reflecting UV radiation and infrared heat back, keeping your home cooler and safe from the radiation.
Without a low-E coating on your home, these UV rays enter your home, leading to damage to your carpet, drapes, artwork, hardwood floors, and furniture. This UV radiation can lead to cracking, fading, and discoloring over time, making low-E glass essential for anyone who wants to avoid damage to their home.
What is the Difference Between Low-E and Tinted Glass?
While low-E glass might seem appealing to Greenville homeowners who’ve dealt with UV damage in the past, they may also consider other protective options. One inexpensive option homeowners may consider is window tinting. But is tinted glass going to provide the same UV protection provided by your low-E windows?
Although both are capable of blocking UV rays, there are a few significant differences that give low-E windows an advantage. Low-E windows block only select rays, while admitting all other light, whereas tinted glass uses bronze, gray, or blue colorants to absorb solar radiation and blocks all incoming light.
Additionally, tinted glass doesn’t provide the insulation and energy efficiency boosts that low-E windows are capable of. Finally, tinted glass may darken the view looking out of the window and can reduce the natural light in your room, which can be unappealing to anyone who wants to preserve the view from their home.
Will Low-E Windows Make Your Home Darker?
When you hear about low-E windows being coated in microscopic metallic particles, you may worry about the impact it will have on the light in your home. However, this isn’t something you need to worry about. Standard low-E windows transmit up to 80% of visible light and have very little impact on the light conditions in your home.
However, some high-performance windows, with up to 4 coats of the low-E coating, can lead to mild changes in light levels in your home. These high-performance windows may appear slightly darker, either gray or blue in tone. However, this shouldn’t be more significant than window tinting, allowing you to enjoy plenty of natural light.
Additionally, the incredibly minor change in light levels are used to block the harmful UV rays that may have otherwise damaged your home. The slightly dimmer light levels in your home are going to help you keep your furniture, artwork, flooring, and more safe from future UV damage and restorative costs.
What are the Disadvantages of Low-E Glass?
Low-E windows are an incredible investment for your home, making them the best option for anyone looking to prevent UV damage and improve energy efficiency. However, these benefits don’t come without some drawbacks that you’ll want to consider before making the investment. Some of the most significant disadvantages of low-E glass include the following:
- Higher upfront cost
- Slight reduction in natural light
- Winter heat loss
- Subtle hue or color shifts
While there are a few disadvantages to low-E glass, the major benefits you experience by investing in these windows make them well-worth it. If you’re on the fence, don’t hesitate to contact your window installer for additional support and to ask any questions you may have about their energy-efficient window options.
Other Features to Look for In Your New Windows
While there are many amazing benefits to investing in low-E glass for your home, this isn’t the only thing you should look for in new, advanced windows for your Greenville home. If you’re considering installing new windows on your home, look for some of these features as well:
- Quality Frame Materials: If you’re getting new windows, why not look for something with durable frame materials, like vinyl, aluminum, or wood, that are more energy efficient and prone to swelling, warping, and minimal maintenance.
- Advanced Styles: Window replacement projects allow you to look for a better window style for your home and lifestyle, like casement, double-hung, or picture windows, that are more functional for your space.
- Ratings & Labels: Consider talking to your window installation team about their Energy Star options to ensure they are rated and certified for the Greenville climate, and the windows U-factor and SHGC ratings.
Let Surface Bella Install Your High-Quality New Windows
At Surface Bella, we know just how important it is for Greenville homeowners to keep their homes safe, comfortable, and energy efficient. That’s why our team is dedicated to helping you find the highest-quality, most reliable windows for your home. Whether you’re trying to avoid future UV damage or are tired of cool air escaping during the warmest months of the year, we’re confident that our high-quality vinyl windows are the ideal addition to your space.
If you would like to learn more about our advanced window options, reach out to us today to schedule a no-obligation consultation.