Cold winters in Canada are accompanied by icy winds, freezing rain, and sub-zero temperatures, making energy-efficient design essential. Vinyl windows have become a top choice for Canadian homeowners, offering reliable insulation, durability, and low maintenance. Let’s explore why they stand out.
A window spacer is the thin, often metallic or composite strip that separates the layers of glass in an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU). It plays a vital role in maintaining the structural integrity of the window, ensuring proper sealing, and optimizing thermal performance. Without it, you wouldn't have the energy savings or condensation resistance that modern windows are known for.
Conventional windows can be surprisingly inefficient, allowing valuable heat to escape during the colder months and letting unwanted heat in during the summer. This not only drives up heating and cooling costs but also places additional strain on HVAC systems, shortening their lifespan.
Imagine your home perched near the edge of Lake Ontario or the shoreline of Georgian Bay. It’s beautiful, but it also means your windows are constantly at odds with nature. The environmental stressors in coastal zones are no joke. They affect not just your view, but the structural integrity of your window frames.
Most of us tend to think of UV rays as something we only need to worry about outside, but some can also make their way indoors. Ultraviolet light comes in three forms: UVA, UVB, and UVC. While UVC is blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere, UVA and UVB rays can pass through windows, contributing to the fading of furniture, damage to interiors, and even potential health risks over time.
When you’re shopping for windows, you might encounter the terms clear glass and Low-E glass, but what do they really mean — and which is better for your home?