Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I know what glass is, but what do "glazing" and "glazier" mean?
A. Glazing can be either a noun or a verb. As a noun it is a general term describing the material(s) installed in a window or door. As a verb it is the act of installing those materials. Glaziers are the people who install those materials.
Q. My insulated window (or door) is "fogged", what can I do?
A. Insulated units (two glass panes sealed together with an airspace in between) fail when the seal or the glass breaks. Over time, as air enters and leaves the airspace, deposits will adhere to the inside surfaces of the glass creating a dirty or fogged appearance. We will order a new insulated unit and install it in your existing frame.
Q. What edges are available on glass so it's not sharp?
A. Glass can be "seamed" which removes the sharp edges and is satisfactory for glass through 1/4" thick, often used for shelves and for glass to protect tabletops. Thicker glass in 3/8”, 1/2”, 3/4" and 1” is available in flat polished edge or pencil edge, flat edge and a variety of beveled widths. OG edge is available in 1/2”, 3/4" or 1". Click the following to go to our "Custom Cut Glass" page.
Q. The glass in my fireplace door shattered into thousands of pieces, what should I do?
A. Glass in fireplace doors is tempered (a heat treating process) and when it breaks, (like glass in patio doors and side windows of your automobile) it breaks into thousands of small pieces the size of a pencil eraser. Bring your fireplace door into us and we'll order and install a new piece of tempered glass. We also stock high heat (1400 F) glass for wood and coal stoves.
Q. What is Low-E glass and should I consider it in remodeling or replacement?
A. Low-E glass is designed to assist in preventing heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. There are many types of glass and glass coatings. Please call us to discuss your specific concerns and questions. We'll be happy to supply you with solutions and alternatives.
Q. What's the difference between Plexiglas® and Lexan®?
A. Plexiglas® and Lexan® are trade names for what are generically referred to as acrylic and polycarbonate. Given equal thickness, acrylic is approximately 15 times stronger than glass; polycarbonate is 250 times stronger than glass. These are softer surface materials than glass and scratch more easily, although proper care and cleaning will lengthen their clear appearance. Please call to discuss you specific application.
Q. My bathroom mirror is turning black across the bottom edge, what happened?
A. Mirrors are glass with a thin coating of real silver. Just like real silver jewelry, the silver oxidizes if exposed to air/moisture. Often water splashed on the backsplash reaches the back surface and reacts with the silver to create "black edge." After reviewing the severity and installation we will provide options to solve this problem.
Q. What does the term "safety glass" mean?
A. Building codes require safety glass be installed in doors and other applications related to traffic involving people and their physical safety. The most popular types are tempered glass, laminated glass and certain types of plastics. Wire glass is no longer considered safety glass except where fire rated doors or openings require its installation. “Firelite” or an equivalent glass is available as a safe replacement for wireglass.
Serving Lancaster County and surrounding areas from our location at 751 E. Ross St. Lancaster, PA 17602