Tinted Glass Windows - Both Colorful And Useful

Though too much sunshine may not be on a lot of peoples' problem list, it can be for some homeowners who have to put up with skyrocketing cooling costs because of solar heat gain. Awnings can help to improve things, but installing tinted glass windows is another more long term purchase and investment option.

The effect of the tint in a heat absorbing / tinted glass window is achieved by the addition of colorant dyes during the manufacturing process. These alter the chemical composition of the glass.

The heat absorbing tint itself will not alter the window products' U-factor, but reduces solar heat gain which can help in hot summers. But obviously not in cold winters, the time when the free heating from sunlight to your home can cut heating bills. The benefits of tinted windows therefore depend on the prevailing climatic conditions that exist in the area they are to be installed in.

What Color is That Tint?

The most common tinted windows are bronze or gray, and these reduce both the heat (infrared radiation) transmitted through the window and the glare of strong sunshine (visible light) in equal measure.

Choosing blue tinted or green tinted however will allow more visible light to pass through while still blocking some heat as well, though not as much as other colored tints. Black colored tints absorb more light than heat, so are not recommended for hot climates.

The color of the tint obviously has both a style impact and design values of its own. So getting the exact color you want will be more important to some than to others.

Therefore it's important to note the following if you are going to install replacement windows with tinted glass: there is no industry accepted standard color chart.

This can mean that the supposedly same tint color can vary slightly not only between different makers (as might be expected). But also between different batches from the same manufacturer as well.

For this reason a buyer should demand to see a sample of the glass that will be used for their order. This way you can check both that you are happy with the color; but as well that you feel enough visible light is penetrating through.

Also see; types of replacement windows.

Author Notes:

Anthony Lee contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.replacement-windows-n-shutters.com. Find everything you need to know about replacement windows, shutters, tinting, basement, fiberglass windows and more.