If you are dealing with too much street noise, or if you feel like your neighbors can see straight through your patio door or sidelights, there is an easy solution. You don’t need to replace the whole door — you can just add new insulated glass inserts into the setup you already have. And once they are installed, your home can feel a lot quieter and more private.
This residential glass replacement company in Orland Park, Illinois is going to tell you more about these inserts below.
What are insulated glass inserts?
Insulated glass inserts, also called IGUs (insulated glass units), are made from two or more panes of glass. Between each layer of glass, there is a sealed space filled with air or a special gas like argon or krypton. These units can be made with different types of glass, surface coatings, and materials depending on what you need.
The sealed space between the panes improves insulation and slows down how quickly hot or cold air can move through the glass. If you add coatings like Low-E (low-emissivity) and gas fills, you can get better insulation and reduce energy loss by up to 50%.
They also reduce moisture buildup. If you have ever seen water drops or fog inside single-pane glass, that is because it could not handle the temperature difference. Insulated inserts fix that by keeping the inside glass surface more stable in temperature.
If your door frames and sidelights are still in good shape, your residential glass replacement company in Orland Park, Illinois may not need to replace the whole unit. They can fit these new inserts into what you already have. That means you get better insulation and sound control, but you keep the original frame and look of your doorway.
How does it block noise and improve privacy?
Single-pane glass does not do much to block sound. It has a low STC (Sound Transmission Class) rating, usually around 27. With this glass, you will still hear people talking outside or cars driving by. Double- or triple-pane insulated inserts, though, have a much higher STC, and that difference can be big enough that you barely notice the noise anymore.
If privacy is your main concern, you can pair these inserts with frosted or textured glass.
Frosted glass is made with sandblasting or acid etching. It blurs the view but still lets light through. Textured glass does something similar. It has patterns that scatter the light a little and blur anything behind them while keeping the light. These types of glass also add a nice visual detail to your entryway. You can choose from different styles depending on what you want the space to look like.
You don’t need to replace the entire door frame.
Insulated inserts can fit into the frames you already have. So, if your current door or sidelight still looks good and is not damaged, there is no need to replace it. You can just change the glass and avoid the mess and high cost of replacing the whole thing.
A residential glass replacement company in Orland Park, Illinois can usually do this in a few hours. They will remove the old glass, seal in the new insert, and leave your trim and siding untouched.
Looking for a Residential Glass Replacement Company in Orland Park, Illinois?
If you are thinking about upgrading your patio doors or sidelights, now is the time to reach out to a residential glass replacement company in Orland Park, Illinois, like Glass & Mirror America. Our team can help you look at your options and choose the right kind of insulated insert. Contact us at (800) 411-2801 to request a free estimate.
