Consumers interact with glass surfaces on a daily basis. Some of these glass surfaces are inside the home, while others are found in retail stores or restaurants.
You may think that all glass surfaces are created equal, but there are some significant differences between commercial glass and residential glass. Understanding these differences will give you a better appreciation for the role glass plays in your day-to-day life.
1. Size
One of the most obvious differences between commercial and residential glass is the size of each pane. The windows on a skyscraper are considerably larger than the windows in a residential property.
Installers must be able to maneuver and secure panes of glass that span floor to ceiling in a commercial space. Manufacturing such large panes of glass requires a lot of attention to detail, but the same companies who manufacture residential windows create large commercial panes.
You can expect both commercial and residential glass to have a high level of quality, despite the differences in size.
2. Strength
Another difference between commercial and residential glass is the strength of each pane. Commercial property owners are typically concerned with safety over aesthetics when it comes to installing glass.
Many of the glass panes utilized in commercial settings are heated to an extremely high temperature, then cooled slowly to give the glass added strength. This heat-treated glass is resistant to shattering, which offers commercial property owners some security against theft.
Homeowners typically don't need heat-treated glass, but there are some residences that can benefit from the use of this commercial glass product. Any home located in a hurricane or tornado zone will sustain less damage during a storm when fitted with heat-treated glass.
3. Treatments
Glass can be treated with a variety of solutions that help improve the overall quality and performance of the glass pane over time. Commercial glass is commonly treated with a protective UV barrier.
This type of treatment helps to filter out the damaging UV rays in sunlight. By eliminating UV rays, treated commercial glass can prevent products displayed in the window from fading and protect anyone working near a commercial window from sun exposure.
Residential windows can be treated as well, but most homeowners don't require the same level of protection required in a commercial setting.
Commercial glass and residential glass are different. It's important that you work with window experts who specialize in either commercial or residential glass for window replacement and repairs.
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