4 Little Known Facts About Windows

A window is often an overlooked but regular feature of a house. Although there are now houses, such as underground houses and doomsday shelters, which do not have any windows, windows have been noted to provide excellent air quality, good lighting and an interesting view. So for all the window lovers, here are a few things you may be surprised to know about them.

Glass windows are nothing new

 Glass windows were in use as early as A.D. 100 in Roman Egypt. Rich Romans used to use them because they were the only ones who could afford them. Throughout the ages, glass remained out of the reach of regular citizens until the early 17th century when prices became more accessible to ordinary homeowners. Thanks to the development of modern plate glass making, glass is now available to both the rich and the poor

Window makers were inventive

Glass was not the only material that was used in windows. In China and Japan, paper was often the material of choice. Other materials that have been used since the advent of windows include stone, cloth, animal hide, wood, iron grilles or other translucent material such as mica and thinly sliced marble. One surprising material was the flattened horn of animals to make window panes. Fortunately, this is no longer done as animal lovers would not be amused.  

There are more than 20 types of windows.

The style, material and type of windows have all changed according to the architectural preferences at specific periods in history. As a result there are more than 20 different types of windows that one can choose from. Lesser known types include the oeil-de-boeuf window, a small circular window also called a bull's eye window, and the clerestory window. The clerestory window was usually set higher in a wall than the surrounding roof to provide light to that room. 

Windows are graded

Windows are labeled across five different criteria. These include thermal transmission, solar heat gain, the ration of visible light transmission to incident visible light, air leakage and resistance to condensation. The grading would vary depending on the material used for making the window as well as the type of window. The ability to transfer heat into and outside of the building as well as how well it resists condensation makes the window more energy efficient, luminous and transparent: all the qualities necessary for perfect use in a house.

To learn more, contact a company like A-1 Glass Co Inc. with any questions you have.