In the history of windows, there was a time not many years ago when glass was not common-place as it is today. Then, only the wealthy and privileged had access to glass and most people did without it in their windows.

During the Roman era in the history of windows, glass making grew in popularity and was a bit advanced. Even so, the earliest windows had glass that was ‘pebbly’ and didn’t let in much but light. The view through these windows was less than good.

The history of windows reveals that flat glass panes were first introduced in the late Third Century. This is when glass makers would blow a bubble of glass and slice into thin panes.

During what was called the Dark Ages, not just of the history of windows but of most of the ‘civilized’ world, the ability to make the kind of glass needed for good windows was lost. European cathedrals had stained glass for their windows, but the ordinary folk just had shutters they could pull closed over open holes.

Sometimes during this age of the history of windows, people would use animal skins soaked in oil to put across their windows. The soaking would make these skins translucent, letting in some light.

Most of the windows of that time were small, made that way to cut down on cold winds blowing into the houses. Heavy curtains were sometimes hung across them as well. This made the interiors of the homes very dark, so a fire was kept burning all the time to provide some light.

The history of windows shows that the Middle Ages brought back the ability to make glass for windows once more. A process in France allowed glass makers to blow a hollow sphere of glass that was then spun to make what was known as crown glass.

The mid-sixteenth century marked some progress in the history of windows. Most people then had some glass in their windows, at least in the most important rooms. Window glass was so precious then that those wealthy folk who had summer homes and winter homes would take the glass out of their houses and store it when they were in the other home.

Today, we have glass readily available for use in our homes. Different kinds for different choices. When you are looking for window glass or a replacement for a window, call FEDERAL GLASS AND MIRROR at 508-872-3563. Mike and John Purpura have a long family history of excellence in many types of glass replacement and installation.

Have you ever thought about how mirrors are made? Things have progressed tremendously since the first prehistoric man polished a piece of obsidian until it became reflective.

Following that in the progression of how mirrors are made were those made of polished metal. There are some metals that can be polished until they reflect light and can be used as mirrors. They can sometimes be seen in some campgrounds even now. But early on, only the more wealthy people had them. This set them aside from common folk and showed everyone their status.

In the early 1600s, another step forward in how mirrors are made came about. This was when silvering, or the backing of a sheet of glass with melted silver, became the way to make mirrors. That helped make better mirrors, even with the inferior glass of that day.

Today, the next step in how mirrors are made involves other metals as backing. In some mirrors, mercury was used as that backing, but was stopped due to concerns about containing the mercury. Now, aluminum is the most frequently used metal in making mirrors.

One of the major considerations in how mirrors are made is the technology used. Non-diffusive surfaces, those that are smooth and opaque, not transparent, are best for reflecting light.

An innovation in how mirrors are made has to do with making the glass flatter and making the backing more uniform. If the glass varies in thickness, your reflection may look thinner or larger than you actually are. Variations in the thickness of the metal backing will also distort the image you see in the mirror. If the metal backing is thin, you might be able to see through the backing.

When you consider how mirrors are made, keep in mind that glass reflects light poorly. But the glass can be polished to a high sheen to get rid of pits. This makes it a good base for a reflective metal backing.

The regularity of the glass surface is of importance in how mirrors are made. For home use, glass for mirrors must be reasonably flat and durable. But when mirrors are to be used for scientific purposes, uniform smoothness, often measured in thousandths of an inch.

When you are looking for mirrors or a replacement for a mirror, call FEDERAL GLASS AND MIRROR at 508-872-3563. Mike and John Purpura have a long family history of excellence in many types of glass replacement and installation.

Not very often do we think about the different types of window glass. Usually not until a window is broken and we need to replace it or until we feel the chill from outside in the winter coming through our window glass.

But there are several types of window glass, all of which have some benefits and some drawbacks. Here are a few.

Insulated Glass Windows. These windows are constructed with two panes of glass separated by a space filled with air. They are hermetically sealed to improve insulating properties.

Gas Filled Windows. This is one of the types of window glass that is similar to that above, except the space between the panes is filled with typically either argon or krypton gas. Filling the space with gas improves the insulation provided by these windows.

Heat Absorbing Window Tints. Tints on these types of window glass keep much of the solar heat out of your home or business. They also reduce glare from the outside considerably.

Low Emissivity (Low E) Coatings.  In this one of the types of window glass, special coatings reduce the flow of heat through your windows. It may be very beneficial in cold weather climates.

Reflective Coatings. Special coatings on these types of window glass decrease the amount of solar light coming through your windows. This helps cut down on glare as well as decreasing heat transfer from the sun.

Spectrally Selective Coatings. These types of window glass filter out a large portion of solar heat that usually comes through your windows while admitting complete sunlight.

In addition to the above types of window glass, you can also choose from float glass (a type of glass that is very smooth and of a very consistent thickness), annealed glass that is very strong but for safety reasons isn’t used often in buildings, and fully tempered glass that is much stronger than annealed glass and is considered safety glass.

If you have a need for specialized safety glass, you may want to choose heat soaked tempered glass. This is one of the types of window glass that has been heated to test for breakage from nickel sulfide inclusions. It’s used typically for glass railings and other applications where breakage is much more than an inconvenience.

Whatever type of glass you choose, call FEDERAL GLASS AND MIRROR at 508-872-3563. Mike and John Purpura have a long family history of excellence in many types of glass replacement and installation.

The benefits of decorative glass are not often considered by most people when thinking about the impression their home makes. But decorative glass can add elegance and grace to your home.

Think about this: Your front door is like a book cover. It can beckon others to your home or turn them away. Even if whoever is looking at your door knows nothing about you or what’s inside your home. Just like with a book.

One of the benefits of decorative glass is its ability to make your home inviting from the beginning. It sets the mind of those coming to your home to like the rest of what they see … or not. And this may also generalize to you.

So, making your home more attractive to others may improve your social standing as well.

Another of the benefits of decorative glass is adding natural light to your home. Natural light increases your feeling of comfort in your home and may even bring health benefits with it. Increased natural light has been shown to improve mood, thinking, and general outlook on life.

Adding the right kind of decorative glass to your doorway can improve the energy efficiency of your home. This is a very practical one of the benefits of decorative glass.

Yet another of the benefits of decorative glass is potential added value to your home. Not very many additions to your home will affect its value when you choose to sell. Installing decorative glass can have an impact on your home’s value. This is especially true if you should choose to sell at the same time other, very similar, homes are for sale in the same area. The decorative glass can set your home apart and serve to keep it firmly in the minds of potential buyers.

Another of the benefits of decorative glass is the cost compared to completely replacing your front door. Often, adding glass to your existing door will be less expensive than changing out your entire door. It also should take less time and disruption of your home.

One of the great benefits of decorative glass is the opportunity to personalize your home. There are many variations available for this kind of personalization. Choosing one that fits you and your family will give you many years of pleasure every time you come home.

For the best in decorative glass for your home, call FEDERAL GLASS AND MIRROR at 508-872-3563. Mike and John Purpura have a long family history of excellence in many types of glass replacement and installation.

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