Commercial glass
Commercial glass is the glass itself: insulated, tempered, laminated and Low-E units for new framing, and replacement of broken, cracked or fogged lites in existing frames. You need it when a lite fails, when a space changes use, or when old glass no longer performs. In many cases the glass can be replaced without replacing the frame.
Where it is used
- Storefronts and entrances
- Curtain wall vision glass and spandrels
- Commercial windows
- Doors, sidelights and transoms
What AluVex Experts does
- Identifies the glass in the opening now and what the opening calls for
- Measures the glass pocket and orders units to size
- Replaces broken, cracked and fogged lites in existing frames
- Installs new glass in new storefront, curtain wall and window framing
How a glass replacement runs
Step 1: Look at the opening
We check the frame, the glass in it now, and how that glass is held in.
Step 2: Identify the glass
Thickness, type and any safety marking on the old lite tell us what the new one has to be.
Step 3: Measure
Glass is sized to the frame's glass pocket, not the visible opening.
Step 4: Order
The new unit is ordered to size.
Step 5: Remove the old lite
Stops or gaskets come off, the old glass comes out, and the pocket is cleaned.
Step 6: Set the new lite
The new glass sits on setting blocks and is held with gaskets, tape or sealant, depending on the system.
Step 7: Check and clean up
We check the seal and the sightlines and leave the opening clean.
Why is there fog between the panes, and can it be fixed?
Fog or haze between the panes means the seal on the insulated glass unit has failed and moist air has gotten in. It cannot be cleaned off because it is inside the unit. The fix is a new insulated unit, and in most frames that can be done without touching the framing.
Tempered or laminated glass: which one do I need?
Tempered glass is heat-treated to be stronger than regular glass and breaks into small, dull pieces. Laminated glass has a plastic layer bonded between two lites, so when it breaks the pieces stay stuck to that layer and the lite stays in the frame. Building codes require safety glass in certain locations, such as doors and glass near doors, and your drawings or code official set which type goes where.
What is Low-E glass?
Low-E glass has a very thin, nearly invisible metal coating that reflects heat. It lets daylight through while cutting the heat that passes through the glass, which helps in both winter and summer. It is a common choice for commercial insulated glass. More in the glazing guide.
How is replacement glass measured?
Glass is sized to the frame's glass pocket, not the visible opening, so the frame has to be measured with care, often with the stops off. We also note the glass type, its thickness and any marking that shows whether it is tempered or laminated.
Have drawings, or just a photo of the opening?
Send what you have. Tell us where the building is and what you need, and we will take it from there.