I’ve posted this question up before and asked other people of how to recognise different types of glass. I got no answer. Maybe posted in the wrong forum.
I’ve had trouble in recognising different types of glass before my window clean and I would like to know what glass is what and then know exactly what to clean it with or not with. Glass such as tinted, low e, heat tempered, etc.
Normally there is a film on tinted glass, I like to how can you tell if it’s film or in the glass itself.
Thank you
I am writing from pure experience. Tinted glass that is colored by a metal oxide added to the glass itself (so it is all the way through the plate) has a slick feel to a dry fingertip. Just like ordinary clear glass. Same feel to a fingertip and squeegee. But most of ther older low e coats that are exposed to the outside such that you can touch them, will tend to drag a bit. As this technology improves they are becoming more smooth. Sometimes too certain oils will create a rainbow effect when rubbed in to a low e surface. Tempered glass will show a compression pattern when viewed on a sunny day through a pair of polarized sunglasses. I will pickup a ten dollar pair from the local Walmart. Use these on the side and especially back glass of cars on a sunny day as you drive down the highway. You will see what I mean. Windows that are tempered show something very similar. As for windows that have an aftermarket polyester thin (one mil thick) film applied. You will be able to feel the drag. You can also find the edge where the film comes real close to the edge gasket of the window using your fingernail. Sometimes you can see the sunlight shining through this area. Window film is almost always applied to the inside of a window also. I will check for aftermarket polyester films too the same way I check for plastic (plexi or lexan). If it is glass the very tip (not edge) of a razor will tend to stick in and not move. Whereas on glass it will slide. Tends to slide also on low e surfaces. Although not as easy as it will on clear glass or tinted all the way through glass. Do this very gently cuz you don’t want to leave scratches. One last word. Most windows have little info “bugs” in a corner of each window identifying various characteristics of that window. The info will be abbreviated but it is possible to get a little book from the manufacturer explaining these abbreviations.
Nothing really academic here. It is all about the senses. And years of experience.
Generally speaking toughened/tempered glass has a glass etching on 1 of the corners stating its toughened. laminated glass will have a sticker on it from the manufactures (which will normally be removed at the CCU stage).
Comfort/low E glass will have a lot of resistance when you touch it.
External glass in high crime areas or large cities may have an anti graffiti film on them.
Tinting that is a film it normally pretty easy to spot, it will grip your squeegee to a degree.
Thank you Steve. More good information. There is SO much. This IS the age of glass like the Corning Glass videos talk about. Check out some of these by going to my blog.
