Low-E Glass for West Facing Riverside Windows

The glass is one pane. The coating on it is worth more than the second pane beside it. Notes kept by riverside window installation grevillea park say the same of any window installation in Riverside, CA: the order of coating, gas and spacer matters more on a west wall than the number of panes does.

What a low e coating actually is

A low e coating is a thin metallic layer on one surface of the glass. It reflects heat radiation while letting visible light through. On a hot wall it keeps solar heat outside, and in winter it holds interior heat in. Which surface carries the coating decides which direction it works, and the installer should know the surface number the manufacturer used.

Reading shgc and u factor

Two numbers appear on the label. The shgc, short for solar heat gain coefficient, tells how much sun comes through as heat. The u factor tells how fast heat leaks through the whole window. In inland Riverside, where cooling bills outrun heating, a low shgc matters most on the west and south sides, and a low u factor is the second priority.

Double pane, triple pane, and the gas between

A double pane unit with argon fill is the usual choice for a house in the Inland Empire. Triple pane adds weight without much gain in a mild winter. Argon slows heat flow better than plain air, and a warm edge spacer keeps the glass edge from running hot or cold. Seal failure shows as fog between the panes and usually starts at the edge.

Light, glare and fading

Stronger coatings tint the glass slightly. On a picture window with a view of Mount Rubidoux, a slight green or gray cast may be noticeable, so a sample held up on site is worth the ten minutes. Coatings also cut much of the ultraviolet that fades floors and furniture, which is a real benefit in rooms that get direct afternoon sun.

Matching glass to each wall

A single house can use different glass on different walls. A west slider or a large bay window takes the lowest shgc. A shaded north casement can take a higher gain coating that lets in more winter light. Ordering one package for every opening is simpler for the supplier, but it ignores how the sun moves across a Riverside lot.