Specialist Glass

Low 'E' Glass

Low-E glass has a special coating developed to significantly improve the thermal performance of double glazing units.

This coating - called Low Emissivity or Low 'E' coating - reduces the heat loss through your windows by reflecting the heat from fires, radiators and even your body heat back into your rooms, reducing the heat loss and your fuel bills.

Although it reflects heat back into the room, the coating still allows heat from the sun to enter your home. And once inside this free heat is trapped by the coating, helping to warm your home.

But thats not all, the coating also makes the windows themselves warmer, so that your home is more comfortable with no 'cold spots' near the windows. Because the windows are warmer, unsightly and unwanted condensation is reduced.

The performance of double glazing units when incorporating a Low 'E' glass is around the same as a triple glazing unit but without the additional weight of the glass. Performance can also be increased by adding Argon gas to the unit's cavity.

Self Cleaning Glass

Pilkington Activ is a durable, coated, neutral coloured, self cleaning glass that requires less frequent cleaning and provides clearer vision during and after rainfall compared to ordinary float glass. The coating is securely bonded to the surface of the glass and has good scratch resistance and durability and in most circumstances can be treated the same as ordinary glass. The coating will not degrade with time and will last the lifetime of the glass.

Under normal conditions the unique coating destroys organic contaminants on the surface and increases the water sheeting action on the coated surface. This alows dirt to be washed easily from the surface and should greatly reduce the need for manual cleaning.

Pilkington Activ can be supplied in toughened or laminated and glazed as a single pane or incorporated into an insulating glass unit, in every case the self cleaning coating must be positioned externally when glazed.

Rain Racer

To understand why flowers always look so clean and fresh, just look how rain water beads up on the plants, rain water on windows treated with Rain Racer will trap the dirt in the water beads and roll it off the glass.

Rain racer is a hand applied Polymer coating that can be applied to any glass panels in situ without the additional cost of replacing your existing glazing, it is virtually self cleaning, stain resistant and has a light scratch resistance due to it's lubricity. The unique coating will not be removed should extra cleaning be required.

Whether you are living or working on a main road, sea front, dusty lane or near a railway, Rain Racer will stop algae from growing on glass conservatories and every time it rains it will remove all the dirt from the glass leaving it looking clear and clean.

The coating has an average lifespan of 7-10 years, it will naturally dissipate microscopically with time and when required can be re-applied. There are no chemicals required with Rain Racer, should your windows become heavily soiled at any time, washing with soapy water will restore and reinvigorate the self cleaning properties of the coating.

Fire Rated Glass

Wired glass has a wire mesh embedded in its centre which holds the fragments together should the glass be broken. The risk of injury caused by falling glass is thereby greatly reduced when used in roofing applications. The glass may crack under heat of impact but will remain in position even when badly damaged so discouraging draughts and preventing the spread of flames.

Wire glass is also fire rated up to one hour when glazed within a suitable fire rated frame. These can be made out of hardwood, aluminium or steel.

Clear fire rated glass is also available with fire ratings of up to two hours and with insulation if required for fire regulations to allow time for the building to be evaculated. Types of glass available are: Pyrobelite, Pyrobel, Pyran, Pyrodur & Pyrostop..

Back Painted Glass

With the improved process of painting the reverse surface of glass, Back Painted glass now gives architects, designers, builders and the home owner a sensational new material to work with, it is available  in almost any type of glass but generally it is applied to a Low Iron Float glass due to it's clarity. It is ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, showers, spashbacks, wall covering and table tops. 

Almost any colour can be specified as long as we have a code to work by, this could be a RAL, Syntha Pulvin or even Dulux! code, if you do not know the code colour we can replicate to a sample but we cannot guarantee a perfect colour match. 

With the coating on the reverse, the glass is easily cleaned, very durable and when painted on toughened glass is heat resistant to approx 200 degrees centigrade, ideal for use behind an oven or wood burner. The glass can be easily fixed to the wall with mirror adhesive (products like Gripfill, No Nails etc, must NOT be used under any circumstances), alternatively as long as it has been specified at the time of order, the glass can be drilled and screwed to the wall with dome top mirror screws.  Cut outs for sockets can be cut and complicated shapes can be accomodated.

We are still finding new uses for this very versatile product, which quickly and easily transforms every installation.