Not too long ago, windows were considered nothing more than a fixture of the home. Today, they are so much more, and they offer even more protection than ever before. The question that some still have is whether UV protection is really necessary when purchasing new windows. Surely the glass itself is enough to do the trick, right? Well, not exactly.
Harmful Effects Of UV
The glass, be it double or triple pane, will help maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home, but it will do nothing to detour those harmful UV rays. With special UV protection, you and your personal items will enjoy the benefits. Ultraviolet rays from the sun can be harmful to the skin as well as your furniture and other precious belongings. As they penetrate the glass, their damaging impact begins. You can’t help but notice how such things as your furniture, curtains, rugs, and even wooden floors begin to fade as a result. In fact, while some areas of a single sofa are doused with sunlight regularly, other parts may never see the light. This causes uneven colour tones across a single item of furniture and can be quite unpleasing to the eye.
The sun can also cause materials to become brittle over time. Consider leaving your leather furniture out in the sun all day for weeks. Just imagine the punishment it would take from those damaging hot rays and the way they make the material expand while the cool evenings allow them to contract. It won’t take long for cracks to form and its once elegant appearance will become an eyesore.
UV Protection
With the proper protection applied to your windows, you can reflect UV rays away from your home instead of allowing the window to absorb them. Think of it as a kind of mirror effect and the way the light bounces off the mirror as soon as it makes contact. Not only does this protect your furniture but it also helps keep energy bills as low as possible.
Since the sun cannot pierce the window, it cannot heat the air between the window panels. It also won’t be able to heat the various objects in your home. If you have ever been so unfortunate as to take a seat on a sofa that has been exposed to the sun for hours, you will know just how hot and uncomfortable it can be. When the sofa and other furniture heat up, it also causes the air around them to warm up, and this increases the overall temperature of the room. Preventing this means that your home will be as comfortably cool as possible and, if you use an air conditioner or other cooling system, it won’t need to work nearly as hard to keep everyone happy!
For more information on windows with UV protection and for all your window replacement needs, contact NorthShield Windows and Doors. We are always happy to offer advice as well as a free estimate in the comfort of your home!