Should You Use Single- or Double-Pane Glass for Window Replacement in Santa Fe, NM?

Choosing the right type of window for your home can be a difficult decision, as you need to take a whole lot of factors into account, beyond just how much money you’re going to be paying for them. Style, efficiency, comfort, materials—these are just four of the factors that may end up playing a role in your final decision, as well as your satisfaction with those windows once they’re installed.

One of the first choices you’re going to need to make as you go through the process of window replacement in Santa Fe, NM is whether you want to have single- or double-paned windows. There’s no right or wrong answer here—it all depends on your needs and the goals you have with this improvement to your home.

Here’s a quick overview of the pros and cons of single- and double-pane windows.

Single-pane windows

Single-pane windows are designed with just a single layer of glass. With regard to styles and materials, you’ll find them in all the same options you find double-pane windows. However, they do not offer quite the same level of efficiency as you’ll get with double-pane windows with regard to cutting down on exterior noise or maintaining the same internal temperature.

The big benefit of single-pane windows is that they have a much lower initial cost, so if you have a strict budget, you’ll want to give them a hard look. Keep in mind, though, that energy bills will be higher over time because they do not provide the same level of energy efficiency. Single-pane windows also do not have any insulation, which also lowers their energy efficiency.

Ultimately, if you live in a relatively quiet neighborhood and don’t experience a whole lot of seasonal swings in temperature, you’ll probably be able to get by with single-pane windows, and will save money on the installation as a result.

Double-pane windows

Double-pane windows, as the name suggests, have two panes of glass instead of just one. These panes are separated by a thin space filled with air or gas, which traps the cold air during winter or hot air during summer to form a barrier that blocks those exterior temperatures from entering and affecting your interior temperatures. This means they’re much better insulators, which leads to greater energy efficiency—double-pane windows will go a long way toward helping you cut down how much energy you’re using in your home, and in turn, how much you’re spending on your monthly energy bills. In fact, you can save up to 24 percent on energy with double-pane windows in cold climates and 18 percent in warm climates.

Double-pane windows have a higher initial cost than single-pane windows, because they double the amount of glass material being used. However, they offer greater strength and more insulation, which means you can save some good money in the long run when you invest in them.

For more information about double-pane versus single-pane options as you go through the process of buying new windows, contact Santa Fe Glass & Mirror or visit our glass shop in Santa Fe, NM with your questions.

Categorised in: Glass Shop, Window Replacement

This post was written by Writer