Door + Window Glass

Choosing the right glass options is an important part of the overall window and door selection process. Marvin offers a variety of insulating options, including standard dual or optional triple pane insulated glass, and surface coatings that help manage the amount of light and heat entering and leaving your home. Proper installation and high-quality materials are also key for good energy efficiency. Certain materials can shrink and expand with cold/heat cycles and seals can begin to fail. Once seals fail, the energy efficiency the windows claimed when new is greatly reduced.

Triple pane windows work best when enhanced energy performance is a key objective. Triple pane windows are designed to reduce U-Factor as compared to dual pane. They offer a range of Low-E configurations, along with Low ERS, and with either an argon gas fill or air for high altitude applications. Triple pane glass can help with sound abatement and provide more in home comfort in cold environments because the interior surface of the glass is warmer, reducing convection currents.

Available on select windows.

Tempered glass is considered “safety glass.” It’s manufactured to be up to four times stronger than standard glass. Also, if tempered glass does break, it shatters into tiny pieces that are much less likely to cause an injury than the large, sharp shards of falling glass, like when standard glass is broken.

Building codes often require windows to be made with safety glass if they’re installed in a location where there is an increased risk that a resident could fall and collide with a window. Examples for spots to have safety glass windows include areas where a window is installed close to the floor, in bathrooms near a tub or shower, and stairways. All glass doors and extremely large windows also require safety glass like tempered glass.

Laminated glass is also considered “safety glass.” It’s constructed by sandwiching a thin, near-invisible sheet of plastic between two panes of glass. When a laminated glass pane is broken, the plastic holds all of the pieces together. In addition to preventing airborne glass, laminated glass is strong and cannot be cut with a standard glass cutter, so it offers an additional layer of security against forced entries. Laminated glass is also better at dampening loud sounds than non-laminated glass.

Homes in many coastal regions need extra protection from high winds and flying debris generated from tropical storms and hurricanes. Impact-resistant glass, sometimes referred to as impact glass or hurricane glass, is stronger than standard safety glass. Impact-resistant glass is laminated but made with a thicker plastic inner layer and may contain thicker panes as well. Some impact-resisting glass units are assembled with both laminated and tempered glass.

Bird-friendly glass is an option to help prevent birds from striking window and door glass. The reflective nature of glass can make window and door areas appear as trees, sky, or open space, confusing birds and their flight paths. Bird-friendly glass works to counteract this and limit bird strikes by adding visual elements to glass through design, etchings, or UV coatings that help to limit the reflective nature of window glass for birds.

A variety of decorative glass options are available, including frosted glass windows, to meet the unique needs of each project. Laminated glass is also available in clear, bronze, gray, or green with tinted interlayers.

^{*Available on Modern and Ultimate Collection products. Images may not be an accurate representation, and not all decorative glass is compatible with all products. Check with your dealer for a recommendation on which window glass design is right for your project.}

Low E1

Low E1 coating is a good choice when you want maximum solar heat gain (or maximum heat transferring into your house from the sun) and radiant heating properties (keeping heat on the side of the glass where it originated). This type of coating is generally used in Northern climates where heating is prioritized over cooling. You’ll reap maximum benefits when windows with this type of coating are positioned to receive direct sun exposure.

Low E2

The most common Low E coating since it works well across most geographic regions and climates. Low E2 with two metallic coatings balances less solar heat gain and improved radiant heating properties.

Low E3

Used in applications where solar heat gain may be a concern, low E3 coating uses multiple metallic layers for radiant properties similar to Low E2. This type of coating is most commonly used in Southern, sunny climates where cooling is prioritized over heating.

Low ERS

A higher performing Low E glass with significantly improved U Factors (ability to keep heat inside of your home). This coating is placed on the interior surface of the glass and can be touched. It is used in conjunction with Low E2 or Low E3 and helps reflect radiant heat back into the room. This means a slightly cooler interior glass surface since the heat is not absorbed by the glass. The cooler surface may see a bit more condensation in cold climates versus traditional Low E glass make-ups. Abrasive products should be avoided when cleaning the glass.

Low E1/ERS

Low E1 is a single layer of silver coating on the glass. This option slightly reduces thermal insulating performance in combination with higher Visible Transmittance (VT) and higher Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). ERS is an optional coating on the room side of the insulating glass that results in reduced U-Factors and an increased ability to keep heat inside the home. Generally, E1/ERS options are used in Northern Climate Zones to take advantage of higher SHGC values when a home is designed for that purpose. In these designs, increased SHGC allows more heat gain to pass through the system. Under specific conditions, higher SHGC can result in: Overheating, higher cooling costs, uncomfortably warm interiors. It is not recommended to use heat reflecting or black-out interior blinds systems, which can result in heat trap between the blinds and window or door units on abnormally high temperature days. Designs elements that are typically used to prevent overheating with higher SHGC products are roof overhangs, window/door shading, natural shading, and exterior blind systems.

If you're looking for window glass design ideas that maintain privacy and still provide sunlight, then think about decorative glass and tinted glass. Options like frosted glass work well for bathroom windows while obscure glass fits for sidelites next to front doors.

Our specialty options include glass for unique project needs like sound abatement (STC/OITC), high altitudes, Sea Turtle Conservation Codes (available on Ultimate products), and California fire zones. We also offer laminated glass on certain products that’s designed specifically for hurricane zones. Learn more about our coastal solutions.