Glass blowing is a wonderful hobby that results in some beautiful artwork for your home. My name is Natalie, and I started in glass blowing as a hobbyist, but now I teach classes in this skill. Some people think glass blowing is difficult or dangerous. That's not the case at all. As you build your skill level, you will find that you learn very quickly. In this blog, I will examine the misconceptions about glass blowing and teach you some of the techniques. I will also give you helpful tips about where to find a glass so you can practice this new skill yourself.
If you have old windows in your home, they could possibly be a health hazard for your children. Fortunately, installing new windows can take care of this problem, and they will improve the energy efficiency of your home, as well as enhances the beauty. Below are two safety concerns you should be aware of.
Wooden Window Sills
If your windows have wooden window sills, they can be a safety concern. This is because wood is susceptible to changes in temperature and moisture, which will cause the wood to warp over time. When the wooden sills become warped, it can be much harder to open the window as it will jam and stick. This is a safety hazard because if you ever need to open the window quickly, such as due to a fire, it will be much harder to do so, especially for a young child.
If your window sills are painted and you had your windows prior to 1978, the paint may have lead in it.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, lead paint can be found in 24% of homes that are built from 1960 to 1978.
If there is any peeling paint on the window sills, small paint chips can get into the air. If someone ingests these chips it can cause health issues, especially for small children. Some of these health issues include headaches, high blood pressure, joint pain, hearing problems, and learning disorders.
If you replace the windows in your home, make sure you also replace the sills to prevent this problem.
Anneated Glass
If you live in an older home with the original windows, the glass is likely anneated. Anneated glass is cooled slowly during the manufacturing process, which reduces the internal stressors within the glass making it stronger. You may find anneated glass is less expensive in some cases, but you should still be wary. This is because this type of glass tends to break in large shards, which can cause injury. This is especially true if the break is due to impact, such as if your child knocks something onto the window.
Tempered glass with a laminate coating is much better because it is four times stronger than anneated glass. Instead of being cooled slowly like anneated glass, it is cooled down rapidly, which creates a tension within the glass. If you break tempered glass, it breaks into small pieces that are less likely to cause serious injury.
Talk with a windows contractor, like Ryan's All Glass, who can suggest the best type of windows for your home.
Share18 May 2016
