Why Picture Windows are Perfect for Upper Floor Offices

There are excellent reasons to consider picture windows as part of your commercial glass replacement project. They are great for ground floor windows because they allow potential customers to window-shop, give employees natural lighting benefits, and save energy. You may not know that picture windows are perfect for upper floors as well, and this shortlist of benefits is only a sampling of what you can achieve.

Eye-Catching Views

Upper floor offices sometimes offer exquisite vistas of the surrounding countryside or unique views of local landmarks. Commercial glass installation of picture windows is a low-maintenance way to bring those views into the office, promoting office morale, creating a friendlier atmosphere, and more. A picture window in your customer waiting area creates a calmer, more pleasant business environment and may even lead to increased sales, faster contract signings, and higher sales rates.

Energy Efficient

Picture windows are available in many styles. They are already more efficient because there are no moving parts to replace, but you can also have them tinted or install double-paned, gas-filled windows to offer maximum energy savings. Since windows are the single largest source of energy loss in a building, taking steps to install more efficient glass could save you 35 percent or more on your office energy bills.

Non-Opening Windows

The EPA considers picture windows to be among the most efficient types of windows because they are fixed-position glass. Windows with hinges and latches have more areas for potential leaks and are more vulnerable to leaks causing damage. Additionally, upper floor windows that can be opened have the potential for dropped items, falls, or other property damage or injury. 

Fast Installation

Under the right conditions, a picture window can be installed in a single day. Your glass installers will arrive with glass that has already been sized and tinted to your specifications, will begin the process by creating an opening of the right size, and then install a custom frame and glass. There are situations where the process can take longer, including openings that have electrical or plumbing lines in the area to be removed, but once the opening has been prepared, the actual installation won't take long to complete.

Picture windows also offer consequential benefits such as a happier office environment, improved employee health, and more. If having your commercial windows replaced is already on the drawing board, you may find that picture glass is a more affordable way to achieve superior natural lighting, improve productivity, and make the office a happier, healthier place to work.

How Windows Can Improve Your Business

There are quite a few ways that commercial glass installation can improve your business, both literally and in supportive ways. Well-designed window glass can be an excellent way to attract customers, sell products, and keep your merchandise more secure. To illustrate, take a look at some of the most popular ways that businesses benefit from window glass.

Create Curb Appeal

Expert commercial glass installation will go a long way toward bringing new customers into your location. You can use glass to show off merchandise, provide a clear view inside, and create a showcase for passers-by to admire. Changing or installing window glass gives the building a new look, and that alone will draw curiosity.

Enhance Security

Windows can be a major security liability, and older windows may not have had the same security concerns that today's businesses face. From reinforced glass to windows that cannot be opened, to simply replacing aging frames, your windows play a large role in site security.

Improve Employee Morale

Research shows that getting more natural light into a room improves the mood and productivity of the people it reaches. The same effect is true for customers as well, offering an open feel and eliminating some of the stress of fluorescent lighting. Employees who accomplish more and customers who are willing to browse a little longer are potential benefits worth taking a closer look at.

Reduce Energy Costs 

Aging windows and their frames are often a major source of heat transfer between the interior and exterior spaces. Rattling glass, cold drafts, and excessive window condensation are potential signs of windows that are inefficient, and replacing them can reduce heating and cooling costs dramatically, plus the additional savings of using natural light in place of electric power. There are a lot of options to consider in this respect, and this quick primer from the Energy Department offers great examples.

Increase Exterior Visibility

Many businesses have a vested interest in what is taking place outside the walls of the business. Window glass solutions include installing observation windows on upper floors, installing transaction glass, or creating a wider field of view by adding windows in new or larger locations. You can even use glass designed for one-way viewing to increase security, observe employee performance, and more.

Commercial glass installation is a lot more than putting glass in holes in your walls. New glass can transform how your business looks, and how well your employees perform, and it will help you keep track of shipments entering and leaving your yard. The success of your business is important to you, and installing the right glass can help you make that happen.

Window Tricks to Make Your Office Appear Larger

There is a lot to be said for commercial glass replacement during an office remodel. From creating a more productive atmosphere to creating the illusion of more space to work in, glass and mirrors are an affordable way to spruce up and make the office feel more appealing.

Benefits of Ambient LIght

Commercial glass replacement is an opportunity to go bigger and better than what you are replacing. Large windows that allow sunlight into the room make your office appear larger, warmer, and more comfortable to work in. If wall space is at a premium, you can also install skylights or windows in places like above your doors. Depending on the placement, clear glass is not always the best option, but there are many tints and coatings available to provide the best possible light in the most beneficial manner.

Interior Windows and Walls

Windows are great for use inside the office place as well. Windows between offices allow nonverbal communication at a glance and give the impression of connecting two or more rooms into a single unit. Window walls tend to be less expensive than regular walls and make perfect barriers between rooms. Used in conjunction with vertical blinds, window walls can provide you with affordable office space that both conserves space and gives the illusion of having more.

Visual Depth

Optimum commercial glass replacement provides depth to the workspace by providing a direct view of the outside world. By contrast, a windowless office can feel confining and small, even if it is the largest office in the building. The best results come from an unobstructed view of the sky or some natural setting, but any view outside, even glass doors, will help a lot.

Creating Windows With Mirrors

Placing mirrors so that they reflect a window view isn’t as good as the real thing, but it does enhance depth perception as it redirects natural light into the office. This trick is handy for interior spaces that don’t have direct outside access. Mirrors can be used to create the illusion of space in other ways as well and can be custom-designed to exactly match your space and needs.

Glass and Display Space

Another way to use glass to make a room seem larger is to replace existing display cases and shelves with glass alternatives. Custom display cases and shelving will give your customers a better view of the merchandise without blocking off space or obstructing security systems. During an office remodel, this type of commercial glass replacement can provide you with more office space by reducing the footprint of the case, and adding the illusion of even more to make your employees more productive and your customers feel more welcomed.

Commercial glass replacement is fast, convenient, and affordable. Even more appealing to the bottom line, windows have been shown to increase morale, productivity, and even the health of office workers. Before finalizing your office renovations, consider using glass as an alternative to traditional drywall or wood framing.

Should You Use Rain Repellent on Your Windshield?

Using rain repellents offer certain benefits, but cannot substitute for necessary window care and auto glass replacement.

Beginning with the release of Rain-X in 1972, windshield water repellents have become an increasingly popular glass treatment. Under normal circumstances, it does a great job of keeping your windshield free of rain, increasing visibility, and providing a new layer of safety while driving in inclement weather. It does not repair or hide chips and cracks and is not effective at eliminating auto glass replacement.

What is Windshield Water Repellent?

Auto and commercial glass replacement companies typically offer rain repellent applications for the benefit of their customers. Rain repellents work by forming a protective layer over the surface of the glass. It fills tiny holes and imperfections to reduce the friction of water droplets. This allows droplets to bead together and quickly flow off of the surface. The coating wears away over time and needs to be applied again periodically.

How Long Does Rain Repellent Last?

The type of rain repellent used will determine how often it needs to be reapplied. Rain repellents are available in liquid and gel forms, and each type will perform differently. Some repellents include a bonding formula that will even resist chipping, but that protection is limited and should not be the primary reason for using a water repellent. In general, you can expect an application to last for as long as 30 days, but that time can be much shorter or longer depending on weather conditions that require the use of your wipers.

Does Rain Repellent Work on Cracks?

Rain repellents work at the micro-level and are not effective on large imperfections, cracks, or chipped areas. Depending on the rain repellent and size of the cracks, water repellents may even cause visual effects such as blurring or brightening the cracked area. It will not seal leaks. If your windshield is cracked or damaged, your best course of action is to have the windshield replaced by an authorized auto glass replacement company.

Auto glass replacement specialists can advise you on the best type of rain repellent to use and how often it should be applied. You can also request your first application at the time of your auto glass replacement to take a proactive approach to a clearer, cleaner driving experience. 

Updating the Windows in Your Commercial Business

Unlike updating your business’s computer software, updating the physical windows of your business doesn’t have to be a hassle and can instead transform your work environment for employees and customers, and make an impact on your bottom line.