Why We Use Glass for Windows

Posted July 9, 2016 by Arch City Window

It’s one of those thoughts that hit you as you’re showering in the morning: why exactly do we use glass for windows? Why not plastic or some other material?

It’s a pretty interesting idea. Glass is something we associate as being very fragile. Windows are supposed to offer some degree of protection, but fragile and safety don’t exactly go hand-in-hand. Plus, in an earthquake or a storm, shattered glass could injure or even kill someone. It certainly wouldn’t be hard to cut yourself with it. Glass is also difficult to transport, as it can easily crack while it’s moving from factory to destination.

So why do we, a society that is always looking for the best and the most convenient, still use something as impractical as glass?

There are a couple of interesting reasons. First of all, even though glass can shatter, it’s stronger than you think. Plus, there really is no in-between for glass: it’s either in good condition or it’s broken. Sure, it can get slightly damaged or cracked but that is more of an inconvenience than a serious issue, and it’s very easy to spot. A material like plastic could easily get warped or wear down and you would have no idea. It could be potentially useless, and since there’s no way of you knowing, you wouldn’t know to replace it.

Another reason is because glass is a very hard material. Plastic and other materials just simply can’t compare to it. It’s not hard to scratch plastic. Glass, on the other hand, holds up against dirt, sand, and other material that gets thrown at it. Sure, if you threw a baseball directly at it, the glass will shatter whereas the plastic would be okay. But if there was a storm and the wind was kicking up small rocks or other material, the glass would probably come out untouched whereas the plastic would have noticeable wear.

Glass is also sturdy while still being thin. If you tried to make a thin piece of plastic and stand it up, it will probably fold over. Glass, on the other hand, doesn’t bend at all. It’s a solid material that remains stiff and sturdy. A plastic window would need to be significantly thicker to make it that stiff, and that thickness would affect the overall quality of the window and probably not look as good.

An important part of having windows is that it helps you with your energy conservation. If you don’t know how windows affect your energy bills, check out some of our other posts about the importance of having energy efficient windows. Basically, windows are essential for insulation, especially double-paned windows. Plastic doesn’t exactly have the same insulating properties and would therefore not work as well.

Finally, the ability of glass to break can actually be a good thing. If you were stuck in a house during a fire and needed to get out, it would be really tough to break a plastic window. But, all it would take is a chair or a heavy object to shatter the glass window allowing you to get out.

The many faces of Soviet stained-glass windows (PHOTOS)

Legion Media; Nikolai Galkin/TASS

It was only in the late 19th century that stained-glass windows became a popular architectural feature in Russia. Multicolored glass ornaments perfectly matched the aesthetics of the new Russian style, later becoming part of Art Nouveau. «Patterned windows» (as stained glass was called until the 1900s) were made by the best glass workshops, which numbered around 20.

After the Revolution, production was nationalized and glass items became available to everyone. In the 1930s, interest in stained glass returned, and, alongside mosaics, it became one of the most eye-catching forms of art propaganda.

“Peace to the people! Power to the Soviets! Land to the peasants!”

The State Museum of Political History of Russia

The picture shows a postcard with a reproduction of stained-glass windows from the State Museum of Political History of Russia in St Petersburg, made in the 1950s by monumental artist Alexander Korolev.

Leader of the Revolution

Another stained-glass window by Korolev from the State Museum of Political History of Russia.

Stained-glass windows of the Moscow metro

Legion Media; Nikolai Galkin/TASS

There are 32 stained-glass windows at Novoslobodskaya station in the Moscow metro. Based on sketches by Soviet artist Pavel Korin, they were created by master craftsmen from Riga using stained glass taken from Catholic cathedrals in Latvia.

Stained-glass windows from the Temryuk Museum of Local Lore

The Museum of Local Lore in the city of Temryuk, Krasnodar Territory, was founded in the 1920s. Most of the collection is dedicated to World War II, which directly impacted the city.

The stained-glass windows depict a Red Army soldier and a horseman in the national dress of the Caucasus.

Stained-glass windows at a garment factory in Novocherkassk

A whole series of stained-glass windows, each sized 4 square meters, was produced at a garment factory in 1984 by monumental artist Sergei Apryshko.

Stained-glass windows of St Petersburg Polytechnic University

A series of science-themed stained-glass windows, created in the 1980s-90s by artist Boris Beschastny, adorns St Petersburg Polytechnic University.

The «Four Seasons» series

The «Four Seasons» series of stained-glass windows inside an artistically refurbished locomotive plant was made in 1991 by Yuri and Larisa Utenkov.

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Spring

Meeting of the heroes

Lithuanian artist Kazys Morkūnas was awarded the Lithuanian SSR State Prize for this work, created in 1972. It used to be held in a Soviet army monument in the Lithuanian city of Kryžkalnis; however, the memorial was then demolished and the stained-glass window was «exiled» to the private Soviet-era Grūtas park in Lithuania.

Morning

And this stained-glass window, made from mirrored glass, was created by Lithuanian artist Morkunas for the Moscow central pharmacy in 1960.

«Soviet Youth»

This monumental composition, again by Morkunas, adorned the Russian stand at the Expo-70 international exhibition in Osaka, Japan.

If using any of Russia Beyond’s content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

to our newsletter!

Get the week’s best stories straight to your inbox

CORONAVIRUS PROTECTION

City Window & Glass offers a variety of high clarity plastics barriers and partitions to protect the health and wellness of your employees and your valued customers. We cut clear plastic sneeze guard barriers to custom fit any type of counter space. Perfect for retail and customer-service counters.

The spread of illness is something all workplaces should want to avoid, both to maintain a healthy and happy workforce, and to ease the minds of customers who visit. By showing everyone that you are invested in protecting the health of those who decide to frequent your location, you are in turn promoting the longevity and health of our business. Our clear plastic sneeze guards protect food in bakeries and grocery stores, create space for retail employees, and safeguard your customers. Just tell our team about your requirements, and we will help design a solution that helps protect your employees and patrons. We provide free estimates for your Covid19 protection needs.

We specialize in residential window and sliding patio door repairs. Whether you need your window cranks, hinges, patio door handles or sliding rollers replaced, have foggy or crack window glass you need replaced, our experts will get your windows and patio doors working properly for a fraction of the cost of replacement.

Residential

Thermal Issues

Foggy or Cracked Thermal Pane Replacement

Is It Time to Replace Your Thermal Window?

If condensation is building up on the inside of your sealed unit then it has “failed”. This means that the sealant has degraded and the desiccant, a chemical that binds to water, is used up. This is the time to replace, not repair the unit.

Glass Available

Glass (clear/tinted), tabletop (custom shapes) and shelf cutting, all types of shelving hardware

City Window & Glass (1962) has a comprehensive stock of glass: Obscure, Patterns, Textured, Colours, Tints, Laminated, Plexiglass, Tempered Glass Doorlites, Safety, Fire Rated, Specialty Glass Products: Georgian Polish Wire (GPW) and Georgian Cast Wire (GCW).

Repair or Replacement

Window, Patio Door Hardware Repairs & Replacement

Our team of professionally licensed and insured technicians repair difficult to open windows or windows with broken locking mechanisms. Ask our specialists about repair options for sash balances, locks, tilt latches and glass replacement.