Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Toughened safety glass and laminated safety glass?
When must I use safety glass?
Only one side of my double glazing is broken, do I need to replace both?
There is steam or condensation in my double glazing, can it be removed?
How long after my call can the new double glazed unit be fitted?
My handle is moving but my window won’t lock / open?
What is the difference between Pvc-u and Aluminium?
What is Low e glass?
My windows are draughty or don’t close properly.
I have lost my key, do I need to change the whole lock?
What is the difference between Toughened safety glass and laminated safety glass?
Toughened or Tempered glass is heat-strengthened glass. It is very strong, in fact up to five times stronger than normal glass, but if it breaks, it explodes into thousands of tiny pieces. The side windows of most cars are tempered. It is the most common safety glass used in the home because of its high strength and low weight.
Laminated glass, sometimes called “shatter proof”, is actually made up of three layers. Two outer layers of high impact glass sandwich an incredibly strong vinyl interlayer between them. On impact, laminated glass may crack but, thanks to its triple layer construction, it will not shatter. Laminated safety glass is a little heavier than toughened, almost 50% in fact, however it has the advantage of staying in one piece when it is broken. This gives greater security and leaves less of a mess!
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When must I use safety glass?
All glass in doors must be safety glass. All glass adjacent to doors must be safety glass and all glass that is within 800mm of the floor must be safety glass.
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Only one side of my double glazing is broken, do I need to replace both?
Yes. Double glazing is a sealed unit. Therefore, even if one side is cracked or broken, the whole unit must be replaced.
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There is steam or condensation in my double glazing, can it be removed?
No. If there is condensation between the panes of glass, the only solution is to replace the glass unit. We can ensure that your new unit is properly installed and guarantee it for 10 years against condensation. The process of changing a unit is clean and fast. Once the unit has been measured and made, the fitting of it can be carried out in as little as 15 minutes.
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How long after my call can the new double glazed unit be fitted?
In emergencies, we can measure, manufacture & fit within three hours of your call. In non-emergency cases we can measure, manufacture & fit within 24 hours. Some glass types can take longer.
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My handle is moving but my window won’t lock / open?
Most pvc-u windows have a locking system that is contained within the frame and is only visible when the window is open. If this lock breaks your window will be either stuck closed or open. There are a vast array of sizes and types of locks. AWR carry most, and in more than 9 out of 10 cases we can replace your lock in one visit.
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What is the difference between Pvc-u and Aluminium?
Pvc-u is a plastic. It is warm to the touch and it comes in many colours and styles.
Aluminium is a metal. It is cold to the touch and also comes in many styles and colours.
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What is Low e glass?
Low e glass is glass that has a low-emissivity coating applied to it in order to control heat transfer through windows. Windows manufactured with low-E coatings typically cost about 10–15% more than regular windows, but they reduce energy loss by as much as 30–50%.
A low-E coating is a microscopically thin, virtually invisible, metal or metallic oxide layer deposited directly on the surface of the pane of glass. The low-E coating reduces the infrared radiation from a warm pane of glass to a cooler pane, thereby lowering the U-Value of the window.
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My windows are draughty or don’t close properly.
Most draughts from windows are caused by the the failure of the hinges on the window to pull the sash closed. When the hinges become worn they often leave a gap along one side of the opening sash, even when the sash appears to be closed tightly. Hinges can be replaced on almost all windows, thus eliminating the draught.
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I have lost my key, do I need to change the whole lock?
No. AWR can call out, let you in to your home safely and replace the locking cylinder on your door. This typically costs around €90 and is far more economical than smashing your way in or forcing the lock yourself.
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