Different types of glass and its purpose
Glass is an integral part of our everyday surroundings. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, glass serves a variety of purposes, tailored to meet customer needs—especially as energy efficiency becomes a top priority. With government regulations like the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive driving the demand for higher-performing glazing solutions, choosing the right type of glass has never been more important.
But what exactly is glazing? From single and double glazing to specialised systems, there’s a wide range of options and glass specifications to suit both residential and commercial projects, whether for new builds or refurbishments. Whether you’re dealing with ground-floor windows, sixth-floor facades, roof panes, or balustrades, understanding the right glass for your needs—or your clients—is key to achieving the perfect balance of functionality and style.
To save you the hassle of scrolling through various websites, here is a list of the most common types of glass available for your residential and commercial glazing needs and their purpose.
What Are The Different Types Of Glass Available?
| Glass Type | Description | Uses | Key Features |
| FLOAT GLASS | Budget-friendly, standard non-processed glass. Breaks into sharp shards. | Single-glazed smaller windows can be used in double-glazing, photo frames, and greenhouse glass. | Thickness starts from 4mm and can be toughened into safety glass. Legal safety requirements for doors and low panes. |
| OBSCURED GLASS | Textured or patterned glass reduces transparency. | Privacy glass for windows, single and double-glazed installations. | Comes in various patterns, decorative and functional. |
| TOUGHENED GLASS | Safety glass, 5x stronger than float glass, shatters into blunt pieces. | Doors, windows below waist height, balustrades. Residential and commercial buildings | Resistant to heat and shock, BS EN 12150 certified, cannot be recut post-processing. |
| LAMINATED GLASS | Two thin glass layers bonded with a PVB interlayer. | Shopfronts, high-impact areas. | Holds together when broken, creating a spiderweb effect; BS EN 14449 certified. |
| TOUGHENED LAMINATED GLASS | Combination of toughened and laminated glass. | Glass balustrades, walk-on floors. | Bespoke thickness for projects; combines strength and safety. |
| HARD COAT LOW E GLASS | Energy-efficient glass with a metallic oxide coating. | New builds energy upgrades for existing windows. | Permanent coating, reduces heat transfer, ideal for cold climates. |
| SOFT COAT LOW E GLASS | Energy-efficient glass with a soft metallic coating. | ||
All glazing can be installed into uPVC, wooden, aluminium and timber window frames. A lot of commercial properties use curtain walling or structural glazing for a modern finish; scroll down for more information. There are lots of window glazing options; speak to a professional to find out more.
What are the different types of glazing?
When there is condensation appearing in between the two panes of glass of your With lots of different glazing out there and many different terminology used, it’s easy to get confused. Let us break it down for you:
1. Single glazing
Single glazing is quite self-explanatory. It’s where a single pane of glass is used to form a window/ door pane. It is affordable but not energy efficient compared to double and triple glazing, as the room does not retain much heat. This can result in higher energy bills. Condensation is also more likely to form on single-pane windows in colder conditions.
Single glazing can come in different thicknesses and go through manufacturing processes to turn it into safety glass or be used in a double-glazed unit. Commonly used in many older houses, single glazing in old windows can result in higher energy costs, so in the long run, it may be worth looking into ways of upgrading your windows.
2. Double glazing
A double-glazed unit is made with two panes of glass with a spacer bar between them, creating a gap for air or gas to circulate (this air gap can be filled with argon gas or Krypton). This air gap helps to keep cold air out and warm air in. Double-glazed windows help to improve insulation and help soundproofing. It is commonly used as a standard in new builds.
Double glazing units can be fitted into wooden, uPVC and aluminium frames where the rebate is thick enough. Slimline double-glazed units are also available for sale, where there is a small rebate. Double glazing is used in many modern buildings, homes and businesses to help with energy efficiency and noise control.
3. Triple glazing
Triple Glazing uses three layers of glass with an air gap between each layer, the same as double glazing. A triple pane window helps to enhance the thermal and acoustic performance even more than double glazing. Not every property is suitable for triple glazing, and the rebate for your window would need to be large enough to take into account the thickness of the unit.
An example of a triple-glazed unit would be three panes of 4mm thick glass with a 12mm spacer bar between each, giving an overall thickness of 36mm. Note that triple glazing is a lot heavier.
4. Secondary-glazing
Secondary-glazing is an additional window installed internally before your existing window. Commonly used to help reduce noise and enhance energy efficiency in your home or business. It can be used as an alternative to replacing whole new windows or where it is not an option to replace your windows, such as in conservation areas.
Secondary-glazing can be made up to suit the shape of your window and is usually manufactured with horizontal or vertical sliding panels to suit your window style so you can still access the original window for airflow and cleaning. Noise reduction is a key benefit, so that acoustic laminated glass can be installed for added noise control.
5. Curtain walling
Curtain walling is a non-structural exterior covering of a building, usually consisting of glass, aluminium or steel. They are not load-bearing, so they do not support the weight of the building floor and roof. Instead, they give an aesthetically pleasing finish and act as a ‘curtain of windows’ to protect the building from the weather and give a modern finish.
As it is non-load bearing, the structure is lightweight. Often used in high-level commercial buildings to give a modern, sleek finish and transparent facade.
6. High-level glazing
High-level glazing is classified as anything in high-to-reach buildings, whether residential apartments or commercial offices. It can be challenging if a replacement is needed for a high-up window due to many contributing factors, including access to the window, busy roads, glass specifications, and much more. So all this is considered when a replacement is needed, which makes it quite a costly job!
7. Structural glazing
Structural glazing is integral to the design of the building. Consisting mainly of large glass panes, the glass is bonded directly to the frame with a high-strength weather-resistant adhesive. This gives the impression that the glass is ‘floating’ or ‘frameless’.
As you can not see any framework, it maximises views and provides a seamless modern finish. Unlike curtain walling, glass usually bears some weight on the structure.
8. Commercial glazing
A broad term used to describe any glazing carried out on a commercial property. Commercial glazing is normally more involved than residential glazing as many more factors are considered.
This includes such things as the glass specification due to it generally being bigger panes of glass required thicker more specialist glass is needed, lifting equipment is usually needed due to awkward access and the height of the pane, as well as weather conditions affecting glass required such as high winds and much more.
A lot of commercial properties, as standard, should have an O&M manual (operations and maintenance manual), which should have the original glass specification in the manual if trying to match up panes, as glass comes from all over the world; an exact match can sometimes be tricky. Do your research and go for a trusted glazing contractor with experience in commercial glazing.
Choosing the Right Glazing System for You
When choosing the right glass for you, think about your key requirements and what you want to achieve requirements.
- Are you on a busy road? Acoustic glass can help to reduce noise.
- Are your windows single-glazed? It may be worth looking into upgrading to double glazing for future savings.
- Is it too hot in your room from the beaming sunlight? You could consider solar reflective film.
- Is your property listed? If double-glazing is not an option, consider secondary glazing.
- Are you looking for a quick fix? Glaziers can replace your glass like-for-like. Standard float glass would be the cheapest.
- Is your property residential? Soft coat low E glass is ideal glazing for improving energy efficiency at home.
- Do you want to add privacy to your home/ office space?Obscured glass offers an array of options with different transparency levels. Or you can consider adding window filming to your existing clear glazing.
- Is your glass misting up? Time to replace your double glazing as it is not functioning as it should.
- Looking for a high-level window to be replaced? Safety glass is key; large buildings should have O&M manuals which would tell you which glass specification you currently have so you can try to match what you currently have.
- Do you feel a draft? Your windows could be old and in need of an upgrade. Consider double, triple or secondary glazing. Or your current double-glazing could be failing, and a cost-effective solution would be to replace just the glass.
Should I use a professional glazing replacement service?
Yes. Unless you have the experience, glass is not only a delicate material but also can be dangerous with sharp edges and should be handled with care. Poor installation of glazing can lead to further problems down the line.
Why Use Aaran Glass?
We are professional, experienced glaziers.
Aaran Glass have over 35 years experience in the glass and glazing industry and have built up a list of impressive clientele both residential and commercial clients who come back to us time and time again as their preferred glaziers.
We work in residential properties as well as commercial ones, including Offices, Attractions, Student Accommodations, Gyms, Management Companies, Car Dealerships, and Shopping Centres, to name a few.
We have a team of experienced and reliable glaziers based throughout London, Greater London, Essex, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas.
Our glazing services include:
- Glass replacement
- Boarding services
- Misted double glazing replacement
- Glass balustrades
- Mirrors
- Roof panes
- Fire rated glass
- Window filming
- Shop fronts
- And much more
Conclusion
Understanding the variety of glazing options and glass types available is essential for making informed decisions about your residential or commercial property. From enhancing energy efficiency to achieving the perfect aesthetic or meeting safety standards, the right glazing solution can elevate the comfort, functionality, and value of your space. Whether you’re working on a new project or upgrading existing installations, selecting the appropriate glass ensures a balance of durability, style, and practicality.
Ready to take the next step?
At Aaran Glass, we bring over 35 years of expertise to every project, helping clients across London, Essex, Hertfordshire, and beyond. From bespoke glass solutions to high-level commercial glazing, our experienced team is here to guide you. Contact us today for tailored advice or a free quote, and let us bring clarity and quality to your glazing needs.
