 |
InspectAPedia® |
InspectAPedia
|
Free Encyclopedia of Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair | Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia |
 Mobile ViewEXTERIORS of buildings ADHESIVES, EXTERIOR CONSTRUCTION AGE of a BUILDING - how to determine ALGAE, FUNGUS, LICHENS, MOSS ARCHITECTURE & BUILDING COMPONENT ID ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE BASEMENT WATERPROOFING BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE BRICK VENEER WALL Loose, Bulged BRICK WALL DRAINAGE WEEP HOLES BOOKSTORE - EXTERIORS CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION DECK COLLAPSE Case Study DECK FINISHES COATINGS PRESERVATIVES DECK FLASHING LEAKS, ROT Case Study DEFINITIONS of ENGINEERED WOOD OSB LVL etc EARTHQUAKE DAMAGED FOUNDATIONS ENERGY SAVINGS in buildings ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS - INSPECT, TEST, REMEDY EXTERIOR WALL SIDING TRIM & FINISHES FIBERGLASS INSULATION FIBERGLASS HAZARDS FIBERGLASS INSULATION MOLD FLOOD DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, SAFETY & CLEANUP FOOTING & FOUNDATION DRAINS FOUNDATION CRACKS & DAMAGE GUIDE FOUNDATION WATERPROOFING FRENCH DRAINS HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS KIT HOMES, Aladdin, Sears, Wards, Others LEAD POISONING HAZARDS GUIDE LEAD PAINT REMOVAL ALTERNATIVES LEAD PAINT REMOVAL TROUBLES LEAD PIPES in BUILDINGS LEAD in ROOFING, EFFECTS LEAD TEST KIT for HOME USE LEED GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATION LOG HOME GUIDE LIGHTNING PROTECTION MOISTURE CONTROL in BUILDINGS MOLD DETECTION & INSPECTION GUIDE MVOCs & MOLDY MUSTY ODORS ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE PAINT ANALYSIS, DIAGNOSTIC USES PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR PORCHES & Sunrooms PORCH CONSTRUCTION & SCREENING SHEATHING, Gypsum board SHEATHING Homasote & Other Board SHEATHING, OSB SHEATHING, Plywood SHEATHING, FOIL FACED - VENTS SIDING, Sheathing Identification - Photo Guide SIDING, ALUMINUM SIDING, ASBESTOS FIBER CEMENT SIDING ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES on WALLS SIDING ASPHALT SHINGLE or SHEET SIDING DAMAGE by SPLASHBACK SIDING EIFS & STUCCO SIDING, FIBER CEMENT SIDING HARDBOARD SIDING STEEL SIDING VINYL SIDING, WOOD PRODUCT CHOICES SIDING, WOOD INSTALLATION SIDING WOOD, FAILURES OVER FOAM BOARD SIDING WOOD, FLASHING DETAILS SIDING WOOD SHINGLE INSTALLATION STAIN & BIODETERIORATION AGENT CATALOG STAINS on buildings - QUICK GUIDE STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING INTERIORS STAINS & FINISHES, INTERIOR STAIRS, RAILINGS, LANDINGS, RAMPS STONE CLEANING METHODS STONE VENEER WALLS STUCCO WAll FAILURES DUE TO WEATHER STUCCO WALL METHODS & INSTALLATION STUCCO OVER FOAM INSULATION STUCCO PAINT FAILURES SURFACE GRADING, SITE DRAINAGE TERMITES, ROT THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS THERMAL MASS in buildings TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION VAPOR BARRIERS & CONDENSATION in BUILDINGS VENTILATION in buildings VINYL Siding or PLASTIC Window ODORS in buildings VINYL CHLORIDE HEALTH INFO WALL FINISHES INTERIOR WATER BARRIERS, EXTERIOR BUILDING WATER ENTRY in buildings WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS WIND TURBINES & LIGHTNING WIND WASHING INSULATION At EAVES WINDOWS & DOORS Best Practices Guide, Windows & Doors POLYCARBONATE GLAZING SITE BUILT DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS SKYLIGHT LEAK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR SKYLIGHT VENTILATION DETAILS SLIDING GLIDING WINDOW DEFECTS SLOPED GLAZING DETAILS SOLAR SHADES & SUNSCREENS STORM WINDOW INTERIOR STORM WINDOW PLASTIC CHOICES STORM WINDOW WEEP HOLES SUNGAIN, FILMS, LOW-E GLASS SUNSPACE GLAZING for SUNTANNING VERTICAL GLAZING DETAILS VINYL WINDOWS VINYL / PVC WINDOW WARPING WINDOW / DOOR ENERGY EFFICIENT, DOE WINDOW / DOOR AIR LEAK SEALING HOW TO Window Certification WINDOW EFFICIENCY Features & Ratings WINDOW FLASHING & SEALING Guide WINDOW GLAZING Based on Climate WINDOW HARDWARE PHOTOS Window Installation, Flange-Type Window Installation, w/ Integral Brickmold WINDOW LEAKS INTO BASEMENT Window Materials & Construction Window Types, Guide WINDOW TYPES - Photo Guide Window & Door Sources WINTERIZE A BUILDING WOOD, COAL STOVES & FIREPLACES WOOD STOVE SAFETY ZONE VALVES More Information |
Plastic storm windows installed indoors: a guide to buying, installing, or repairing plastic storm windows. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers nor with topics or services discussed at this website.© Copyright 2012 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use page top links to major topics or use links at the left of each page to navigate within topics and documents at this website. Green links show where you are in a document series or at this website. What are the Best Material Choices for Interior Plastic Storm Windows?Our page top photo shows an exterior storm window, photo by DJF. For calculating the energy savings from retrofit interior storm windows, see STORM WINDOW INTERIOR. Readers interested in reducing un-wanted window glazing heat gain or heat loss should also see SUNGAIN, FILMS, LOW-E GLASS. Question: where can I buy plastic window glazing materials?On a recent trip to the UK I noticed the use of secondary inside storm windows quite a lot. We want to begin manufacturing them here for residential and commercial applications locally. There appear to be U.S. companies that produce similar products, but the shipping costs are prohibitive. We are in the process of choosing an ideal plastic window glazing material; can you help us? Thank You, Energy Wise, Eugene Mueller G.M., Cuba City WI 53807 Reply: look at vinyl, polycarbonate, and acrylic window glazing options.The U.S. companies whose plastic storm window glazing we have seen do not identify which plastic they used to produce storm windows, but we consider it likely that most plastic glazing raw materials are widely used in both storm window and solar panel applications. Some solar panel and storm window cleaning instructions recommend use of a vinyl cleaner - that may be a clue suggesting that you investigate some vinyl based glazing choices as well as acrylic and polycarbonate materials. You may find, however, that many vinyls are prone to scratching and discoloration. Suggestions for Plastic Window Glazing Choices:Both acrylic and polycarbonate plastics are suitable for storm window glazing. Our associate Steven Bliss offers this additional advice: Plastic Choices for Interior storm windows: Plastic is much lighter than glass, easy to cut and drill, and fairly durable, making it a popular material for interior storm windows. Acrylic is the most commonly used rigid plastic (as opposed to films) for interior storms. Acrylic Plastic Storm Window GlazingPlastic storm window glazing is sold under a variety of trade names including Plexiglass and Lucite. High-quality acrylic sheeting does not yellow in sunlight, although special high-impact acrylic is more prone to yellowing. Acrylic has moderate scratch resistance, which can be improved with coatings. Polycarbonate Plastic Storm Window GlazingAn alternative to acrylic window glazing is the more expensive polycarbonate, sold under the brand names Lexan, Makrolon, Hyzoid, Tuffak, and others. Polycarbonate is less breakable and has much higher impact resistance than acrylic, although it is less scratch resistant. Take a look at POLYCARBONATE GLAZING for details about this material. Polycarbonate glazing is used in solar applications because of its high impact resistance, thermal movement characteristics, and resistance to scratching, discoloration, and finally, for its solar transmittance. Lexan® is approved under most codes for locations in the home or building that require safety glazing. While polycarbonate has a reputation for yellowing under UV exposure, this can be controlled for 10 years or more with additives to the plastic formula. Polycarbonate is also less flammable than acrylic. Some modified polycarbonate plastics come with a 5 to 15 year warranty against yellowing (see excerpt below). Other Concerns with Interior Storm WindowsOne concern with interior storms in cold climates is the formation of condensation on the primary window caused by moist interior air leaking past the storm window and condensing on the cold primary glazing. This is of particular concern with wood windows, where the condensation can drip down the glass leading to mold and decay of the original wood sash. Exterior storms, on the other hand, reduce condensation on the primary windows by warming the glass. Also, with exterior storms, condensation can be better managed by weep holes to the exterior. Excepted from the report: Investigation Of Polycarbonate As A Suitable “Greenhouse” Material For The Solar Cooker, by John Harrison, Florida Solar Energy Center (11/01):
- Steven Bliss, Burlington, VT. Questions & Answers regarding this articleQuestions & answers about all types of plastic interior storm windows.. Ask a Question or Search InspectAPediaHTML Comment Box is loading comments...
Recommend / Share this Article
... Technical Reviewers & References
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
|
