FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For Autoglass related questions, please refer to our " Autoglass section".

Q: How long has Haida Glass Ltd. been in business?
A: Haida Glass Ltd. has been in business since 1971.

Q: Does Haida Glass require a deposit before proceeding with my order?
A: Yes. The majority of orders are "custom-ordered" to meet the specific requirements of your installation. Therefore, Haida Glass Ltd. requires a 50% deposit on all orders.

Q: What type of warranty comes with my installation?
A: Haida Glass Ltd. offers a five year (or 10 year for an additional charge) manufacturer's warranty for double glazed sealed units and a one year warranty on all workmanship. Please retain your Haida Glass Ltd. invoice for the entire warranty period. Should any concerns arise, simply contact the office at 604-980-7511 to arrange for an inspection. If you also require a copy of detailed warranty information, you can request one to be sent to you in the mail.

Q: What is a "failed" sealed unit?
A: It is often said that a sealed unit is "failed" or "has gone misty", etc. This means that a fault, and it may only be a pinhole to start with, like a small puncture, has developed somewhere in its perimeter, and moisture is getting inside and between the two panes of glass. At different times of the year there will be different amounts of moisture in the atmosphere, and even in the hottest of summer days the atmosphere that we breathe has moisture content (humidity). With changes in sonic and atmospheric pressure being put upon the 'sealed' unit, moisture will be drawn in to mix with the otherwise arid interior of the unit through this breach. As temperatures change the moisture will condense into a liquid, which will continue to build up and up, as the liquid cannot escape anywhere as easily as the moisture that is being drawn in.

Q: Can you re-use the glass from my "failed" sealed unit?
A: When sealed units are manufactured they are not designed to be taken apart again in the future, and therefore in practice they cannot be economically cleaned and put back together. When a sealed unit has failed it will need replacing, and the old glass is usually just scrapped.

Q: Why do double glazed sealed units fail?
A: The most common causes of "failed" sealed units are the following:

· Not sealed correctly during manufacture: If a sealed unit is not fully sealed all the way round, or not sealed properly, the unit is likely to fail within a relatively short time scale, and this will be normally within a year. This would be covered under the manufacturer's warranty period (five or ten years).

· Not seated correctly on glazing blocks: Difficult to be exact about to what extent this will contribute to premature failure, as each case will vary. Worst case would be if drainage was blocked together with even a small amount water getting in, which could reduce the life of a 'good' unit by around 50% in terms of its otherwise fair life expectancy.

· Exterior seals not fitting correctly, letting water in: Again, similar to above, but if some of the water getting in contains washing up liquid or similar, then this will attack and degrade the perimeter seal, usually along the bottom edge. Anything stuck together will come apart quicker if immersed in water, and even quicker if that water contains a solvent.

· Flexing of the framework: Very difficult to quantify, but any pressures put upon the sealed unit will not do it any good at all. Installations most at risk are those of the frames which go to make up the structure of a Conservatory, which should always be fully reinforced to help reduce flexing caused by wind loads.

· Missing exterior trim around edge of unit - This can be very common with skylight units. Due to the exposure to ultra violet light this can lead to a breakdown of the seal - causing the unit to fail.

 

Q: Why do I have condensation on my windows?
A: This is basically caused by three problems:

1. Excessively high humidity in the home
2. Cold windows
3. Improper ventilation

An insulating window helps control moisture on your existing windows. In many cases they are not the total answer. The efficiency of the insulating window will depend on the homeowner's ability to control the humidity level within his own home.

Installing insulating windows will reduce the problem of cold windows. In many instances, insulating windows will control condensation. However, in some cases due to the high humidity in the home, condensation may be a problem.

Sealed units should not have condensation between the glass layers, however, inside or outside storms may have condensation occur between the glass depending on the air leakage rate of each glass layer.

Q: What is an "argon gas" filled sealed unit?
A: Argon gas replaces the air inside the sealed unit. Since it is heavier than air and is not in continuous motion like air, the transference of heat and cold (convection) is greatly reduced. In essence, the argon gas provides extra insulation.

Q: What do U-values and R-values really mean?
A: U-Values represent the amount of heat that escapes through a wall, window, roof or other surface. The lower the U-Value, the more energy efficient a material is. R-Values are the direct opposite. These measure an object's resistance to heat flow. The higher a material's R-Value, the lower its U-Value, and the less energy it will lose. An R-Value depends on the number of layers of glass in a window, what type of gas is between those layers, and whether one or more of those layers of glazing have been treated with a Low E coating.

Q: What measurement is used for the thickness of glass?
A: The thickness of glass is expressed in millimeters. Please refer to the attached chart for the conversion. If you are not sure, please call the office for assistance.

(mm)	2mm	3mm	4mm	5mm	6mm	8mm	10mm	12mm	15mm	19mm
(inches)	1/16"	1/8"	5/32"	3/16"	1/4"	5/16"	3/8"	1/2"	5/8"	3/4"

604-980-7511