Replacing Glass with Acryllic
#1
05-04-05, 09:52 AM
Replacing Glass with Acryllic
I will be replacing glass in some windows and I saw an acryllic manufactured by Lucite that is supposed to be "better than glass." Just wondering if anyone has any knowledge or experience with using acryllic vs. glass in window applications. The manufacturer claims it is not only acceptable, but superior.
#2
05-04-05, 10:32 AM
Member
Acrylic is better than glass if you are interested in the safety aspect and the fact that it is more difficult to break. Other than those two things acrylic is inferior to glass in that it scratches easily, can yellow in time and shows distorted images (depending on size & thickness) when looking through it. Why are you looking to replace glass with acrylic?
#3
05-04-05, 05:57 PM
Replacing Glass with Acryllic
I need to replace some cracked panes in old windows. I replaced some with glass last year and thought the acryllic would be much easier and safer to work with, and Lucite claims it's better than glass and won't yellow. That's why I was considering the acryllic. Thanks for you input.
#4
05-04-05, 06:24 PM
lucite
Acrylic does have improved impact resistance versus glass. But, acrylic will have poorer energy and sound performance when compared with glass. Acrylic also has a tendency to distort when exposed to direct sun-heat.
I agree with Johnam about acrylics other shortcomings.
I would suggest to anyone considering acrylic versus glass in a window repair to ask why, if plastic is so superior, do people build windows using glass and not plastic?
I agree with Johnam about acrylics other shortcomings.
I would suggest to anyone considering acrylic versus glass in a window repair to ask why, if plastic is so superior, do people build windows using glass and not plastic?
#5
05-04-05, 07:07 PM
Johnam and Oberon have covered pretty much everything. All I will add is be careful about exactly WHAT you are going to use for acrylic (if you decide to go that route) and WHERE you put it. Using "plexiglas" is one thing, but using Lexan would probably be a code violation to use it in a bedroom window. That's the stuff that they use for bullet proof glass and what NASCAR uses for windshields. A fireman simply isn't going to come through it to recue your children in the event of a fire!!
