Skylight Trends and News | Aluplex Skylights

Improve University Building Design with Skylights

November 30, 2020 By Ezra Vogel

Universities are always expanding. With more funding and with more research, putting in a new building is often a necessity. Plus, because so many universities are becoming aged, having been built decades ago, they also must be updated. While there are many parts of a university building that may need improvement, today, we want to talk about how university building design can be improved with skylights.

Eco Friendly

The first thing to note is that including skylights in a university building’s design is an eco-friendly improvement. Instead of relying on large, overhead lights to brighten a main room, skylights will take advantage of the natural light outdoors. This is incredibly beneficial because the amount of money it costs to electrically light large, university classrooms or entry rooms can add up very quickly.

Not only do skylights save universities money by allowing them to spend less on electricity, less electricity use is better for the environment. The less energy we use overall, the less we rely on energy production, which is important until we, as a country, are using entirely renewable energy.

Morale Boost

If you’ve ever walked into a large building with a central room that has electrical lighting, you know it can be pretty depressing. Buildings with multistory foyers or common areas surrounded by floor lofts are wonderful. They’re spacious, tall, and offer a sense of breathing room. However, those effects can be entirely ruined if the only lighting is coming from ceiling lights. The lack of natural light and inadequate windows can quickly turn something spacious into something cavernous.

With large skylights overhead, however, it gives us a sense that there is no ceiling. The building’s space just goes on and on. Plus, everything can be its truest color under the crystal clear light provided by the outdoors. Sunlight coming in from overhead will reveal crisply and cleanly, signage, artwork, and other people. Electric lights just can’t compete.

Beautiful Appearance

Skylights are gorgeous. This is especially true of large, expansive skylights that are so sought after for university building design. They are so attractive, in fact, that most universities are implementing them in buildings with large, central rooms. The boost in appearance that skylights lend to university buildings is not just a huge morale boost. Additionally, they improve the value of the building. While university buildings are not likely to get sold or need additional appeal for profit margins, their value does increase the overall property value of the university.

Improve University Building Design with Aluplex

Aluplex is Toronto’s #1 skylight manufacturer and installer. If you want skylights for your university building design, give us a call today. We don’t just produce skylights, we also install them and provide 24 hour, emergency maintenance. Plus, we make other windows too. If you’re constructing a new university building, we can provide all the windows you need – not just skylights. For the highest quality windows around, Aluplex is the clear choice.

Does Window Film Damage Windows?

November 30, 2020 By Ezra Vogel

If you’ve been researching ways to improve your security or the safety of your home, you might have heard of window film. The next question you may have is, “Does window film damage windows?” However, this is not a yes or no question. Let’s take a look at how window film can affect your windows.

What Is Window Film?

If you don’t know what window film is, let’s take a moment to get you up to speed. Window film is a thin coating applied to windows to strengthen them. This makes them more able to stand up to impact, storms, and intentional attempts at damage, such as during a break-in.

This film is similar to a phone screen protector in that it’s clear and is applied across the window to protect it. Although, in the end, it isn’t just protecting the window; it’s also protecting you, your family, and your belongings.

How Is It Applied?

In order to understand how window film can affect your windows, you need to know how it’s applied. Window film is created using layers of laminated, polyester film. One side is coated in an incredibly strong adhesive while the other has a scratch-resistant coating. The resulting film is completely transparent and is applied to the inside of a window.

The application process is not as simple as sticking the film to the window. You must clean the window of any dust or debris, thoroughly, then apply the film very carefully so as not to trap air or dirt. Any air bubbles or dirt particles trapped between the film and window will remain stuck there. Trying to remove window film after its adhesive has adhered to the glass may result in sticky residue being left behind. This may remain visible after reapplying the film, unless the remaining residue is successfully removed. Therefore, it’s best for professionals to be the ones installing window film.

Bonding

After the window film is applied, the adhesive takes 24 hours to bond completely to the window. Once this bonding has happened, removing window film is nearly impossible. If one does manage to get the film off, there will residual parts of the adhesive left that will be basically impossible to remove or clean off.

The Answer?

So, does window film damage windows? If you try to apply window film and fail to apply it correctly, you may be able to remove adhesive residue before it bonds to the glass. This will require chemical solvents to do.

If you try to remove window film after it has already bonded to the glass, your window will remain solid, but not attractive nor entirely functional.

However, if you are wondering how window film interacts with the window, rather than removing it, the outlook is completely positive. Window film does not hurt your window by bonding to the glass. It is proven to increase the durability as well as improve safety, should any window break. The security benefits are undeniable as well. Nothing about the adhesive bonding to the glass will harm the glass, even after many years. The most important thing is to hire a professional, should you want this kind of film applied. Messing up installation can lead to permanent flaws due to trapped substances or the remaining adhesive, should you remove it.

Window Replacements

Should you remove window film and find your windows in a terrible state, Aluplex will have your back. Our windows are high quality and strong, even without window film reinforcements. Give us a call if you need new windows today.

Penthouse Suite Skylights and Why Your Hotel Needs Them

November 1, 2020 By Ezra Vogel

If you own a hotel with a penthouse suite, you need penthouse suite skylights. Penthouse suite skylights may seem like an unnecessary expense, but they’re not. What is it that makes them a necessity? Let’s find out.

Paying for the Experience

For many people, booking the penthouse suite is a special occasion. Whether it’s for their honeymoon, for an expensive vacation that they’ve been saving for, or some other reason, getting the penthouse isn’t just a cross-country pitstop. To most people, the penthouse suite is there for the experience.

The fact is, for most people, the penthouse is way outside their budget. If someone is going to dip into their savings and pull out all the stops for the top floor of the hotel, they want a night to remember.

What does this have to do with skylights?

What Skylights Accomplish

Skylights in a penthouse suite do more than just save you money on electricity. They add a third dimension to the penthouse, opening it up to the sky above just the floor to ceiling windows open it up to the sky beyond. This extra dimension lets in more light, making the penthouse suite feel bigger, more open, and more clear.

Let’s not forget about the nighttime effects of penthouse suite skylights. When the sun sets and your temporary tenants are left in the dark, your skylights are still hard at work. We all know that romantic excursions are one of the primary reasons someone would book the penthouse. So, how much more romantic can you get than being able to lie in bed and look up at the stars?

Placing a large section of pyramid skylights over the bed gives guests a night to remember. When the more active events of the day have passed, lying back against the plush, hotel pillows and staring up at the night sky is truly something worth paying for.

Plus, that morning wakeup call of a little sunshine splashed across the bed is one of the most peaceful ways someone can can wake up in the modern world.

Long Term Business

While this sounds great for your guests, you might be wondering why it’s great for you too. Remember, your guests and their experiences are what keeps bringing people back for more. The better the experience in your penthouse suite, the more raving the review.

Remember how most people only dream of renting the penthouse suite? The top floor suite of a hotel brings with it such high expectations that it’s easy to become disappointed and leave a negative review. Don’t let that be the fate of your hotel. Do what you need to to ensure that your guests’ expectations are lived up to.

The more extraordinary your penthouse suite is, the more positive your reviews will be and the more likely people will return to try and recreate the magical experience your hotel provided.

Buy Aluplex

If you’re going to invest in penthouse suite skylights, you need to invest in the best glass company Toronto has to offer. Aluplex is exactly what you need. Our window and skylight professionals will install skylights for you in no time. Plus, Aluplex is known for its 24 hour emergency repair services. Don’t rely on a company that leaves you high and dry in times of need. If your skylights spring a leak, we’ll be there as soon as you call.

Service Window Glass for Your Store or Business

November 1, 2020 By Ezra Vogel

With the second wave of Covid-19 spreading throughout Canada, protecting ourselves and our patrons is more important than ever. One of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in stores is by enforcing mask usage and putting up barriers. An easy barrier to put in place is service window glass.

Service Window Glass

Service windows, such as those at the bank or a ticket booth, are well known throughout the country. We have all gone to a service window one time or many. The thing is, any service counter can suddenly become a service window. All you need is some service window glass.

Limit Contact

By putting up service window glass at a check-out or check-in counter, we limit contact with the general public. Items must be passed beneath the window, ensuring there is no unexpected contact with a patron.

Physical contact is one of many ways that Covid-19 can spread. By ensuring employees only come into contact with the objects being passed under a service window, you can better control how they’re touched. Employees can wear gloves to guarantee they don’t come into contact with Covid-19 that has been passed under on an object. The counter and glass can be sterilized between customers and gloves can be changed out as needed.

Air Barrier

Even more dangerous than the probability of contracting Covid-19 through secondhand surface touching is the probability of catching it through the air. Because Covid-19 is an airborne virus, it is passed between people through droplets in the air. This is frequently misunderstood to mean only large droplets, such as in a sneeze. While a sneeze is a high risk way to catch Covid-19, we must remember that just breathing near each other can pass the virus.

Moisture hangs in the air all the time. When it’s humid outside, the air is filled with moisture. When someone exhales, they breathe out moisture from their lungs. If this moisture is breathed out in the same vicinity as someone else, that other person can inhale the infected particulates from the air.

Putting up a glass window between employees and patrons keeps infected particulates from reaching the other side of the glass, protecting employees and their breathing space.

Combine with Masks

However, service window glass isn’t the only thing we should be doing to protect ourselves from Covid-19. By having employees wear masks as well, behind the service window, you double the protection from Covid-19. Should any infected particulates end up on the other side of the service window, your employee will also have their air filtered through their mask. Those infected particulates’ journey will end as soon as they hit the front of a mask. Everybody wins.

Buy Service Window Glass

If you’re looking to put up a barrier in your store or business, Aluplex is the place to go. We can provide high quality glass with custom cuts and sizes, just right for your business. Give us a call if you have questions about how to order.

Sliding Glass Door Replacements in Toronto

October 1, 2020 By Ezra Vogel

Need a new sliding glass door? Aluplex is here to help. There are a lot of reasons why one might be in the market for sliding glass doors. No matter what brings you here, if you need glass doors, we can help. Here’s how we can serve you.

Outdated Doors

One thing that might have brought you here is the need for some more up-to-date, sliding glass doors. If yours have years of built up grime, are no longer insulating your home, or aren’t working right, it’s time for replacements.

Broken Doors

Another reason you’re here might be that your sliding glass door has broken. This is unfortunately not uncommon and happens all the time. Sliding glass doors can shatter if they’re slammed open or closed with a lot of force, are hit with a hard, heavy object, like a rock, etc. If yours have broken, you’re surely in somewhat of a fix. After all, your sliding glass door is what’s keeping out the rain, wind, and seasonal temperatures most of the time.

Fortunately, you can get a new glass door from your Toronto glass specialists at Aluplex.

New Projects

Not everyone in the market for sliding glass doors is looking to replace existing ones. If you’re building a new deck or balcony, you’ll need a door for it. If your back door is solid and feels like it closes your home off from the backyard, a sliding glass door would improve that.

No matter what your renovation project is, we can help you when it comes to glass doors. You can get the size you need, the style you need, and the quality you need, all from Aluplex.

Aluplex Quality

Many glass manufacturers sell low quality glass products. While their windows and doors may be cheaper up front, they frequently cost customers more in the long run. That’s because there’s more to a quality window or door than just what it looks like.

Glass doors and windows are made with two panes of glass. Between them, there’s a gap. That gap is filled with a safe, nontoxic gas that’s denser than air. Because this gas is denser than air, it acts as a completely transparent insulator, making it more difficult for temperatures to leak in or out of a house through the window.

Cheaply-made windows or glass doors will not insulate as well. They’ll be faster to lose their insulating gas due to poorly fitted frames and leakage. That means unreliable windows will cost you more in heat and air prices, while your heat and cooling systems struggle to keep up.

This problem is especially large with sliding glass doors. Because of their size, they have more surface area for temperature leakage. Also, because the door is opened and closed frequently, there’s more opportunity for cheap sliding glass doors to lose their seal, allowing their insulating gases to dissipate.

Instead of risking money on cheap sliding glass doors, come check out our products at Aluplex. Give us a call if you have questions or would like to order yourself a new sliding glass door. We look forward to hearing from you!

How Windows Can Improve A Small House

October 1, 2020 By Ezra Vogel

Is your house feeling a little on the small side? Many people live in a small house at some point in their lives. Sometimes we buy a starter house that’s in the budget of a newlywed or a college graduate. Sometimes we buy a small house because we just don’t need the space – yet. As we all move up in the world, so does the amount of space we need and we may begin to feel cramped. If you’re not quite ready to move on to bigger things, it’s time to look for ways to improve your small house for the rest of your stay. Here’s how windows can improve a small house.

Adding Space

The first way that more windows or bigger windows can improve a small house is by adding to the perceived space. While windows won’t give you new storage closets and bedrooms, they will give you a great view of the outdoors. This sudden ability to see beyond the interior of your home will make it feel a lot less cramped.

This spacial trick is mainly because glass is transparent. When you’re surrounded by regular walls, you feel boxed in. Having transparent barriers makes your mind feel like there’s nothing blocking you in. The world is your oyster!

Adding Light

The next way additional or expanded windows can improve a small house is by adding more light to the mix. One of the main reasons small spaces begin to feel cramped is because light travel is less than optimal. This is especially true if you continue adding more furniture and decor over the years. The more you have in your home – even if its not infringing on movement space – the more things you have blocking light flow.

When you have more window area, you get more light in your home. This light reveals walls, floor space, and makes the entire room easier to see. If your eyes are having a hard time seeing the space, your brain is having a hard time perceiving that it even exists. Some additional light will solve that problem entirely.

Improved Airflow

Last but not least, small homes tend to get stuffy really fast. There’s not a ton of space for air to flow. If your home doesn’t have a lot of space around furniture and decor, this also reduces airflow. By having more windows to open, you can easily bring fresh air into your home and remove that stuffy, cramped smell and feel in the atmosphere.

Shop Aluplex

If you’re looking to improve a small house in Toronto, Aluplex is the best source for glass you can ask for. Whether you’re taking on DIY construction or hiring a contractor, remember to shop Aluplex for the best quality available. Our windows are durable, long-lasting, and fantastic insulators. You can count on us to deliver great results. Give us a call if you have questions about our windows or how to place your order. We look forward to hearing from you.