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Frequently Asked Questions
  • Does your company do residential projects?
    Yes we do do residential jobs, but our company speicalizes in commercial projects.


  • Does your company offer 24 hour emergency service?
    Crystal glass is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week, including all holidays.


  • What should I do if I have an emergency?
    If after hour emergency service is needed call our after hour specialists(212)-799-2515 who will then contact the nearest Crystal Glass technician. At that time our technicians will contact your store personell to provide an approximate arrival time.


  • If I have an emeregency after business hours how long would it take to secure my store?
    Within 1 hour


  • Does your company accept liability insurance?
    Yes we do.


  • Does your company install shower doors?
    Yes we do install shower doors and mirrors


  • How long does it take to replace a 1/2" tempered herculite door?
    Within 24 hours


  • Does your company finance?
    To select customers, call to see if you would qualify.


  • What payment methods are available?
    Cash, Check, Money Order,Certified Check, Personal Checks, Visa,Discover Master Card , American Express,Liablility Insurance, Paypal, Financing available to select customers


  • How long have you been in business for?
    Crystal Glass and door inc is a fourth generation company that has been in business for over 40 years.


  • Am I responsible for the disposal of old windows or glass?
    No. We will take your old glass unless otherwise arranged.


  • Will the quality of the glass installed be the same?
    We use only the top rated glass in the industry to insure that the customer is satisfied and pleased.


  • What is safety glass and why do I need it in my home or office?
    Safety glass" is a term given to specific types of glass that when broken will break in such a way as to minimize potential injury to people. This is in contrast to standard "plate glass" which can be deadly due to the large sharp spear-like pieces that are created when broken. Safety glass comes in all types, sizes, colors and shapes depending on the application. The most common types of safety glass are Tempered, Laminated, Acrylic and Polycarbonate. Uniform building codes have been created that address specific applications for residential and commercial buildings and assure the public's safety when followed. Be sure to use a licensed contractor who is aware of all building codes when having glass replaced in your home or office.


  • What is Laminated glass?
    Laminated glass is a form of Safety Glass that is manufactured by sandwiching a layer of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) between two pieces of glass. It then goes through a heating and pressure process in an autoclave to firmly adhere the glass to the innerlayer. This is the same type of glass used in the windshield of your automobile. If broken, the glass is held together by the innerlayer and provides a high level of both safety and security.


  • What is Tempered glass?
    Tempered glass is a form of Safety Glass that is manufactured by heating flat glass to approach its softening temperature and suddenly chilling with jets of cold air, which distributes compression stress on the glass surfaces while tensile stress in the center. The counteraction of compression stress and tensile stress provides tempered glass times strength than normal glass. When broken, tempered glass forms oblique bean size granules to reduce damage to human bodies. Tempered glass also withstands quick temperature changes.


  • What are dual pane/insulated units?
    Most new homes being built today are built with dual pane or insulated windows. These terms are typically used interchangeably. Dual pane windows are composed of 2 pieces of glass joined by a spacer, which creates an "air-space" between the two panes. It's this air-space that creates the insulating properties that makes these units so energy efficient. The size of the air-space determines for the most part how efficient the window will be. For instance, a unit with a 1" air-space will be much more efficient than a unit with a ½" air space. Other factors like "Low-E" or tinted glass can also increase efficiency.


  • Only 1 side of my dual pane window broke, so why do I have to replace both pieces?
    Dual pane windows are manufactured as airtight units that are able to resist fogging due to a material in the spacer called desiccant. When either the inner or outer piece of glass breaks, the desiccant becomes saturated and ineffective which requires replacement of the whole unit. Although insulated units are more expensive to replace than single pane windows, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Besides the obvious energy savings benefits, insulated units also provide some important security benefits. Usually when a dual pane window breaks, one side stays in tact keeping air conditioning or heat from escaping. Unlike single pane windows, it also keeps your home secure until the new window can be installed.


  • Are all dual pane/insulated windows Argon gas filled?
    No. Most dual pane windows are filled with air or nitrogen. This provides what's called a dead air space which reduces heat transfer. Argon gas is less conductive than air and nitrogen and in extremely cold climates can result in a noticeable difference in heat transfer. In warmer climates however, the additional cost of Argon gas is not as beneficial.


  • What is Low-E and what does it to for my windows?
    ow-E stands for Low-Emittance. Low-E coatings are microscopically thin, virtually invisible, metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on a window or skylight glazing surface primarily to reduce the U-factor by suppressing radiative heat flow. By purchasing windows with a low-e coating you can allow all the light into your house without all the heat that goes along with it.


  • I have a piece of tempered glass that I want cut down. Can you do that?
    Unfortunately, no we can't. Tempered glass is manufactured in such a way that once it is heat tempered the molecular structure is changed allowing it to break into tiny pieces. This makes it much safer in the event of breakage but does not allow it to be cut.


  • I've noticed that most glass has a slight green tint. Can I get glass that is totally clear?
    Yes. It is manufactured under a number of trade names but is typically referred to as low iron glass. Normal float glass has a slight green tint which is especially noticeable from the edge due to it's iron content. Low iron glass is virtually clear and doesn't dull or distort the true color spectrum. This can be especially important in certain designer applications.


  • What is Low-E and, how important is it to have it on your windows?
    Low-E stands for low emissivity and is a fairly new advancement in glass technology. Basically, it's a microscopic, metallic coating?applied to a surface of glass?that reflects and re-radiates heat energy either into or out of a home depending on climate conditions. Using Low- E is an excellent way to increase the energy efficiency of a window.


  • How much protection do windows provide against forced entry?
    Generally, not much with typical windows and doors. However there's a new security concept that's growing quickly in popularity throughout the U.S. The idea of using special laminated glass, similar to that found in auto windshields, in conjunction with extremely tough vinyl windows and doors. FAS offers exactly this concept in its Impact Glass , which typically take up to 30 powerful hits of a baseball bat before even a small hole is formed. In a real-life scenario, the whole neighborhood would be alerted after about the fifth hit!


  • What are egress requirements?
    Egress requirements indicate a minimum opening size that certain windows must meet. These requirements tend to vary from region to region, so please contact your local building code official for egress requirements in your area.


  • What is an ENERGY STAR qualified window?
    ENERGY STAR labeled windows meet a stringent energy efficiency specification set by the Department of Energy and have been tested and certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). NFRC is an independent, third-path certification agency that assigns specific energy efficiency measures such as U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient to the complete window system, not simply the glass. ENERGY STAR qualified windows may have two or more panes of glass, warm-edge spacers between the window panes, improved framing materials, and Low-E coating(s) which are microscopically thin coatings that help keep heat inside during the winter and outside during the summer.


Crystal Glass and Door Quality Product & Superior Service

Crystal Glass and Door inc

 (212)799-2515