Window Glass Options

The glass in your windows does far more than let in light. Today's advanced glass options can dramatically improve energy efficiency, reduce outside noise, enhance privacy, and add decorative beauty to your home. Explore the glass options available with Infinity® by Marvin® windows.

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Home Window Glass Options

Why Glass Selection Matters

When most people think about replacement windows, they focus on frames, styles, and colors. But the glass package you choose has an enormous impact on your windows' performance—affecting everything from your energy bills to your daily comfort.

The right glass can:

Reduce energy costs by blocking heat transfer
Protect your furnishings from UV damage
Quiet your home by reducing outside noise
Enhance privacy while still allowing natural light
Add visual interest with decorative patterns

Infinity® by Marvin® offers a comprehensive range of glass options to meet the specific needs of every room in your Quad Cities home.

Understanding Low-E Glass

What is Low-E Glass?

Low-E glass features microscopic metallic coatings that are invisible to the naked eye. These coatings reflect infrared heat while allowing visible light to pass through. The result is glass that insulates far better than clear glass while still providing bright, natural light.

All Infinity® by Marvin® windows include energy-efficient glass as standard—but you can choose the coating level that best matches your home’s orientation and your climate priorities.

Low-E² Glass

Best For: Moderate climates, balanced performance

How It Works: Low-E² glass features two layers of metallic coating designed to reflect heat back to its source. In winter, it reflects interior heat back into your home. In summer, it reflects solar heat away.

Benefits:

Year-round energy savings
Balanced solar heat gain and heat loss control
Ideal for most Quad Cities homes
Excellent value for typical applications

Low-E³ Glass

Best For: Homes with significant sun exposure, south/west-facing windows

How It Works: Low-E³ glass features three layers of metallic coating for enhanced solar heat blocking. It’s specifically designed to minimize solar heat gain while still allowing natural light to enter.

Benefits:

Superior solar heat blocking
Reduces cooling costs in summer
Protects furniture from sun damage
Ideal for rooms with large windows or significant sun exposure

Low-E³/ERS Glass

Best For: Maximum year-round efficiency, any climate

How It Works: Low-E³/ERS (Enhanced Room Side) adds a fourth metallic layer on the interior glass surface. This additional coating reflects interior heat back into the room during winter while maintaining superior solar control.

Benefits:

Maximum energy efficiency in all seasons
Best performance for extreme Midwest temperatures
Optimal comfort in every room
Highest level of protection available

Specialty Glass Options

Beyond energy efficiency, specialty glass options address specific performance needs—from enhanced safety to superior sound reduction. These options can be combined with Low-E coatings for comprehensive performance.

Tempered Glass

What It Is: Tempered glass is heat-treated to be significantly stronger than standard glass. When broken, it shatters into small, relatively harmless pieces rather than dangerous shards.

Best For:

Windows near floor level
Bathroom windows
Windows adjacent to doors
Any location where impact is possible
Building code requirements in certain locations

Benefits:

4-5x stronger than standard glass
Safer breakage pattern
Required by code in many applications
Available with any Low-E coating

Laminated Glass

What It Is: Laminated glass consists of two glass panes bonded together with a durable vinyl interlayer. This construction holds the glass together even when cracked or broken.

Best For:

Security-conscious homeowners
Hurricane and storm protection
High-traffic areas
Ground-floor windows
Noise reduction

Benefits:

Stays intact when broken (impact-resistant)
Excellent security—difficult for intruders to penetrate
Superior sound reduction
Blocks 99% of UV rays
Can be combined with Low-E coatings

Also Known As: Impact-resistant glass, safety glass

STC/OITC Glass (Sound-Reducing)

What It Is: STC (Sound Transmission Class) and OITC (Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class) glass features increased pane thickness and specialized construction designed to reduce sound transmission.

Best For:

Homes near busy roads or highways
Homes near airports
Urban locations with street noise
Bedrooms facing noise sources
Home offices requiring quiet

Benefits:

Significantly reduces outside noise
Creates a more peaceful interior environment
Available in multiple performance levels
Can be combined with Low-E coatings

How It’s Rated: Higher STC and OITC ratings indicate better sound reduction. Your Mainstream consultant can recommend the appropriate level based on your noise concerns.

Triple Pane Glass

What It Is: Triple pane glass uses three layers of glass with two insulating air spaces, providing superior thermal performance compared to standard dual-pane configurations.

Best For:

Maximum energy efficiency
Extreme climate performance
Noise reduction priority
Comfort-focused homeowners

Benefits:

Superior insulation value
Excellent sound reduction
Reduced condensation
Premium comfort in any weather

Grille Types

Simulated Divided Lites (SDLs)

What They Are: SDLs feature grille bars applied to both the interior and exterior glass surfaces, with a spacer bar between the panes. This creates the appearance of individual glass panes while maintaining the energy efficiency of a single insulated unit.

Best For:

Traditional and colonial home styles
Authentic divided-light appearance
Homeowners wanting the most realistic look

Appearance: Most authentic; grilles are visible from all angles and cast shadows like true divided lites

Grilles Between the Glass (GBGs)

What They Are: GBGs place the grille pattern between the two panes of glass in a sealed, maintenance-free configuration. The glass surfaces remain smooth for easy cleaning.

Best For:

Easy maintenance priority
Any home style
Clean interior and exterior surfaces

Appearance: Visible grille pattern without textured glass surfaces; slightly less dimensional than SDLs

Grille Patterns

Infinity windows offer classic grille patterns to match your home’s architecture:

Colonial Traditional grid pattern with equal rectangular panes. Perfect for Colonial, Cape Cod, and traditional home styles.

Prairie Grilles frame the perimeter of the glass with an open center. Ideal for Craftsman, Prairie, and contemporary homes.

Custom Configurations Work with your Mainstream consultant to create custom grille patterns for unique applications.

Grille Colors

Grilles are available in colors to match or complement your window frame finish:

White
Stone White
Sierra
Bahama Brown
Bronze
And more!

By Room

Living Rooms & Great Rooms

Priority: Views, natural light, energy efficiency

Recommended: Low-E³ glass for large windows with sun exposure; clear glass with Low-E² for north-facing windows

Bedrooms

Priority: Comfort, noise reduction, privacy

Recommended: Low-E³/ERS for maximum comfort; STC glass for bedrooms facing streets; decorative glass for windows visible from outside

Bathrooms

Priority: Privacy, moisture resistance, natural light

Recommended: Decorative glass (Obscure, Frost, or Rain) for windows at eye level; clear glass for high windows not visible from outside

Kitchens

Priority: Natural light, easy cleaning, heat control

Recommended: Low-E³ for windows over sinks with sun exposure; tempered glass within 18″ of cooking surfaces (code requirement)

Home Offices

Priority: Noise reduction, glare control, comfort

Recommended: STC glass for quiet; Low-E³ to reduce glare and heat from computer screens

By Concern

High Energy Bills

Low-E³/ERS glass throughout, especially on south and west-facing windows

Street Noise

STC/OITC glass on windows facing noise sources; laminated glass for maximum reduction

Security Concerns

Laminated glass on ground-floor windows and entry sidelights

Frequently Asked Questions
We Answer the Top Questions Asked By Our Clients

Window shopping can be a time-consuming task, especially when there are several options and styles to choose from. Mainstream Home Improvement is the leading expert in window replacement options and installation services. Browse through some of our most frequently asked questions to see how we can help in your upcoming window replacement project. Can’t find your question here? View our full FAQ or contact our team in the Quad Cities area today.

View Full FAQ

Why do I have condensation on my windows?

Excessive humidity levels in your home is what causes condensation, not your windows. Condensation is proof of excessive moisture in the air, which can actually be fixed with a dehumidifier or the cleaning of your HVAC units by a professional technician. For more information on condensation, please visit AAMA’s website.

How much can I save by switching out my old windows with new energy efficient windows?

This answer varies depending on several factors: the characteristics of your old and new windows, the size of your home, your property’s location, and more. ENERGY STAR® has put together calculated estimates of the energy you are bound to save when replacing a single-pane or double-pane clear glass window. Ask our team for more specifics on how much money you could be saving with our windows.

Why won’t my window sash stay up?

If your window sash won’t stay up, it may be due to the wrong size window being installed or the balance of your window is off. Unfortunately, this fix requires help form the professionals as the repair is different for every window style and manufacturer. Get in touch with our team if you’re having issues with your window sash.

What window warranties do you offer?

As a window dealer of MI Windows and Doors, our window replacement products are all covered under a Limited Lifetime Customer Assurance Warranty. This allows for homeowners to order replacement parts at no additional charge when their MI windows are broken or not operating properly. Some of our windows also come with a Glass Breakage Limited Warranty where new glass can be purchased at no additional cost if your window breaks.

How can I make the window installation process go as smoothly as possible?

To have your window installation process go as smoothly as possible, make sure the opening to your windows has been cleaned before our contractor gets there. Once your custom windows are installed, make sure there isn’t any more work to be done before using your windows. Lastly, take care of your caulk and trim to make sure your windows last as long as possible.

Service Areas for Window Replacement & Installation

Looking for quality energy efficient windows in the Quad Cities Area. Click your city to find out more about our replacement window services in your area