Foggy Glass in New Patio Door!

Steve_xx

It sounds to me as if the double glazed unit is not properly sealed. I would get them back and tell them that you are not satisfied with its appearance and that it needs to be changed. I'd say that the seal on the unit was broken down and that as the sun plays on it, the droplets of water contained between the two sheets of glass are warmed up so that steam is formed within the unit.

Ensure that they don't simply take the unit out and then take it somewhere only to bring back the same unit.

The Pilkington write up above explains a situation that I can understand when viewing a sheet of glass at an oblique, or side-on angle. However, if you are looking directly at the sheet of glass it ought not to appear hazy and if it did then everyone in the country who has had double glazing fitted would be complaining similarly to yourself.

Barneysmom

''K Glass and it is a government requirement to fit it''
Is this true, because I've just bought a new porch and I'm sure it's not k glass? Can anyone help please?

Steve_xx

Yes I think that it is now mandatory due to its thermal insulating properties. You might gain some information here:

http://www.fensa.co.uk/defaultHomeowner.aspx

Barneysmom

Thanks Steve, I'll dig out my quote and receipt see what it says. I know it's toughened and has kite marks but don't know if that means it's thermal in any way ?

Hey, I just looked at the glass and it has the Pilkington logo! Very happy you explained it to me, thank you very much xxx

Steve_xx

How it Works


The glass in your windows absorbs heat then radiates it again on the colder, outside, surface. Pilkington K Glass™ has a so-called low emissivity coating which is positioned on surface 3 (counting from the outside) of the Insulating Glass Unit (IGU).
The low emissivity coating is a poor radiator of heat. So the heat absorbed by the coated glass does not travel across the air gap to the outer pane and the cold outside world. Instead the coating reflects the heat back into the room.
Windows incorporating Pilkington K Glass™ allow heat from the sun through and keep heat inside, making it easier and more cost effective to keep buildings warm.

agent_orange_2

Hi, We had exactly the same problem. Everything looked fine until the sun shined full on the windows. We mentioned it to our window fitter, who was as good as gold, and he said " if you're not happy we will have the sealed units replaced". Sealed units were replaced and exactly the same thing occurred on the new windows.

Can I ask, when the sun shines, do you have like a 1/2" around the edge that looks clean, while the rest appears to need a clean?

This was all a year ago, basically we've learned to live with it.

ih8stress

Steve_xx wrote: »

It sounds to me as if the double glazed unit is not properly sealed. I would get them back and tell them that you are not satisfied with its appearance and that it needs to be changed. I'd say that the seal on the unit was broken down and that as the sun plays on it, the droplets of water contained between the two sheets of glass are warmed up so that steam is formed within the unit.

Ensure that they don't simply take the unit out and then take it somewhere only to bring back the same unit.

The Pilkington write up above explains a situation that I can understand when viewing a sheet of glass at an oblique, or side-on angle. However, if you are looking directly at the sheet of glass it ought not to appear hazy and if it did then everyone in the country who has had double glazing fitted would be complaining similarly to yourself.

The 'faults' appear when the sun is shining brightly and can be viewed from various angles of the room. They also differ in that some areas look like water spashes, some like hazy patches and some like streaky patterns.
As agent orange mentions, there is a clear border around the edges.

I cannot see any markings on the window at all, so do not know whether it is Pilkington glass.

Viper_7

Yes, as said it's inherrent to Pilkington K Glass.

If you get the glass with a tint, then you won't have the problems, and it also reduces glare and fading of furniture, also looks much better than clear glass and hides the muck better.

ih8stress

Is the tinted glass dearer and does it look alot darker? The room only gets the sun in the late afternoon, so I need as much natural light as possible

Viper_7

ih8stress wrote: »

Is the tinted glass dearer and does it look alot darker? The room only gets the sun in the late afternoon, so I need as much natural light as possible

If it's just the patio doors, it's probably about £30 for the tint.

Can get it in Bronze or blue, and it's not that dark.

Had my entire conservatory done out in it (about £300 for the tint) . From inside it's clear looking out, and no haze in the glass coating. From outside it does appear darker - but also gives privacy. It would depend on the other glazing on the same face of the house wether it would match or not. It doesn't reduce the light, but stops the UV rays.
It looks so much better though imo.