WINDOWS were once the province of the wealthy and privileged because they were subject to a tax.
The more glass you had and the larger they were, the more you paid.
It's a good thing those times have passed, because these days modern homes are designed with more and more windows.
In fact, glass even replaces entire walls in some dwellings.
Not only are there various shapes, sizes, styles and framing materials; homeowners can also choose from materials to insulate against noise, sunlight, heat, burglars and even bushfire.
When it comes to reducing noise, there are three types of glass to choose from:
■ Monolithic which is a single piece of thick heat-treated glass.
■ Laminated which is two pieces of glass with a middle layer of PVB (polyvinyl butyral), a resin that fuses the layers of glass together.
■ Double-glazed which is two pieces of glass separated by an air space or some type of spacer or gas in a sealed unit.
When it comes to energy efficiency, doubled glazing combined with frames manufactured to minimise expansion and contraction are the way to go.
Many homes survive the flames of bushfires, only to be lost because embers make their way inside through cracked or broken glass.
If bushfire is a concern, there are doors and windows made from toughened safety glass and frames, stainless steel screens and fire-resistant seals between frame and glass.
■ Images courtesy of Viridian Glass.
More information: viridianglass.com.