When you think of windows, the first thing that comes to mind is probably thick panes of traditional glass sheeting. For many years, traditional glass was the only material available for use in windows; however, as polycarbonate sheeting and acrylic sheeting have gained popularity, they are now both considered viable alternatives for glazing purposes. So, why should you choose acrylic plastic sheets for your windows instead of traditional glass for your windows? There are numerous reasons for this, but we will focus on the top four.

Savings on expenses

If you are a business owner or a consumer who is concerned about costs, you will be pleased to know that plexiglass sheeting is an economically conservative alternative to using glass. It takes less energy and money to manufacture plastics such as acrylic plexiglass sheet. Because plastics are lighter than glass, their transportation and shipping costs are also less expensive. The actual cost-savings of the product is dependent on the type of acrylic sheeting you purchase, as there is standard clear acrylic sheeting as well as colored acrylic sheets, acrylic mirrored sheeting, Lucite block, and other types of acrylic sheeting and other materials. Furthermore, plexiglass sheeting does not necessitate the purchase of additional coatings and films because plexiglass with these characteristics is already available in a variety of forms such as impact modified acrylic sheet, UV-filtering plexiglass, UV-transmitting plexiglass, and others.

Security and sturdiness

When it comes to superior strength windows, there are a variety of factors to consider, including whether you have large dogs, live in a hurricane-prone area, or are concerned about strangers breaking in. Acrylic plastic sheets have an impact strength that is 17 times greater than that of glass, which means it takes a lot more force to shatter acrylic than it does to shatter glass. It is no longer necessary to be concerned about someone being injured if a window pane breaks when acrylic sheeting is used as the glazing. In addition to being extremely difficult to shatter, plexiglass sheeting can be broken; however, it does not break into a thousand tiny, potentially hazardous shards as is the case with other types of sheeting.

Creativity and ease of use are important considerations.

Despite the fact that these are two distinct advantages, the ease with which acrylic sheet can be used correlates directly with its ability to be used in a creative manner. Acrylic sheeting is significantly less difficult to cut than glass. Acrylic sheeting can be cut in the same way that wood is, using tools that are similar to those used for wood, such as a router, scoring tool, or table saw. Furthermore, because plexiglass sheet weighs approximately half as much as glass, it is much easier to move, cut, and install than glass. In addition to being easy to cut and being relatively light in weight when compared to traditional glass, acrylic sheeting makes an excellent choice for use when creating an accent window or designed window. Glass is not practical when designing windows for architectural pieces because it is too brittle and rigid; however, the flexible polymers found in plexiglass allow for the creation of custom shapes and designs for architectural pieces. Apart from that, acrylic sheeting is available in a variety of colors and patterns, as well as in black and white or fluorescent colors.

Transmittance of Light

One of the most compelling arguments in favor of acrylic plastic sheets over traditional glass is the ability to eliminate glare and reflections. Because of the clarity of plexiglass sheeting, more than 90% of the light that passes through it is visible, making it more transparent than glass. Glass reflects more light than other materials, and the thicker the glass, the more discoloration you'll notice. However, no matter how thick the plexiglass is, it always retains its transparency.

When you consider all of the advantages that acrylic sheeting has over traditional glass for window applications, it becomes clear why manufacturers have been utilizing plexiglass for many years. This is not to say that traditional glass does not have its advantages; however, plexiglass is a more durable, more versatile, and more cost-effective alternative to glass.