LESLIE: J.K. in Texas is looking for a window that will keep people out. What can we do for you? You’ve got a lot of break-ins in your neighborhood?
J.K.: Oh, I did but, fortunately, these neighbors moved. (Tom and Leslie laugh) But I was thinking about a window that has several attributes: one, that you could open and close to enjoy the out-of-doors; number two, that would have good insulating factors – r rating; one that was sturdy – that would not be able to be broken in easy; and maybe incorporating shutters.
LESLIE: You mean for hurricane resistancy because you guys probably …
J.K.: No, no, no. Just for security sake. It’s for – probably, you know, if you have a big house, someone could break in easy and you not even hear them.
TOM: (overlapping voices) Sure. Right. Well, listen, first of all, in terms of energy efficiency, not a problem. Ease of operation, not a problem. Now, let’s talk about the security issue. There are storm-resistant windows that basically have window glass that’s similar to automobile glass so that it doesn’t shatter and fall into a million pieces; it sort of stays intact, yet it still breaks. So you’re not going to come up with a break-proof window that’s available in residential construction very easily.
There are storm shutters that are available that are automatic, motorized shutters that can close the entire exterior space; so it basically closes down that whole window space and they’re very common in hurricane areas or in homes that are along beaches and that sort of thing.
The other option is, of course, security bars but if you put those up, you want to make sure that they are openable from the inside because in a lot of areas where, you know, there are neighborhoods that people want to be more secure in, they put these up and they lock them and they can’t get out in and God forbid there was a fire.
J.K.: Oh, right.
TOM: So those are some of the trade-offs that you have to deal with. But in terms of security of glass, it’s either going to be standard, insulated glass or it’s going to be storm-resistant glass that is not going to shatter. But either one will break.
J.K.: OK. Well, thank you all for the answer.
TOM: You’re very welcome, J.K. Thanks so much for calling us at 1-888-MONEY-PIT.
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