AT YOUR SERVICE
As part of our commitment to customer satisfaction, we stand behind Protective Glass Solutions products with responsive and knowledgeable support. We are here to help with any information you may need. You may also find answers to your questions in the FAQ below.
Office Address:
12980 Metcalf Ave., Suite 430
Overland Park, KS 66213
Toll-free: 1.877.526.4946
Fax: 913.402.8903
We offer office consultations by appointment. Protective Glass Solutions technicians secure facilities 7 days a week. If you are interested in a non-binding estimate, please fax or email your glass measurements to us along with the selected line of protection.
Forms of payment accepted:
Check
Money Order
MasterCard
Visa
A non-refundable 50% deposit is required on signing agreement with the remaining balance due on completion of project.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I install the product myself?
- Yes, we offer a do-it-yourself kit that you may purchase via this web site; however, the warranty does not apply to the DIY kit. The laminate can be difficult to work with, and your finished product may not be to your liking. Our technicians receive extensive training to qualify as installers. The warranty includes installation.
- Do I need to clean the windows before you install the laminate?
- No. Our installers will clean the inside windows for you using professional tools and equipment. You may assist by having the area as easily accessible as possible.
- Can we wash the windows?
- Yes. We recommend a mild soap (e.g., Johnson’s Baby Shampoo) and water solution, and soft blue paper towels, cloths or squeegee for drying. Our installers will leave detailed cleaning instructions with you after they complete the project.
- With this laminate no one will be able to break in?
- Security laminate buys you time. It allows time for your neighbors to turn their lights on and for the police to respond. When intruders cannot get through as quickly as they like, they usually move on to an unprotected building.
- Are your security laminates bullet proof?
- No safety or security laminate is bullet proof. If you must have bullet resistance, we can suggest a glass and window laminate combination to meet your threat risk.
- Which windows are at the highest risk?
- Any window in or beside doors, patio doors and any window offering easy access or hidden from view of the street.
- Do you put the laminate on the inside or the outside of the window?
- The laminate is applied to the inside. This application enables the laminate to use its tensile strength to absorb the force of impact and to spread it over the entire surface of the glass. On rare occasions we apply the laminate to the exterior; for example, in areas of high graffiti threat or in the psychiatric wards of hospitals where we apply the laminate to both sides of the window.
- Do you place any warning stickers on my windows?
- We have stickers available; however, their application is up to you. We feel the stickers let the potential thieves know your windows are protected. They will most likely leave without attempting a break-in. Also, in the event of a fire or other emergency, stickers alert emergency personnel of the laminate application, so they may prepare for entry.
- Can I get a reduction on my insurance rates if I have this laminate on my windows?
- You may qualify for a discount if you apply security laminate on your windows. It has been our experience that individual brokers are more willing to give you a discount than are the parent companies. Insurance companies are happy to see you doing as much as possible to protect your property. By choosing Protective Glass Solutions you are making a wise choice.
- Will the laminate make my windows shatterproof?
- No, there is no application that will shatterproof glass. One advantage of applying laminate from Protective Glass Solutions is to protect people and property from dispersal of dangerous flying glass shards should the glass be broken by impact, blast, break-in or the forces of nature. The broken glass is held together by the laminate reducing the chance of injury or death from projectile glass fragments.
- Can the laminate be cut with a knife?
- No, because the laminate is installed on the inside. A thief would have to cut through the glass before they would be able to reach the laminate. This is time-consuming and it has been our experience that the thieves do not want to work that hard to break in. In most cases all they want to do is smash and grab!
- Is it government tested?
- Laminates from Protective Glass Solutions have passed extensive third-party testing to demonstrate their performance against various threats. Products from Protective Glass Solutions meet or exceed test standards. A list of government testing can be provided on request.
- Are there any police or government departments that have had this laminate installed?
- Yes. However, because of security issues we are not allowed to disclose locations or other details about these installations.
- Will the laminate break the glass?
- No. On thermal windows (those with two glass panes and an air space in between) we do not recommend a shaded laminate, as it may contribute to the buildup of heat between the glass panes. When heat builds up between thermal panes, it may cause the glass to stress. The glass may break or crack or the thermal seal on the window will give way.
- Does the laminate have an odor?
- Once the adhesive is exposed a faint odor may be detected. However, the faint odor is undetectable from six inches away. Once the laminate is applied to the glass there is no detectable odor.
- How long does it take before the laminate is effective?
- When properly applied, the laminate is immediately 75% effective. After fully curing, usually in 30-60 days, it becomes 100% effective. If the laminate is installed during colder temperatures, it is 50-60% effective after initial installation. Cure time is longer with colder applications, too. In extreme cases dry time may take six months.
- Does the laminate freeze?
- Yes. Once bonded to the glass it reacts to extreme temperatures with the glass. In extreme cold temperatures, glass becomes brittle and breaks easily. Extreme cold can prevent the laminate from stretching and spreading the force of an impact.
- Will security laminate keep thieves out of my home/store/business?
- No window laminate is impenetrable. The laminate acts as an invisible barrier, making it more difficult to break through the glass. Other factors will determine whether a thief can get in, such as thickness and type of glass, type of window frame, length of time the thief feels he has to overcome the barrier, tools being used by the thief and curing condition of the laminate.
Security window laminate when properly installed and cured can be very effective in hindering, if not preventing, a thief from entering your property. When the intruder cannot get through as quickly as they like, they move on to an unprotected building. - Why is there a gap between the edge of the laminate and the frame/edge of the glass?
- There are two reasons for the gap. First, the gap allows for removal of the water and slip solution and also for the edge of the laminate to bond to the glass. Secondly, it allows for the laminate to expand in warm weather. If there is no room for expansion, the laminate will touch the edge of the frame and lift off the edge. This causes a "finger" to appear, meaning the laminate needs to be replaced.
- Is the laminate fireproof?
- Products from Protective Glass Solutions can withstand temperatures to 1652 degrees F. The laminate is hard to ignite and is self-extinguishing once the flame is removed.
- What is the difference between safety film (SF) and security laminates (SL)?
- Safety films are made of one layer of polyester. They have a lower break strength than security laminates. They are designed to contain glass fragments in areas where the concern is of accidental breakage of glass.
Security laminates are made of two or more layers of polyester. They have higher break strength than safety films. Their purpose is to contain glass fragments in areas where the concern is deliberate breakage of glass. - Will dirt or dust particles affect the performance and security of the laminate?
- No. The dirt and dust particles trapped between the laminate and the glass will not hinder the laminates abilities to protect. No home or business is completely free of dirt and dust. It is inevitable, despite all efforts on the part of the installers, that some particles of dirt and dust will be trapped. The installer and the customer can and should expect to find an odd particle during installation.
- Can the laminate be installed on lead glass/stained glass?
- Laminate can only be installed on glass that has a smooth interior surface. This is a time-consuming installation, requiring the laminate be cut into many small, odd shaped pieces. Additionally, little if any safety or security is gained because the lead work itself is a weak point and will not withstand intense pressure.
- How do privacy laminates work?
- Privacy laminates incorporate a silver reflective layer. This layer reflects a certain amount of sunlight and heat, adding to climate control in a building or home.
If the laminate is purchased for reasons of privacy, it is important to keep these factors in mind:
Lighting - for the laminate to provide effective privacy it must be darker on the inside than on the outside. This is especially true for interior windows.
At night the effect reverses - window coverings of some type will still be required to maintain privacy. - Is caulking necessary?
- Caulking can be added when there is the possibility people may pick at the edges of the laminate. It may also be used to cover the light line (edge gap) when using tinted or reflective laminates. Frequent cleaning may cause laminate edges to loosen or to build with dirt. Caulking may help alleviate these issues.
- What if there is a fire?
- As with any fire, whether the windows have laminate applied or not, the occupants should try to exit through the window or escape through an unobstructed door. If the window cannot be opened it will be necessary to break out. The laminate is designed to protect from an outside attack. Security window laminate adheres to the interior of the window; in the event of a fire, the occupant cuts the laminate first then the glass, resulting in less resistance to escape efforts. An added benefit is the laminate will keep the majority of the glass together, reducing the chances of injury on broken shards.
It is important to educate emergency services (police, fire, EMS) on the best way to enter a window to which security laminate is applied. One of the easiest ways to alert emergency personnel on the use of security laminate is by use of warning stickers placed in the corner of each window where the laminate is applied.
When firefighters reach a burning building, the best way for them to penetrate a window that has security laminate applied is to cut along the top (using either an axe or a "Quick Cut" saw), along the bottom and then along the side to create a swinging opening in the window.
