If you have glass over your patio or if your patio is glassed in, then you may wonder if the glass is protecting you from UV light. The short answer to that question is “maybe”.
There is a longer answer, however. First of all, there are three types of UV or ultraviolet light: UVA, UVB, and UVC, which each have different wavelengths. UVC does not get down to earth through the atmosphere, and most of UVB is absorbed, too. It’s the UVA that we worry about.
There is glass that is designed to block UV light. If that’s the glass you have installed, then there is no problem with exposure to UV light. If your glass is not specifically designed to block UV light, there are UV filter films that can be applied to the glass, which achieve the same purpose.
So, the key to knowing if you are protected from UV light is knowing what type of glass you have installed or if you in the process of covering a patio, specify that you want UV-blocking glass.
If your glass is not UV-blocking and you don’t add a UV-blocking film, then you need sunscreen and/or a hat or some shades or window treatments to keep from getting blasted with UV light, which we all know if not good for us or our plants in high doses.
For those planning to glass in or cover a patio with glass, you can always talk to us in Vancouver at (604) 626-7100. We are deck and patio experts, and we can help you decide what glass to use.
Deck Experts, based in Surrey, BC, are professional deck builders with a long track record of success. We offer free estimates and long warranties and can build or fix any deck around. If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about decks, please call us at (604) 626-7100.
