FRAME FINISH OPTIONS
Our frame finishes compliment your project
We offer a full line of glass and frame finishes to make your project really special. The information below is helpful while designing your glazed structure and our knowledgeable staff can assist with recommendations.
FRAME FINISHES & COLORS
This information is provided as an overview. You’ll be able to easily specify your choice in our editable specs.
Our standard frame finishes have a 10-year warranty.
Painted Frames
- Exterior Frame Members: Fluoropolymer (Kynar) – AAMA 2605
Standard Colors
Bone White
Bronze - Interior Frame Member: PPG Polycron* – AAMA 2603
White and Bronze – same as above
Custom painted frame finishes (least expensive to most expensive). Additional production time is required. Warranties may vary depending upon the finish chosen.
Because commercial skylights use laminated glass or polycarbonate in overhead applications, which blocks harmful UV rays, using an expensive Kynar finish on the interior of the skylight is not necessary.
- Standard PPG Polycron Colors – AAMA 2603
- Flat Black
- Gloss Black
- Custom Kynar Colors – AAMA 2605
- Standard Firestone Kynar Colors
Anodized Frames
Standard Colors
 Clear Anodized Class I Exterior Class II Interior |
 Dark Bronze Anodized Class I Exterior Class II Interior |
Optional anodized frame finishes (least expensive to most expensive)
- Clear anodized* as pictured above
- Medium bronze anodized*
- Dark bronze anodized*
- Black anodized*
- Champagne anodized*
In the early 1980s when skylights, sunrooms, and solariums became popular the only glass options were single pane, double pane, or insulated glass.
Unfortunately, even though attractive, this type of glass did not allow spaces to be heated or cooled very effectively. Glass technology has made great advances since the 80s. Spaces with skylights and even solariums today allow nearly the same efficient heating and cooling as any other space in the building.
Our SilverCoat E-366 and Solarban 70XL are the best value in glass available. It’s manufactured especially for Crystal Structures by Cardinal Glass, one of the premier glass manufacturing and coating companies in the world. Our Solarban 70XL is made by Vitro (PPG) and is considered equal to SilverCoat E-366. Based on the availability and logistics of the project we may elect to use Solarban 70XL in place of SilverCoat E-366 – both are high-performance glass options.
Benefits of our high-performance glass:
- Clear insulated glass gives a clear view inside and out.
- Fully tempered safety glass on each part of the glazing unit
- Increased energy performance since the air cavity is filled with argon gas
- Dual seals, one for moisture and one for structure
- Bent spacers, one joint instead of four
- 3 special silver Low-E coatings on the number 2 side of the glass
- Up to 10-year warranty against fogging or separation
- SilverCoat 366 and Solarban 70XL coatings are almost clear
Energy performance data for our standard glass offerings
| SilverCoat Model: | Solar Heat Gain Coefficient |
Light to Solar Gain | R-Value | U-Value | Daylight Transmission |
Recommended Use |
| SilverCoat E-366 | 0.27 | 2.44 | 4.2 | 0.24 | 66% | General conditioned space |
| Solarban 70XL | 0.27 | 2.37 | 3.7 | 0.27 | 64% | General conditioned space |
| Optional Low-E Coatings | ||||||
| SilverCoat E-340 | 0.18 | 2.17 | 4.0 | 0.25 | 39% | Southern climates |
| SilverCoat E-272 | 0.41 | 1.75 | 4.0 | 0.25 | 72% | Northern climates / greenhouses |
| Solarban 60XL | 0.38 | 1.84 | 3.7 | 0.27 | 70% | Northern climates, more light & heat |
| Clear Dual Insulated | 0.78 | 1.05 | 2.0 | 0.58 | 82% | Production greenhouses, requires more heat and cooling |
Many other low-e coatings are available from Pilkington, Guardian, Old Castle and Viracon.
On commercial projects, federal codes require all roof glass to be laminated. Our standard laminated glass can be combined with any of the glass above. Our standard inboard laminate glass is 1/4″ heat strengthened with an 0.60 PVB inner layer. Most of our competitors use a 1/4″ annealed glass with only 0.30 inner layer.