I won an auction for a nice stained glass window. I made the frame for it and the windowsill etc by myself. It's near ground level and I didnt want my lawnmower to throw a rock and break it so I used some foam or butyl tape and sandwitched the window and a piece of acrylic with the acrylic on the outside. I just made the slot to suit.
I made some small holes at the bottom of the frame up between the panes so they do have a vent of sorts. Ive never seen them fog or any issues. Mick has a point but maybe its a trade off. Where my window is no one really stands close to it so I was happy with it. It would be hard to break through so it increases security.
the location was the old hole for my power meter, but i moved the meter so it solved the problem of the hole I just enlarged it a little. The glass and the acrylic are near each other so I suppose it contributes a tiny bit to insulation but I just didn't want to see it get broken.
I have a couple of panes on my window for my front door that are cracked. I think because sometimes people use their keys to knock on the window, they cracked two of the small panes in doing so. I have a doorbell but it could have been out of service prior to me fixing it. the doorbel is so loud you cna clearly hear it outside. I get delivery drivers leaning on the thing and Im thinking of putting the bell outside, I will still hear it and then they won't wan to lean on it for too long
It might stop people from being able to break the side light then reach the doorknob to break in. The acrylic is really hard to break. you can also drill it so you can put wood strips and then put wood screws right through the strip and the acrylic. Then you don't need a slot for the acrylic, just foam tape or something as a spacer so the lead is away from the acrylic.
you could check with a plastic shop about the materials. I think the acrylic is less vulnerable to that sort of hazing you get on plexiglass and I think it's used for things like bulletproof windows. Lucite might be another and Im sure there are more brand names. there are other trade names so you could look into it.
Ive sen acrylic windows and they have a sort of a wave a bit like wavy glass, though not quite as original.
one thing is with the plastics , there are cleaners you shouldn't use , I think windex is one. glass is more chemical resistant.
right now these plastic places are going crazy maing Covid sheilds. Thats the business to be in today. I had someone tell me they tried to buy a piece of I think it was acrylic and it was $600 for a 4x8 sheet. I suggested using a lot thinner stuff with a frame and they did and that was cheap. Supply and demand, Yea but it sounded like gouging to me. I'd phone ahead if you look for it. glass doors might need to be tempered to meet code. tempered glass can not be cut, it shatters. It need s to be cut then, I think oven fired or something. It's pricey.
This home is exceptional as compared to many houses so I can see why Mick would make the comment about originality, maybe a good decision relates to intended authenticity, age and security needs as well.