Benefits of Secondary Glazing

Sound Proofing / Reduce Noise From Your Windows

Noise from traffic, local air ports and the general noise from inner city areas and main roads can be a real disruption to the quality of your living or working environment. While fitting sound proofing strips in the window surrounds, changing the existing glass for double glazing and even hanging heavy curtains will reduce external noise, it is expensive and will only give an overall noise reduction of around 10 - 20%.

The best way to reduce noise and sound proof your windows is to fit secondary glazing, which can reduce external noise by around 75%, up to even 90% when high spec glass is specified. By specifying either 6.8mm Laminated glass or 6.8mm Acoustic glass you can further reduce the noise pollution heard from the outside world. These types of glass are thicker and heavier than ordinary glass and will go along way to improving thermal performance as well.

The reason for this is that like all good sound proofing (i.e. in a recording studio) the best results are achieved where there is an adequate gap/ cavity between the two points of contact (i.e. cavity between the primary and secondary window). We recommend that you use a different thickness of glass in your secondary glazing than is in your existing windows, and to use accustic tiles in the air gap if you wish to achieve maximum sound insulation.

This is because a difference thickness of glass has a different resonation factor when compared to another. See guidance tab for information on the optimum gap/ cavity and glass resonation factor.

Did you know that over 30% of secondary glazing is installed in windows where double glazing already exists and many of them in new build properties were the sound proofing from the new double glazing is not sufficient enough to meet the building regulations? For extreme circumstances where high spec glass just isn't enough, we have a heavy duty system that can take a double glazed unit. This is available as horizontal or vertical sliding Secondary Glazing.

Reduce Heat Loss And Save Money On Your Heating Bills

Windows can account for up to 30% of the heat lost from your home. It is important in this day and age to reduce energy consumption in our buildings. Single glazed windows are poor insulators and heat loss is exacerbated if the window does not have effective seals. With heating costs rising all the time, the sooner you fit secondary glazing, the sooner you will start benefiting. When it comes to saving energy, windows and lofts are the prime areas in which heat loss can easily and cost effectively be prevented. Energy Performance Certificates will eventually define a building's Energy Rating and become a factor in the valuation of your property.

Our secondary glazing can reduce heat loss in your windows by up to 50%. You can specify ordinary Float or Toughened glass, or for even better thermal performance you can specify - Pilkington 'K' low e glass. By adding the extra pane of glass in addition to your existing windows - heat loss is dramatically reduced.

For extreme circumstances we have a heavy duty system that can take a double glazed unit for the ultimate in thermal insulation - and all without improving or replacing your existing windows.

Draft Proofing Your Windows

Old single glazed windows provide insufficient insulation, poor and sometimes ineffective seals and may not even close properly (due to swelling of old wooden frames). These failures in old windows can lead to cold draughts that are hazardous to your health and damaging to your pocket (high heating bills). You can try fitting standard draft proofing bought from any DIY shop, but many find the results disappointing.

For listed properties, conservation areas or rented accommodation where you cannot afford or are not permitted to replace the old windows, many recommend that you fit secondary glazing (more information below). Our secondary glazing system has twin brush seals ensuring a highly effective quality seal. Our secondary glazing will help prevent the draft from your prime windows entering your home for years to come.

In Listed Buildings

Secondary Glazing For Listed BuildingsListed properties often still have the original old single glazed windows, which provide very poor sound and heat insulation. If you wish to make any alteration or improvements to your property, Listed Building Consent is required, and will not normally be permitted, for replacement windows and doors. However fitting secondary glazing on the inside of your windows is a very popular and cost effective solution for owners of Listed buildings, especially since it is recommended by the Heritage Foundation and the Listed Property Owners Club. Installing secondary glazing is considered a reversible alteration, that is unobtrusive to your windows and will conserve the exterior character of the period property.

Our secondary glazing suite (the largest in Europe) is widely accepted as the correct one to use in any listed building situation because of it's high specification and very slim-lines.

With an extensive range of styles to suite any windows and many different glass options for improved heat isulation, sound proofing and security. We have in the past had our secondary glazing fitted into such prestigious buildings as 10 DOWNING STREET and other buildings of interest.

Is Secondary Glazing Just For The Winter Months?

No - most of our secondary glazing will accept flyscreen (insert panels or integral panels) for use in the summer to let in the fresh air and keep out the mosquitoes - giving year round benefits.