You may be aware of secondary glazing, but not so familiar with its potential applications and benefits. What exactly is secondary glazing and to what extent can it improve energy efficiency?
The insulating benefits of secondary glazing
If your double glazed panels are old or of low quality, they may not be providing adequate insulation for your interiors. In such cases, secondary glazing could represent a viable option to improve the thermal efficiency of existing glazing.
Secondary glazing creates an additional layer of insulation, keeping warm air inside and preventing cold air from entering the home. It’s also possible for secondary glazing to serve as an extremely effective draft prevention measure, compensating for ill-fitting windows that allow cold air in.
Where secondary glazing is essential
There are some instances where removing and replacing window units in their entirety may be out of the question. For example, if you live in a listed building or in a conservation area, local authorities may impose heavy restrictions on building modifications and improvements.
If there’s no option to replace your windows due to restrictions, secondary glazing could represent a good alternative option. While secondary glazing doesn’t provide the thermal efficiency of premium double glazing, it can still make a real difference to performance.
What is the average cost of secondary glazing?
Secondary glazing costs very from project to project. In some instances, the most basic secondary glazing can be manufactured and installed relatively cheaply. In others cases, bespoke secondary glazing in specific colours and finishes comes at a premium.
However, secondary glazing is almost always less costly to install than replacing windows outright. There are some exceptions, but secondary glazing is usually a very cost-effective option.
Should I consider secondary glazing?
As mentioned, secondary glazing may be the only realistic option for improving the thermal efficiency of your property.
Secondary glazing is also great at effective in protecting interiors from exterior noise pollution. If your existing windows are performing well and you’re simply looking to create a quieter environment indoors, secondary glazing is a good option.
Secondary glazing also has the potential to provide an alternative option to outright window replacement. If your windows are in good condition but you’d like to improve their energy efficiency affordably, consider secondary glazing.
Establishing compatibility for secondary glazing
Occasionally, secondary glazing isn’t always compatible with the design and configuration of existing windows. In which case, it’s important to arrange an assessment of your property beforehand, if considering an investment in secondary glazing.
At A&C Glazing, we can carry out an obligation-free inspection of your windows to help you understand the options available.
Call a member of the team to discuss the benefits of secondary glazing in further detail.
