What are the benefits of double-glazed windows? Energy efficiency: The sealed air between the panes of glass act as a form of thermal insulation. This is designed to lock in the cool air in your house in summer and stop heat escaping in winter. In fact, Ecovue estimates two Noise reduction: As well as keeping cold or hot air out of your home, double-glazed windows can also help to shut out more external noise than their single-glazed equivalents.
Safety and security: According to Ecovue, double-glazed windows are harder to break than normal windows. They may be particularly effective if coupled with for your windows and doors. Bushfire protection: Ecovue says double glazed windows and doors are recognised as one of the measures you can take to protect your home against bushfires.
This could make it worth mentioning double-glazing to your insurer when you take out. If you live in a bushfire-prone area then depending on your insurer, it could see you save on premiums. What are the disadvantages of double-glazed windows? Some of the potential drawbacks of installing double-glazed windows could include:. The upfront cost: While they could potentially deliver energy savings in the long run, double-glazed windows do cost more than single-glazed windows.
According to Hipages, it may take five years or more to recoup the extra cost of double-glazed windows through energy savings. You would also have to consider the potentially higher costs involved if your double-glazed windows need to be replaced in the future. Also weigh up how the installation would impact on other features of your windows, such as blinds or shutters that are already installed.
Style fit: It may not always be easy to find double-glazed windows that fit with the style of certain properties, particularly older ones, as double-glazing tends to be a more modern style of window. However, retrofitting your existing windows may be an option that would mean certain elements of your existing window frames remaining in place and retaining their original style.
It could possibly cause materials around the window to warp out of shape over time. This can potentially in turn allow draughts of air in and cancel out any increased insulation that the window itself might provide. Can double glazing save you money on energy bills? Image Source: Tarapong Srichaiyos Shutterstock. Deputy Editor. Sean has accumulated more than a decade of experience in journalism and communications roles in Australia, the UK and Ireland.
His work covers a range of topics including finance, banking, property, investing, consumer and legal affairs, and more. Share this article. Related 5 Sustainable House Design Tips. Financing a renovation - loan, refinance, redraw or out of pocket?
Green loans — what exactly are they? First name Looks like you missed something. Please fill in the fields highlighted above. Last name Looks like you missed something. Email address Please ensure you have entered a correct e-mail address. Phone number Please enter a valid mobile number. The Energy Saving Trust endorses triple glazing but is it worth it? As we answered above, is double glazing worth it, how much better can upgrading to triple glazing be? The predominant reason to consider triple glazing over double glazing would be if you live in a noisy area.
If you are situated next to a loud road this can significantly affect the quality of your sleep. Otherwise, unless you want to enhance your energy efficiency, double glazing is still the most efficient choice of window. As an alternative to double glazing, secondary glazing might be a more economical option to consider. Instead of replacing the full window, secondary glazing fits internally over your window recess to give a second layer of insulation over the window. Replacing a full house of double glazed windows is an investment that will cost several thousand pounds and is a big decision for most people.
We would never recommend for you to replace windows that are in perfectly good condition without any issues. However, it does get to a point when your windows are letting the property down and you would be far better to take the investment rather than making do.
Draughts - the main reason to change windows is that your old ones are letting in considerable draughts and cold which can seriously push up your energy bills. Double glazing seals can fail so if you can feel cold blowing around the edge of the window it might be time to change them.
Or, your original windows may have been badly fitted with lots of expanding foam around the edges to make up for a poor fit. If this is the case, we would recommend replacing. Warped frames - older cheap uPVC can warp and discolour leaving windows that look tired and shabby. Warped windows can also cause issues with gaps around the edges letting in cold air.
Condensation - if you have condensation inside the double glazing it indicates the seals on the windows have failed. If you have this problem the only real way to solve it is to replace the windows. Desiccant - this is where you have bits inside the glass caused by the seals failing. As with condensation, the only way to solve this permanently is to replace the units with failed seals.
Again, check your warranty and guarantee. Double glazing lasts for around 20 years but does vary depending on the quality of the window units and the quality of the installation. Of course, windows can last far longer than their predicted lifetime and many houses have windows that are over thirty years old - if they've been well-maintained.
The first part of the double glazed window that is likely to fail is the seal and second to that are the hinges. It also depends on where the windows are positioned in a property.
For example, a south-facing window that gets a lot of sun and heat is more prone to discolouring or the seals drying out. All Everest windows have a lifetime guarantee against condensation and a year guarantee on the whole window including hinges, locking and installation.
See all guarantees for double glazed windows here…. House buyers in the UK rate double glazing and central heating at the top of their list when looking for a new home. Whereas normal glass breaks into shards which is more dangerous. The special glass, although offering more safety, is more expensive as a result. We advise to buy windows for the whole house rather than individual windows.
The reason for this is because it saves costs as you may pay more for a window if you buy it individually. It makes sense for companies to lower the cost of double glazing a house as you will be buying more products from that company, rather than buying individual windows. Get quotes from both local and national double glazing installers and compare which quotes fit within your budget.
Whilst double glazing cost is important, so is the support you receive throughout the project from start to finish. You might prefer a local company so that you can have more of a personal service, although you might prefer a national company who can simply get the job done and treat is as any other job.
However, national companies may run promotions and discounts from time to time, financing options are more available from national companies. These could save you costs overall, whereas, you might be paying more top level prices for a smaller company but the level of personal service you receive could be greater than that of a national company. The same variables apply, you may get charged extra for style, design, finish and other accessories.
Customisation can also be quite costly and bump up the price. But as long as you have budgeted for these options with a realistic figure, then you should be fine.
As with new double glazed windows, replacement windows can also be quite expensive and is a competitive market. Researching has never been more important than it has in the home improvement market. It will make you more in-tune with double glazing prices and put you in a better position to be able to buy double glazing windows at a competitive price. Furthermore, your knowledge of the different types of window styles and designs will improve as you get to understand the different costs for the different styles.
In the long run investing into high energy rated double glazed windows can reduce energy costs and in turn save you money, but upfront they are likely to be more expensive. So when shopping around, consider budget but also consider energy bills for the next 10 years plus as you will more than likely be keeping your windows for that amount of time at least. The type of glass you choose to install with your windows will also impact the double glazing cost.
You should consider secondary glazing although the performance of Secondary Glazing does not match that of Double Glazing — however, it is superior to just having a single glass layer windows.
Certain home improvements require specialist and accredited individuals to perform the installations — like a boiler needs to be installed by someone who is on the Gas Safe Register. There are no such rules regarding the installation of double glazing and homeowners are perfectly free to buy their double glazing direct from a manufacturer and to install it themselves.
DIY double glazing may be a way to save money on the cost of the overall job but there are potential complications if you decide that this is the course of action you want to take. Many window manufacturers will only stand by their guarantee if their windows are installed by a company which is accredited to or members of certain organisations like:.
There is also a significant safety risk in installing your own double glazing because it is more than a one-person job. Were the worst to happen and you injured yourself during the installation, your property will be vulnerable until the work is complete and you may lose money because of the time you have to take off from work.
As with all major home improvement projects, it is always better to either let a professional do it for you or to work in partnership with a professional. For homeowners looking for the best deal, this is the often most important question. There are many national companies advertising on TV and with local branches on high streets and on industrial parks all of which offer the highest-quality products, have some of the best fitters in the business, and teams of people looking after customer support.
And all of those extras are included in the final price you pay. This is a familiar tactic, designed to strong-arm a cautious customer into committing to a decision that they may not be ready to make. It is always advisable to shop local and find a reputable company, preferably one that has been established for over ten years.
Double Glazing is a substantial investment and taking a budget option now may prove to be an error when the time comes for you to sell your home. The cost of your installation will depend on a number of factors. The figures above are initial quotes but we know that, when smaller independent suppliers are in competition with each other, prices come down but not at the cost of quality of product, installation skill, or customer service.
Which double glazing you should buy depends on three major factors — your budget, your personal preferences, and the building you live in. Older homes are more difficult to buy double glazing for because owners want to keep the character and the style of their property and any double glazing that they purchase for their home must be in keeping with that character and style.
With more modern buildings, there is much greater scope for flexibility and experimentation. The best thing to do is to speak with an installer in your own home who can better understand what you want from your double glazing and the type of building you live in.
There are many different reasons why you should choose modern double glazing, even if you have double glazing that is 15 years old or more and particularly if you have single or secondary glazing. To the naked eye, double glazing lets in just as much light as single glazing however three in five homeowners believe that their home is warmer since they switched to double glazing. The extra insulator properties of double glazing also keep destructive elements at bay with the risk of damp greatly reduced in homes which have upgraded their windows recently.
Do you live near a busy road, a pub, or somewhere else where people congregate regularly making a lot of noise? The technology in double glazing that keeps heat in your home also greatly reduces the noise coming into your home from the outside. The better the quality of your windows, the warmer and quieter your home will be. Many families also appreciate the additional security brought to them with the installation of double glazing. Double glazing costs as much as it does because of the quality of the materials manufactured for your installation and because of the costs of installation.
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