uPVC Windows Guide

Many people consider installing new double or triple glazed windows in their homes, but they are put of by what they consider to be the high costs involved in purchasing and installing these window units.  There is no doubt that glazing windows in your home is not the cheapest home improvement project that you will ever undertake, but it could in the longer term, be the most beneficial and possibly even the most cost effective.

Let us consider some of the advantages of double and triple glazing and why it is important to have the best windows in your home, relevant to your budget.

By replacing older single glazed windows such as sash windows that you have carried out window repairs on for a long time in order to keep them going and instead fitting triple or double glazed sash windows into your residence, you are going to increase the energy efficiency of your residence.  These replacement sash windows will have the effect of driving down the costs that you are presently incurring trying to keep your home warm in the winter and cooler in the summertime.  Close to 20% of heat loss from a home can occur through badly insulated house windows.  This is a very high figure and such losses are  becoming less and less sustainable with rising fuel costs.

• By replacing older single glazed windows and instead fitting double or triple glazed windows into your residence, you are going to increase the energy efficiency of your residence.  This will have the effect of driving down the costs that you are presently incurring trying to keep your home warm in the winter and cooler during the summer.
  Installing energy efficient double glazing windows will also reduce your carbon footprint.  As well as being good for the planet, this could have further positive implications on your finances, if carbon taxes are introduced in the future.
• One of the main by products of having properly sealed windows and quality replacement glass in our homes is the fact that we are more comfortable.  Window glass replacement will help create a well sealed home which will have less draughts and cold spots in colder weather and will be cooler in the summer.  At the end of the day, you and your family’s personal comfort is what all of this is about.
• Properly insulated windows will cut down the amount of noise and air pollution that gets into your residence.  Many homeowners living close to a motorway will testify that good glazing helps them to live in a quieter atmosphere.
• Double glazed windows work by placing two sheets of window glass or glazing in a framed unit with a gap of about 16mm between them.  This gap is sealed and either is a vacuum or there is a gas in the space, which effectively forms a barrier of insulation.  Triple glazing windows simply use three sheets of glazing instead of two.
• Not all double glazed windows are of the same quality.  A double glazing window comprises various components including frames, glazing seals and spacers.  The ability of the window to act as an efficient insulating unit will be dependant on the quality of each of the components.
• The combination of all of the window components will result in a window unit with a certain energy rating.  This is a measure of the quality of glazed windows in energy efficiency terms and is a very useful indicator for a buyer as to which windows are going to be better at doing their job.  Window ratings range from A-rated windows, which are the most energy efficient down to a much lower G-rating for lesser quality products.
• In Britain A non-profit body called The Energy Saving Trust will recommend to purchasers windows that are rated C or higher.  If you see window with The Energy Saving Trust logo, then you know that the windows are up to their job.

Glazing windows possibly used to be a luxury that you enjoyed if you had the financial means to replace your existing windows.  Some homeowners installed secondary double glazing in the past and this is satill an option, but nt neccessarily a very effective one.  Given that the window glazing market has become much more competitively priced, that energy costs are rising, and that there are also DIY double glazing options open to homeowners if they are interested in DIY imporvements, many people give serious consideration to getting a double glazing quote and to having the best windows in their homes that they can afford.

Double glazing your windows is one of the most successful ways of improving the energy efficiency of your windows and therefore your home.  You can get in professionals to do the work for you, or if you have some home imporvement talents, you can carry out DIY double glazing on your  windows.

In this article we will try to explain window glazing briefly and as un-scientifically as possible.  This can be a bit difficult when you start to talk about such things as ‘spacers’, ‘solar heat gain coefficients’, ‘low emissivity glass’ ‘secondary double glazing‘ and the many other terms that arise when we talk about double or triple glazed windows and doors.  However we will attempt to keep the terminology to a minimum and see if we can break down glazing for your windows into some basic and understandable points.

•    Multiple glazing is the assembly of various panes of glazing into one unit.  This could comprise two panes of glazing windows (double glazing), or three panes of window glass (triple glazing), and so on.  If we are talking about double glazing, then between the two sheets of glazing will be present a gas or a vacuum.  This gas or vacuum will be thermally efficient and will also have properties that assist in insulating your home against sound pollution.
•    The glass in a window unit is necessary, not surprisingly, in order to allow in light and allow the homeowner to see out of the property.  This may sound obvious, but in terms of insulating a building properly, it would actually make more sense to leave out windows altogether, because they are one of the highest contributors to heat loss in a building.  The thickness of each glazing sheet can range from a high of circa 10mm down to 3mm and are usually all of the same thickness.
•    Different and specialized types of glazing can be used when carrying out window glass replacement or installing new windows.  These can include low-emissivity glass, which has the ability to reflect radiation from the heat of the sun, tinted glass, which can help to reduce heat build up in the room and coated glass, which is a glass with a coating on it, which can improve the insulation of heat and noise in the home.
•    Spacers are the strip of metal or foam that you see between the panes of glass when you look at a double glazed window.  These spacers keep the panes of glazing apart and create a seal which traps the gas between the panes, or helps to seal and create the vacuum.  These spacers are used whether you are dealing with timber, aluminum or uPVC windows.
•    The manufacturers of double glazed house windows will most often carry a warranty for ten to about twenty years and this lifespan can be effected by various  factors, including whether the units are installed in the Northern or Southern Hemispheres. Typical reasons for homeowners changing window units or having to get them repaired would include seal failure and desiccant saturation. Desiccant is present in the spacers and its function is to remove the moisture from the sealed area that has formed during the manufacture of the window and also it stops moisture formation inside the gas or vacuum area.

These are some of the basic points that come to the fore when you are considering window glazing or replacement glass for your home.  Many homeowners face the choice of replacing their windows at some stage after they have exhausted the idea of carrying out window repairs to their existing window units.  Consider getting a double glazing quote for your home as double glazing windows are now the most popular choice with homeowners, as they provide excellent energy efficient units at a competitive price.

If you have decided to install double glazing in your home, then congratulations.  You have made a good decision and will most likely reap the benefits over the coming years.  However in order to make the most of your decision you have to first select quality window units and proper replacement glass for your home.  Then you have to find a window or glazing installer from the many double glazing installers that are out there looking for your business.

This is not necessarily the most difficult thing to do, once you take your time at the process and carry out plenty of research.  When it comes to selecting an installer that you would be happy to install your windows, it will certainly help if you have some basic knowledge of what double glazing windows are about and of the installation process also.

The reason that double glazing is so popular worldwide is that it helps a home to become energy efficient if double glazed windows are used in conjunction with other actions, such as attic insulating, etc.  double glazed uPVC windows are especially popular, as they allow you to improve the thermal capacity of the home at a fairly reasonable price.  A PVC window also helps to improve the security of a property and is reasonably maintenance free.  The fact that they are available in a very large selection of styles and colours makes them attractive to homeowners also.

When it comes to window glazing one of the most important things to understand when talking to installers is the ‘U-Factor’ of the window units.  This is a measure of the ability of the window to prevent heat loss and it is a measure of the entire window unit and not just the glazing.  Other terms to be aware of are the ‘Solar Heat Gain Coefficient’ which judges how well the window is able to prevent the suns heat from entering the home, ‘Air Leakage’, which tells you how much air can leak through particular windows and ‘Design Pressure’ which is a measurement of the ability of the windows to stand up to wind pressure.

These are all pretty technical terms and are explained very basically here.  However, even by knowing this amount of information, you will be able to make comparisons between the different window units and glazing that are on offer and also between the different double glazing installation services on offer.  If a double glazing installer is unwilling or unable to discuss the above measurements with you as they pertain to the windows he is selling, he either does not know his windows very well, or the windows are not very good.

It is probably wisest to purchase from a company that is in business for a lengthy period of time.  This may cut down your list quite a bit, as double glazing fitting companies go out of business quite regularly after only a few years, but this is precisely the reason you want an established company.  There is not much point in getting excellent guarantees with regard to maintenance and service if the company is not around to honour its commitments to you.

Getting quotations does not cost you anything and will help you to further narrow your list of potential double glazing fitters.  When you have narrowed down your list in this way you can go into more detail with the remaining companies on the list, visit their websites If they have one, look at the testimonials they have received and even contact homeowners in your area that have had work carried out by these companies.

Good double glazing installers may be difficult to find at first sight.  However the more enquiries that you make and research that you carry out, one or two names will keep cropping up as being honourable, trustworthy companies that are in business for the long haul and that homeowners have been satisfied to use.

Most everyone is aware of the substantial benefits that can be achieved when double glazing is installed into a home.  Not only does it increase the energy efficiency of the property, but in doing so, it automatically makes the home a more comfortable place to reside by making it warmer and less prone to draughts and sound pollution.  Unfortunately replacing your old windows is sometimes not as easy an option as one might suppose.  There may be physical pitfalls to replacing your old windows or possibly you are being quoted very high uPVC window prices that are simply too high.  If this is the case with your property, you could consider installing secondary double glazing as a reasonable alternative.

Firstly what is secondary glazing?  It is a window glazing unit that is placed directly over your existing window frame, thereby insulating your window unit and creating a pocket of air between the two sheets of glazing.

There are various reasons why this glazing may be preferable to installing replacement double glazed windows.  The main reason is selected would be that the homeowners are not allowed to change their existing windows to something such as uPVC windows, due to a planning restriction, which may have the home listed as a protected structure. Buildings are listed for a very good reason, in order to protect and preserve our architectural heritage.  However it can be very frustrating and uncomfortable for a family to have to live in a cold, energy inefficient home, all because they cannot install replacement sash windows or other types of replacement units to replace their windows that are allowing a lot of air leakage.

It is in cases such as these that secondary double glazing becomes appropriate as an insulation barrier inside the timber sash windows.  It is also considerable cheaper than replacing all of your window units and some people elect to carry out this glazing on some rooms of the home, that are in particular need of extra insulation.

If you are a home improvement enthusiast, DIY secondary double glazing is easier to carry out than replacing your windows.  You can purchase secondary double glazing kits from window suppliers and follow the detailed instruction in order to achieve the best results.

It should be said that by installing secondary glazing windows you will not have a sealed pocket of air between the two panes of glazing.  This is not as effective a method of insulation as proper double glazing windows by a long shot, but is a reasonable second option.  With this method you also have the advantage of being able to remover the secondary glazing, which allows you to maintain, clean and open your windows.

In the United Kingdom, secondary glazing can be very popular, as there are many buildings that have restrictions placed on them with regard to window replacement.  ‘Secondary double glazing UK’ is a popular search term on the internet and one which will help narrow down your search if you are looking for a supplier of this type of product.  If you have a particular type of window that you wish to get quoted for, why not search under ‘secondary double glazing sash windows’, ‘double glazing window installers ‘or some other term which will help put you in the right direction.

Double glazed sash windows are installed in various properties due to their durability and the lure of windows that are maintenance free. There are many homeowners who want to replace their sash windows due to weathering, deterioration or for a change in style. After carrying endless window repairs to old timber sash windows, or perhaps trying such ventures as installing secondary double glazing, many property owners may opt to replace their old sash windows with newer versions, but there are those homeowners who choose standard casement windows instead.

Unfortunately what many homeowners fail to realise is that changing to a different style of window and window glazing could in fact reduce the level of security afforded to a property, prevent adequate ventilation and change the whole aesthetics of a home.

Providers of replacement sash windows believe that people looking to change or replace their sash windows should look at other ranges of sashes such as double glazing sash windows rather than changing to a completely different design. With so many different styles of sash window double glazing now available a home can be transformed without jeopardising the look and safety aspects that are so crucial for a property.

Sash windows are available with various features, available in wood or upvc and can be installed in stunning shapes and sizes. Although associated with grand homes, sash windows look just as good in modern properties and town houses due to the advancements in style and structure.

The charm that sash windows hold over other types of window is due to how they are manufactured and installed. Safety features play a big part in sash window functionality and double glazed sash windows are popular due to their strength, durability and of course practicality. Window locks, cam catches and limit stops are all features that make sash windows safe and secure in homes where they were originally part of the fabric.

They say ‘A Change Is As Good As A Rest’, and this is most definitely the case when it comes to refurbishment. However, understanding a building and knowing what is best for the occupants is the first stage before any construction work is undertaken. Fire egress requirements for a building that has sash windows can be put in jeopardy if they are removed and replaced with non sash windows double glazing.  Having a means of escape ensures that occupants are safe and a property is to the required standard.

Before changing any sash windows, it is worth looking at the vast range of styles that are available to ensure a property is up to standard. Whether a homeowner wants uPVC windows or traditional timber,  double glazed timber or upvc sash windows , with authentic features such as brass sash window locks, can be developed to match the period, style and functionality of any property.  Get quotes from recognised double glazed window installers who shouls be able to help you with your individual requirements with regard to glazing windows.

This blog post was written by Bygone Collection, specialists within the manufacturing and installation of all double glazed sash windows. The aforementioned products are supplied by Bygone Collection and for the full range styles they offer visit their website.

All of the research stacks up to tell us that having double glazing is the way of the future in window insulation.  In fact you could get triple window glazing, but given that it is dearer and that we are really talking about upgrading from old timber single glazed windows to a better quality window product, we can stick with double glazing windows here.  If you have come around to deciding to get double glazing for your home, then a double glazing quote is a necessity before you commit yourself to any purchase.

If you have not yet been sold on the idea of double glazing for your property, let us briefly outline the advantages of this glazing over single glazed windows.  Double glazing has been proven to absolutely provide better insulation for the home.  In fact by installing quality double glazed uPVC windows for example, you will be able to cut your fuel consumption bills and save money.   In addition to this, having double glazed house windows will help you to keep any future carbon tax charges to a minimum.  Windows which are double glazed will improve greatly the security of your home and the glazing can have specific additional functions, such as being able to reflect rays, assist in suppressing sound, etc.

The best way to keep the cost down is to shop around and get double glazing quotes.  While it will not be easy to get cheap uPVC windows that are of good quality, you could certainly be able to get a manufacturer or supplier to give you a very keen quote by bargaining.  This would be the same for any product, but while you can visit many shops in order to price compare for such items as milk and eggs, there may not be too many suppliers of double glazing in your immediate locality.

Therefore the ultimate quote to get is a double glazing online quote. On the internet, from the comfort of your armchair, you can peruse the world of double glazing manufacturers, compare the quality and prices of their products, look at shipping costs, get double glazing online quotes and even visit forums where you can get any queries you may have regarding double glazing answered.

Most of these manufacturers have a built in ‘double glazing quote calculator’ on their websites and you can use this easy to operate tool to get a quote without having to deal with a salesperson until you are ready to.

It is advisable to get more than one quote for your windows, and these should be quotes regarding the same quantity and specifications, so that you can make accurate comparisons.  Get the manufacturers to gives you samples of their produce and more importantly, request from them testimonials form satisfied customers in your area.  Follow up these people to ensure that they were truly happy with the companies work.

If you follow these points when you are getting a double glazing quote, it will help ensure that you get a keen quote from trustworthy and reputable manufacturers and double glazing windows installers.  This approach applies to getting quotes for double glazed sash windows, casements windows or any other window type and you can even consider the possibility of secondary double glazing if you wish.  Do not get rush into making any decision as you intend to have your new double glazing installed in your home for a long time to come.