Every home has its challenges. Just like in our favourite movies where heroes face villains, our homes encounter some persistent “villains” that can compromise our comfort and wellbeing. Retrofit double glazing can slay many of these villains, helping to create a warmer, drier, quieter and healthier home.
Retrofit double glazing is the process of replacing single-pane windows in existing timber or aluminium frames with much more energy-efficient double-glazing units. See our blog on “What is Retrofit Double Glazing?” for a more detailed explanation. Retrofit double glazing will improve the comfort and value of your home and save on energy bills.
Let’s look at the key villains that retrofit double glazing combats.
1. Villain: Cold and damp
Single-glazed windows lead to colder homes and a greater likelihood of condensation and moisture, leaving your home cold, damp and draughty. Some windows literally drip with condensation in the mornings which can lead to growth of bacteria and mould as well as fungi, mites and viruses, causing asthma, allergies, and respiratory infection. As well as being extremely uncomfortable, this can be very unhealthy, particularly for the elderly and young children.
Double glazing using high-performance low-E glass helps insulate your home by reflecting heat and preventing the warm air inside from escaping. Heat loss through the glass can be reduced by as much as 70%. At the same time, the internal glass surface temperature remains warmer, which reduces the likelihood of condensation on the glass surface. Condensation is also relative to humidity, so ventilation and humidity control is also important.
2. Villain: Sweltering heat, glare and furniture fading
Some rooms that have a large amount of glass, particularly catching afternoon sun in the summer, can accumulate excessive heat, glare and radiation that results in discomfort and the fading of valuable furnishings. Single glazing does little to reduce solar radiation and energy from entering your home.
Ask your glazier about types of low E, tinted and/or laminated glass that can effectively limit the amount of solar heat gain, visible light transmission, glare and radiation that causes furniture fading, and preserve heat retention in the winter, resulting in a more comfortable living environment all year round.
3. Villain: Cold draughts
Cold draughts can be the result of gaps around poorly fitting windows and doors, and convection currents caused by temperature gradients over the glass surface which result in movement of cold air at floor level.
Retrofit double glazing reduces draughts by ensuring windows and doors are refurbished and properly fitted with new seals or high-performance draught seal to eliminate gaps, and by keeping the internal glass temperature warmer, which reduces convection currents.
4. Villain: Energy inefficiency and high electricity bills
Nobody likes to see their hard-earned money evaporating into thin air, especially when it’s due to energy inefficiency.
Retrofit double glazing provides superior insulation, reducing heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer, and providing a more comfortable even temperature all year round. This means that you will not need to use your heating or cooling system as often, which is more eco-friendly and will save you money on your energy bills.
5. Villain: Unwanted noise
Whether it’s loud neighbours, bustling traffic, or just the sound of the wind howling, unwanted noises can disrupt our peace and sleep. You may also want to limit the amount of noise escaping from your home, for example, if you have a teenager with a drum kit!
Noise can be reduced by retrofit double glazing in several ways: by inclusion of a pane of acoustic laminated glass as one of the panes; by increasing the thickness of the glass and space between glass panes; and by effectively sealing the gaps around windows and doors by ensuring proper fitment, seals, and secondary draught seal. As a result, double glazing can significantly reduce noise transmission in both directions, making it ideal for homes located near busy roads or with teenage drummers in residence.
6. Villains: Window wear and tear, and windows that don’t open or close properly
Over time, windows can get worn out, not opening and closing as they should, leading to drafts and leaks. In addition, hinges can rust and get gummed up with paint, and handles and latches can come loose, get damaged, or fall off!
Retrofit double glazing replaces all opening aluminium sashes, seals, handles and catches, and refurbishes timber windows, ensuring they seal properly and function smoothly.
7. Villain: Dated joinery or obstructed views
If you want to modernise the appearance of your home by removing colonial bars, sets of small windows, or unwanted vision panels that obstruct your view, retrofit double glazing can help.
Colonial bars can be re-fitted to retain original character or removed to provide a more modern look, and window configuration can be changed to convert several small windows to a single large picture window. Window function can be modified, changing fixed to opening or opening to fixed windows, or hinges to friction stays, and pet doors can be added or deleted.
8. Villain: Poor privacy or security
Is privacy or security a worry for you?
You can increase privacy and/or security using retrofit double glazing by including obscure, tinted or reflective glass in one pane. Security can also be increased by including a Grade-A Safety Glass, such as toughened or laminated safety glass, in one pane, and by adding security or restrictor stays or lockable latches to opening windows. Double-glazed windows and doors are also harder to break than single-pane windows due to their robust construction, enhancing your home’s safety.
Summary
In summary, the key benefits of retrofit double glazing are:
- A warmer home – reduce heat loss through glass in your home by up to 70%, depending on the type of joinery, and the glass you choose.
- A drier, healthier home – reduces condensation and dampness around windows and doors, and the likelihood of mould.
- A cooler home in summer, with reduced glare and fading of furniture and drapes – by reducing solar heat gain, UV radiation and the spectra of light that cause glare and fading.
- A quieter home – double glazing can reduce sound transmission by as much as 60%, particularly if acoustic glass is used as one of the panes.
- Reduced cost and environmental impact by refurbishing and reusing your existing joinery, which in the case of timber, is a highly efficient insulator.
- Reduced energy bills – keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer, reducing energy consumption.
- A more comfortable and energy efficient home, all year around.
Retrofit double glazing is an effective way of combating the villains listed above ensuring our homes are comfortable, energy efficient, and truly ours. So, next time you spot one of these villains causing trouble in your home, you know who to call!