Secondary Glazing / Secondary Double Glazing
Reduce Noise & Sound Proofing 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 Laminated glass or 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). See below for information on the optimum gap/ cavity.
Did you know that over 30% of secondary glazing is installed in windows where double glazing already exists and many of them in new builds were the sound proofing from the new double glazing is not sufficient enough to meet 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. Read more »
Reduce Heating Bills and Heat Loss From Windows
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 financially. In terms of energy saving, windows and lofts are the prime areas in which heat loss can 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 - without improving or replacing your existing windows.
Providing Draft Proofing For 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. Our Secondary Glazing has twin brush seals ensuring a highly effective quality seal. Our secondary glazing will help prevent the draft from your prime windows entering the house for years to come.
The Optimum Air Gap - Simple Yet Effective
A simple yet effective way to optimize the reduction of both heat loss and external noise is to install your secondary glazing to allow around a 100mm air gap between the Secondary Glazing and the existing windows (glass to glass). This is due to the length of sound waves and the rates of transferal of heat through air. We have a deeper SF3 and SF4 subframe specifically for the purpose of Reveal fixing the Secondary Glazing in this way.
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.
