In readiness for winter you need to think about keeping your house warm, and one of the quickest ways to lose the heat you are paying for is to have large single pane windows letting it out. According to the Energy Saving Trust, double glazing can reduce your heat loss by half, and can save over £100 a year in energy costs.
When you add to this the problems of condensation, of rotting window frames and of drafty windows with no locks, double glazing seems an obvious improvement to consider while readying your house for the winter.
Luckily for you, double glazing is very much a buyer’s market, with huge competition between suppliers. This means that searching around and keeping your options open can really save you money on your double glazing. If that sounds too much like hard work you can let us do it for you by heading over to windowquoter.co.uk for a free quote, and we’ll help you get in touch with the best local suppliers in your area.
Before beginning your double glazing project, it’s worth having a look at the Home Improvements Quotes Double Glazing Checklist to see if you’ve thought of everything.
What frames do you want? Double glazed windows can be fitted with wooden, aluminium or uPVC frames. Try and think about which material will most suit the style of your house, and if your house is listed make sure you find out if you need planning permission from the local council before altering the exterior.
How many windows do you need? On a shoestring budget it might be worth considering just having your largest windows replaced, or sticking to the rooms that you use the most. The great thing about glazing is that it can be done in stages, so you can tailor the size of your project around the funds you have available now, and sort the rest out when you have some extra cash available.
Case Study As well as standard casement windows, many companies offer tilt and turn or sash case options which allow you to let air into the house without opening a large window up.
What About ‘Low-E’ Glass? Low-Emissivity (a.k.a. Low-E) glass is coated with a special substance that allows heat and light to pass into the house, but blocks it from leaving. In most cases this will lead to an increase in the efficiency of the glazing by up to 30%. Many suppliers now provide Low-E Glass as standard in their double glazing installations, so be sure to ask about it.
Something Extra? Frosted or leaded glazing can make your windows look gorgeous, and if your windows face east or west it might be worth considering having them tinted to keep the sun out of your eyes.