Secondary Glazing: Everything you need to know

If you live in a listed property, then you might feel as though there’s not much you can do in terms of improving the house.

It can become quite frustrating especially in the colder months if you’re unable to upgrade your windows where a lot of heat is lost.

That’s why secondary glazing is a great option for homeowners who are looking to make energy-saving changes whilst boosting heat retention and overall, saving on energy bills.

In this guide we’ll cover:

• What is secondary glazing?
• The benefits of secondary glazing
• Is secondary glazing as good as double glazing?

We hope to answer all the questions you may have regarding secondary glazing and give you an idea of where you can purchase secondary glazing online, today.

What is secondary glazing?

Secondary glazing, put simply, is installing an extra windowpane in front of the properties’ original windows which acts as double glazing, reduce cold draughts and eliminating external noise.

It’s also considerably less expensive than double glazing whilst promoting a lot of the benefits.

From an aesthetic perspective, it may appear quite obstructive but once installed it’s easy to use and surprisingly discreet, fitting in with the rest of the home.

Where secondary glazing does lack is in its appearance. You don’t get all the features and benefits of a personalised window design that matches with your home. 

For more information about upgrading your single glazed windows to double glazed windows (and opting out of secondary glazing) go to the Government Website where you can find out more information in applying for planning permission to your local planning authority.

The benefits of secondary glazing

As previously mentioned, secondary glazing is perfect for those on a budget who want all the energy-saving benefits that double glazing has to offer but that is a lot cheaper than installing new windows.

Instaling secondary glazing is a smaller job and can be done in a few hours, but the difference will be instantly noticeable and last for as long as you have secondary glazing installed.

It also maintains the overall look and feel of the property from outside the house. The slim window cannot be seen externally but internally it’s unobtrusive and acts naturally within the window itself.

It also provides the elimination of cold draughts (where heat is most commonly lost) and provides peace and quiet in the home, blocking out unwanted external noise.

So for many reasons, secondary glazing is a great option for homeowners who are on a budget but are looking for all the benefits double glazing has to offer.

Is secondary glazing as good as double glazing?

In some ways, yes. Depending upon the reason why you’re wanting to install either secondary or double glazing, secondary glazing is better than double glazing at eliminating external noise. Simply because the secondary windowpane is further away from the original single glazed window, which helps reduce external noise.

Double glazed windows are closer together and whilst they do a good job of reducing noise outside, secondary glazed windows go one step further.

If you live near the main road or in an area with a lot of noise, secondary glazing might be a better investment than double glazed windows.

Looking to install secondary glazed windows?

Find your nearest secondary window installer or if you prefer to opt for double glazing and have planning permission to do so, use our online quote building tool to get a free, no-obligation quote from up to 3 different double glazing companies.

We work with many double glazing installers up and down the country who offer a full range of services, take a look to find one near you who can give you a bespoke quote for your secondary glazed window installation.