Which Double Glazing?

The best double glazing will be a combination of several factors and the best double glazing for some people might not necessarily be the best double glazing for others. The best double glazing for any particular person will take into account their home’s style and its location and the customer’s preferences and budget. Some homes will be better suited to timber or sash window style double glazing while others will be better with white uPVC. Factors to consider are how your house will look compared to your neighbours’ and what windows you are used to. uPVC frames are thicker than wood or metal and you will be getting less glass for your window. And less glass equals less light into your home. On the other hand, uPVC is easy to maintain and should keep its colour for the rest of its life. The best double glazing companies will offer a range of products and styles to suit all tastes. Their experts will be able to talk you through the hundreds of options and help you decide what is the best double glazing for you and your needs.

DIY double glazing is not for everyone but, with the right skills and a bit of advice, there are savings to be made. A top tip for any DIY double glazing project is to make sure you remove the old window unit with care. The less mess you make here, the easier it will be when you come to fit the new one into the same space. Also, make sure you have measured correctly before ordering your parts. You only have to measure the frame space. The manufacturer will supply the right size glass for the frame you order. The frame and the sealed glass unit will come as separate packages and the beading will already be fitted in the frame. The third part of the package will be the sill. This will not necessarily be the right dimensions and you will have to cut it to the right size.

Replacement double glazing is not the right move for every household. You must consider why you want to replace your windows and whether it is cost effective. For example, if you have original sash windows, replacement double glazing will probably reduce the value of your house. And this is not money you can make back by the reduction in your fuel bills due to better insulation and draught proofing. If you want better insulation, you can opt for secondary glazing or thicker glass while keeping the same frames. On the other hand, if your windows are beyond repair – for example, the frames are broken – replacement double glazing is probably a good idea. It is not worth replacing your windows if they just need a bit of maintenance. If you have old windows which have stood the test of time, then it could be more cost effective to pay someone to maintain them every few years safe in the knowledge that these old windows were built to last.

Double glazing prices can vary a lot. But don’t necessarily just go for the cheapest. You tend to get what you pay for. Having said that, never pay the first price you are quoted. The most important advice is to get a list of prices from several different double glazing companies. And remember, double glazing prices are flexible. You can bargain with your company. Once you have settled on a firm and a price that you are happy with, you should try to get the firm to offer a little extra. Maybe they can upgrade the glass with a coating that makes it harder for dirt to stick to. But remember, you will try to get the best double glazing price by comparing companies against each other and bargaining, but the double glazing firms will be trying to get the best out of you. Never agree to a price straight away, even if you are offered a massive discount. The chances are that you will always be able to get this discount. It is always best to tell the salesman that you will not, under any circumstances, be making a decision until later.

Which double glazing company is right for you? The choice might seem overwhelming at first but there are a few steps you can take to help whittle down the field and settle on the right double glazing company. Firstly, don’t just pick any random double glazing company from the phone book. Don’t be fooled by flashy adverts, claims or affiliations with trade associations. You have to do your research and make sure you are dealing with a reputable double glazing company. Nothing beats word of mouth and referrals from other people. So always try to see examples of a double glazing company’s previous work and speak to their customers. Were they easy to get on with? Did they do the work on time? Did they stick to the original estimate? If there were any problems, were they dealt with reasonably? And remember, the cheapest quote isn’t always the best. Some companies will start cheap and then add to the price later or just not give you the most suitable product for your needs.

The cost of double glazing is always the major consideration among customers looking for new or replacement double glazing. Although double glazing pays for itself in the long run with the reduction in your fuel bills, this is in the very long run and you are unlikely to make significant savings compared to the initial double glazing cost. As with most products, the cheapest double glazing will not always be the best product for you. A top tip is to go for the most expensive you can afford and only double glaze a few rooms as opposed to go cheaper and double glaze the whole house. If you do only double glaze a few rooms, consider which ones will benefit most from the work. You don’t have to pay your double glazing cost in one go. A 10 per cent deposit is usual but then you should only pay in stages after you are happy with each piece of work. If you can pay by credit card then you have a little more protection as your credit card company will refund the money if you can prove you have been ripped off by dodgy work.

How to get a double glazing quote? Well, that’s the easy part. The hard part is having the patience to get lots of quotes and the strength of character not to be bullied into accepting the first quote. You can search online or in local phone directories for double glazing companies offering free quotes. Once you arrange for a quote, a salesman will come round to assess the job. Remember, though, that salesmen will be looking to close the deal there and then. The majority of double glazing salesman now are professionals who will do an honest job but a few give the rest of the industry a bad name. If you don’t like the salesman giving you the quote and feel that you are being pressured into making a decision, just ask him to leave and then look for another quote. Don’t be lured by a time sensitive special offer. There is always another special offer around the corner.

Double glazing repairs that can usually be carried out include mending broken hinges and locks and steamed up windows. If the window has steamed up it means that the seal has been breached and that moisture is being let into the unit. Repairing a steamed up window usually means replacing the double glazing unit. But this shouldn’t affect the frame. The double glazed unit is made as a separate entity to the frames and should be able to slip out and be replaced with a properly sealed unit of the same dimensions. Likewise, broken locks can be replaced without affecting the rest of the unit. The trick with locks is getting the broken lock out. Once this is done, a new lock can be sourced fairly cheaply. It is a good idea to properly maintain your windows though to avoid the need for repairs. For example, give your locks and hinges a gentle oil once a year and don’t use washing up liquid on your glass as it can have a detrimental effect on the glazing.

The door is the entrance to your home. It gives the first impression of your home but it is also the place where most heat can be lost from and where most draughts can be let in. A double glazed door will reduce draughts and heat loss, reducing your fuel bills. And with the range of choice on the market, you are sure to find a style to suit your needs. For front doors, a Regency style can give a traditional look with the modern benefits of low-maintenance and high security uPVC. Its colour will stay true and, unlike wood, will need no treatment. For the back of the house, French doors or patio doors can let a lot of light into the house and really open up the space into the garden. It is here that your choice of glass style will be important. Options include a range of leading and bars in a variety of patterns. Although they can be slimline with frames that don’t detract from the expanse of glass, double glazing doors also add security to your home.

Double glazing units have several significant benefits over single panes of glass. Although glass is good at insulation, it is the air gap between two sheets of glass that gives double glazing units their far superior insulation qualities. A gap of about 2cm is ideal for the optimum heat insulation. Larger gaps lead to better sound insulation. But even with a smaller air gap, you can opt for two panes of glass with varying thicknesses to increase sound insulation. Double glazing units work both ways when it comes to keeping your house warm. Firstly, a made-to-measure unit will prevent draughts coming through any gaps. And secondly, the two panes of glass (with air gap) prevents more heat escaping from your home than a single pane can. You can also choose energy-saving glass for your units for even greater insulation. This glass has a metal coating so heat is reflected back into the house while allowing the maximum amount of light to come into the room.