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Even with modern innovations in window technology, condensation continues to be a problem in homes across the country. The mild and humid climate we have here in the UK can often make condensation appear inevitable and can cause some worry when those little droplets start appearing on the windows regularly.

Condensation happens when the water vapours in the air come into contact with a lower temperature surface and leave droplets of water on the surface behind. Single glazed windows are the most prone to condensation as they don’t retain heat well, often becoming as cold as the air temperature outside. Problems can arise down the line as excessive condensation can lead to build-ups of black mould, which can harm the house’s occupant.

Double glazed and secondary glazed windows offer higher protection levels from condensation than single glazing but do so in different ways. A double glazed window has two panes of glass with a space between them. This space can be a vacuum or filled with a gas such as Argon. This space stops heat transfer between the two panes of glass from your house to the outside. On the other hand, secondary glazing involves installing a layer of glass on the inside of a single glazed window. The glass layer protects against the cold and keeps the heat from coming directly into contact with the pane of glass touching the cold air outside.

Both double glazing and secondary glazing offer adequate protection from condensation but determining which is better can be tricky.

Double Glazed Windows and Condensation Prevention

Double glazed windows tend to be considered the best option for insulating heat in your home. Most can cut down heat loss by 40-50%, with some even reaching as high as 65% if the gap between the two panes is filled with a thermally insulating gas. The resulting temperature of the inner pane compared to the outer pane is much higher. As a result, the water vapour in your house is not likely to deposit onto the inner pane of the window because the surface temperature is not lower than the air in your home. Compared to a single glazed window, the single pane is in contact with both the cold air outside and the warm air in your home. Any water vapour in the air in your home will come into contact with the cold surface of the single pane of glass and will deposit droplets through condensation. Therefore, water droplets are less likely to appear by having a warmer inner pane.

However, there are several key issues with double glazing that can make it an invalid option for preventing condensation. Firstly, if you don’t already have double glazed windows in your building, it can be incredibly difficult to have them installed as they require an entirely new unit to be built to house them. Furthermore, this can be a costly process that can take some time, especially if the occupant has to acquire certain permissions to change certain property elements. Finally, condensation can still occur on double glazed windows if poorly ventilated the building. Humans (and pets!) breathe out moisture throughout the day, and in spaces with little ventilation, particularly smaller ones, windows can appear to be steaming up. Water droplets can form from this steam, and condensation is happening regardless of how warm it is within the building.

Secondary Glazed Windows and Preventing Condensation

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Secondary glazing goes a long way to answering these key issues. As a fitting rather than a new installation, secondary glazing allows the occupant to retain the aesthetic of their home and not have to acquire permissions if their home requires it. In addition, secondary glazing can be fitted quickly and easily, circumventing the practical issues of installing double glazing cost-effectively. Secondary glazing provides adequate heat insulation for homes with single glazed windows installed. However, the main benefit of secondary glazing compared to double glazing is the level of ventilation for the property that isn’t achievable through double glazing. Ventilation is one of the most effective ways of preventing condensation because it allows the water vapour in the building to disperse outside. We are all breathing moisture into the air, and it helps to give that moisture somewhere to go instead of becoming trapped in the property with us.

Whilst double-glazing does cut down heat loss significantly, its lack of ventilation can hinder it from preventing condensation. As a cheaper and often more practical alternative, secondary glazing offers good levels of insulation, coupled with good levels of ventilation that go a long way to preventing condensation. Therefore, whilst both types of windows are excellent at reducing and preventing condensation, secondary glazing tends to win out when comparing the two.

If you’re interested in Oakland Home Improvements secondary glazing you can get in touch with our online form or you can check our double glazing quote engine and see how much your new window could cost today.

Can I Install Secondary Glazing in a Listed Building?

Can I install secondary glazing in a listed building? The short answer is yes. If you live in a listed building, getting new windows can be a nightmare. It’s because, when you’re lucky enough to live in a building that’s known for its beauty or its history, it’s more difficult to change the design. However, that often means that people who live in listed buildings have to put up with windows, doors and more that leave them cold and uncomfortable.

But what if there was another way to make your listed building better? Instead of replacing the windows with new designs, potentially sacrificing the classic style of the property, you can protect those windows with secondary glazing. Secondary glazing is best thought of as a brand-new window for your old one; it covers the top of the window, effectively creating a whole new system. When combined with the old window, you effectively get double or triple glazing for your home, improving its insulation.

Because of this, it’s incredibly useful to install secondary glazing in a listed building. You’ll be able to get better insulation and security, and the new secondary glazing will protect the old window in your home from wind and rain, meaning it also lasts longer. And, because secondary glazing is made-to-measure to keep the look of your old windows, it’s more likely to be approved for a listed building. At Oakland Home Improvements, we can help you fit secondary glazing in your home in Essex and the surrounding areas today.

Secondary Glazing

Why Should You Install Secondary Glazing in a Listed Building?

Firstly, secondary glazing in a listed building can protect the character of your home. Often, new windows are too modern to fit in a classic home, with materials like uPVC and aluminium offering a sleek look that doesn’t go hand-in-hand with an old-school property. However, secondary glazing blends in with your classic windows, meaning you lose none of your current home’s style. As a result, secondary glazing works well in a listed building because it’s difficult to see!

However, secondary glazing is much easier to feel when sitting at home. It’s because secondary glazing doesn’t only preserve the look of your old windows but works to fix many of the issues that come with them. For example, secondary glazing can add another layer of protection from the elements, covering any gaps in your old windows that may have emerged from weather exposure. Because of this, you’re less likely to worry about draughts, damp spots and condensation affecting your home.

Secondary glazing can even make your home more comfortable. By installing this additional layer of glazing, you can reduce the amount of noise you hear from outside your home by up to 80%, meaning you can make the sound of traffic turn into a whisper. Not only that, secondary glazing makes your home more thermally efficient, saving you money against triple glazing while keeping the charm of your classic windows. You can save thousands of pounds on your energy bills over time!

secondary glazing in a listed building

Benefits of Secondary Glazing in a Listed Building

Fully Bespoke – At Oakland, we can help you create fully bespoke secondary glazing to fit any window perfectly. You can customise every aspect of the design to ensure you get the right option, including the window’s colours, finishes, and style. No matter what you need, we can make sure you get new made-to-measure secondary glazing to suit you. Not only that, Oakland’s friendly team of local installers will provide a service as personalised as your new secondary glazing will be.

Easy to Install – Secondary glazing is much easier to install in a listed building than new windows. When you fit new windows, you have to go through the hassle of taking the old windows out before you can even get started, and older windows are usually more complex to remove. On the other hand, secondary glazing goes over the top of your windows. As a result, the process takes less time and is quicker and smoother for your installers, meaning less stress and fuss for you and your family.

Likely Approval – When you install secondary glazing in a listed building, you’re much more likely to get approval for the design. Instead of replacing your old windows, you’ll be preserving what makes your home valuable. Not only that, you’ll probably have a much easier time during consultations with planning authorities, heritage organisations and even your neighbours by installing secondary glazing. So, not only will secondary glazing save money, but you’ll also save stress by installing it inside your home.

secondary glazing in a listed building prices

Secondary Glazing for Listed Buildings Prices

At Oakland Home Improvements, we make it easy to install secondary glazing in a listed building in Essex. All you have to do is get in touch using our online form to let us know your requirements, and we can begin to plan your new installation. And, if you’d like to see how much our double glazing could cost, you can use our online quoting engine today. It takes minutes to use, meaning you can get a personalised price for secondary glazing sooner than you think!

What is Secondary Glazing?

What is secondary glazing, and how can it enhance your home? The best way to think of secondary glazing is that it’s like a new window for your old one. If you have old, more traditional windows with single-glazed glass or timber frames, then those designs might be beginning to show their age. However, replacing them with new windows can sometimes be costly, and you might lose some of your home’s classic charm.

This is where secondary glazing comes in. Unlike a new window, which features double glazing, secondary glazing goes over the top of your current design. The glass in your old window combines with the new glazing to effectively form a double glazing unit, improving the insulation and performance of your home. And, because secondary glazing is made-to-measure, you won’t lose any of the look of your current property.

As a result, secondary glazing is ideal if you want to save money or live in a traditional home. And, if you want to get secondary glazing at a great price in Essex and the surrounding areas, Oakland Home Improvements can help. We’ve crafted a range of secondary glazing options that can suit any window style, and all of our designs are bespoke. Get in touch today to find out more or start your free online quote!

Secondary Glazing Windows

Secondary Glazing Retains Your Home’s Charm

The main benefit of secondary glazing is that it can preserve your old window. In your home, you may have windows with timber frames which can struggle in bad weather conditions. However, secondary glazing is fully weatherproof, meaning that the new unit won’t allow wind and rain to pass through. As a result, your old windows won’t be exposed to bad conditions, protecting them from rust and wear.

Secondary glazing is also made-to-measure for your old windows. Because of this, there’ll be no obvious gaps in the design, meaning that draughts and damp spots are less likely to develop. The new glass unit also combines with your old one to create double glazing with a bigger gap between the panes than new windows. As a result, secondary glazing could make your old windows perform even better than new ones.

High-Performance Secondary Glazing

Our secondary glazing units can make your home a better place to live. For example, installing one of these units can make your home a lot quieter. It’s because secondary glazing adds to the barriers that sound waves have to pass through when travelling into your home. As a result, the impact of loud noises from outside is significantly reduced, with up to 80% of external noise pollution being eliminated.

Not only that, secondary glazing can act as a durable thermal barrier. When you install it, you’ll create a double or even triple glazed window that is able to capture more of your home’s natural heat while insulating it against cold air. You’ll also be able to keep the charming design of your existing profiles without having to deal with any of the drawbacks. Your home will be comfortable all year round and you can save money on your energy bills!

secondary glazing

Cost-Effective Secondary Glazing

Finally, secondary glazing is a cost-effective installation. By choosing secondary glazing over a new window, you can save money on enhancing your home. Not only that, you’ll be able to solve the issues your old windows are causing in less time and with less hassle. You’ll be able to fit secondary glazing even more quickly than a brand-new window, as you won’t have to switch out your old one to do it.

You’ll also be able to keep what’s great about classic windows. Their aesthetics, charm and handcrafted quality will make sure your home keeps what you and your guests love about it. Secondary glazing simply helps to preserve this classic charm, and it can make your old windows last for years and even decades longer than they would have otherwise. In that sense, secondary glazing isn’t just cost-effective: it’s priceless.

Secondary Glazing from Oakland Home Improvements

If you’re looking to install secondary glazing for your home in Essex and the surrounding areas, talk to Oakland Home Improvements. As a trusted local installer, our team can help you preserve and enhance your home for less. We’ll also be able to work to faster lead times and offer more competitive prices than the big national brands. Not only that, our friendly team will install your new secondary glazing quickly, and with the utmost care.

We have decades of experience in fitting secondary glazing for homes throughout Essex. And, with plenty of styles to choose from, we’re sure to have something for your home. You’ll be able to choose bespoke secondary glazing for your property every time with us, too, meaning you could preserve your window’s look or opt for an exciting new contrast. No matter your ideas, Oakland can help make them a reality.

secondary glazing prices

Secondary Glazing Prices

To get secondary glazing prices, use our online quoting engine to design your bespoke installation and get a unique price estimate.

You can also find out more by contacting our team via our online form or by calling Oakland Home Improvements today on 01277 365 988.

We look forward to hearing from you!