What is double glazing?

Double glazing is a solution to traditional single-pane windows and doors. With double glazing, your home can be better protected against the cold, which may reduce your energy bills. At SGC Glass, we offer a number of services related to double glazing, including the installation of double glazed units or full replacement of uPVC and aluminium windows and doors.

Here, you’ll discover more about double glazing and how it works, providing the ideal way to reduce noise and retain heat in your home. Enquire today to find out how we can upgrade your home with quality double glazed windows.

When Did Double Glazing Come in for the UK?

Double glazing was first popular in the United States, and it was following that popularity that it came over to the UK. In the 1970s, glass companies started to produce doubled glazed windows more widely, and homeowners and businesses started installing these new windows in their buildings.

Before this popularisation of double glazing, UK glass companies only produced single-glazed windows. What’s interesting is that the form of double glazing we have today isn’t what started the trend.

Originally, window specialists in the 1960s would remove any rotted timber around a window pane and then just add a second layer of glass during the repair process. This second-window system in the UK is likely what helped the transition between single and double glazed window installation.

Around the 1980s, double glazing was the standard for any newly built home in the UK. Today, around 93% of UK homes have double glazing. The remaining 7% are likely older homes that haven’t been updated or buildings that haven’t been occupied in quite some time.

How Does Double Glazing Work?

Double glazing is a really interesting invention. Today’s version of double glazing features two glass window panes that are separated by a minute space. In this space between the glass, there is an insulating gas – argon gas as standard.

The addition of argon gas to the two panes of glass help prevent heat from escaping the confines of the home when windows are closed and properly sealed.

If the seal on the window is broken or damaged in any way (or the windows were incorrectly installed) homeowners will not benefit from the full potential of the window. You can usually tell if your double glazing isn’t functioning correctly because you will find condensation inside double glazing, typically around the sides and the bottom of the glass. This condensation is hiding between the two panes of glass, so it’s not something you’ll be able to wipe away.

Condensation in double glazing is caused by a number of reasons from wear and tear to poor ventilation, changes in temperate or high humidity rooms.

Does Double Glazing Reduce Noise?

Double glazing carries many benefits, including the reduction of noise. Because of the additional layer of glass and the space between, soundwaves have a harder time getting through. This should keep your home’s sounds inside and the outside world outside.

Of course, you can’t expect every sound from outside to be dampened. Double glazing isn’t going to do much against loud sounds, but it can take the edge off and quiet those sounds down to a more reasonable level.

That’s great for anyone who lives on a main road or in an urban area with lots of traffic.

What Are the Advantages of Double Glazing?

• Noise reduction
• Heat retention
• Lower energy bills
• Higher property value
• Better security
• Little to no condensation
• Reduced energy consumption

Double glazing can also reduce the damage to the interior of your home and your belongings. Any items near windows and doors get more sun damage than those that aren’t, but double glazing reduces the UV radiation your home is experiencing. This means that double glazing can help prevent sun damage to your precious belongings and protect your home better than single glazing ever could

Is Double Glazing Right for Me?

If your home was built in the 1980s and beyond, it should already have double glazing. In the event that it doesn’t, or you believe your home’s double glazing might be damaged, then double glazing installation is definitely for you.

Double glazing is the standard for homes in the UK, with plenty of benefits that make single glazing absolutely redundant. If you want to save on your energy bills, be kinder to the planet by reducing your energy use, and dampen the sound around your property, enquire about double glazing today.

Contact our SGC Glass team today to book an appointment with our team. We’ll come over and check out the current windows on your home, making suggestions on where improvements can be made and how our services can help you.