Replacement windows: Buyer Beware all about buying doubleglazed windows and doors, severa pages! Double glazing and having new replacement windows fitted or a conservatory has a great many hidden aspects which all add up to make it a larger than first realised subject. A lot of people thinking about it have a feeling that there may be a potential 'minefield' out there. DOUBLE GLAZING fitted in replacement windows for insulation & noise reduction:"What is double glazing, and how does it work?" The best way to buy your replacement windows double glazing, and the worst How not be be mugged!
There is just so much you can learn about wood, that I will merely cover wood, 'soft' and 'hard', in as much as it is relative to it's uses a frame material in our industry. By the way, did you know that 'Balsa-wood' is a hardwood - yes?, but do you know why? So, what is the (scientific) difference between Hardwood and Softwood? I was actually asked this exact question recently in my online double glazing Q & A discussion and so have expended my pages to accommodate most of the questions visitors would like answered woods.
The term refers to a second single glazed glass 'window' being fitted inside the room up to the main (prime) window. These days secondary glazing is used mainly to achieve sound insulation although originally secondary glazing was fitted up to original prime single glazed windows to insulate for heat savings. It may surprise you to know that the idea of double glazing, and secondary glazing, goes back many years and as far as I recall it was as long ago as the 1930's (someone correct me if I am mistaken) that double glazing was first really considered.
When I first heard about windows and doors being made out of 'plastic' I was appalled, and wondered what the world was coming to! When I first saw a sample window I have to admit to being prejudiced, and I hated the window before I saw it. After that I went on for a year or so resisting the requests made from growing customer interest. I would say to my customers: do you really want plastic windows, when look how good and strong these aluminium windows with hardwood frames are! I put up my hands and I admit that I was wrong, I bowed to customer demand and followed others in the industry doing what was then called uPVC windows and doors.
There are so many types of glass used in the double glazing industry you simply would not believe it! Many years ago glass for windows was drawn 'Sheet' glass, normally '32 ounce' in weight (now 4mm in thickness) which had noticeable distortion, and this type of glass can still be seen in older houses and buildings today. It is also what is known as 'greenhouse glass' normally '24ounce' in weight (now 3mm in thickness). The term "float" glass derives from the production method, introduced in the UK by Sir Alastair Pilkington in 1959, by which process 90% of today's flat glass is manufactured.
Question: Around 80% of all original windows have already been replaced, so how does the double glazing industry survive. Answer: We get a lot of business from people with 'new' houses wanting better windows, but the big answer is that the replacements of the 1970's and 1980's have now seen better days, the locks woefully inadequate for these times, and the styles (more particularly if they are also of the 'battleship grey' colour) are rapidly going out of fashion. These pictures show two similar houses, both having their old replacement windows replaced with new PVC-U, and on the same start day.
Planning permission may be needed, there is the groundwork, possibly building work with some brickwork, the framework of course, most of the glazing has to be 'toughened glass', and on most properties a roof will be needed for it to sit under. You don't really need need double glazing in a porch as it is not really necessary, but the framework is often designed to only take double glazed sealed units and the saving by having single glazed is really negligible. One important point to remember is the need for ventilation.
Fully finished conservatory - DIY installed 'P' shape like this, and just for fun, guess the price. Professional lead flashing of a double glazed conservatory roof, easy when you know how. Use an angle grinder to take out the mortar as shown. Start at the top, and trim the lead down to the next course by cutting out the triangle shape, one at a time. Use a 'blunt instrument' to force the lead into the groove. Rolled up pieces of lead off cuts are used as wedges to hold the lead in place. Then re-point, job done!
On this subject I will be giving you the benefit of my experience, together with my knowledge, and personal opinions, but I will not be going too deeply into the specifics, because we are not wanting to give the wrong people an education, are we? The actual real physical security of your property, in effectively and successfully deterring a would-be burglar is one thing - how secure you feel when you are asleep in your bed, or go off for the day to work, or go off on holiday is quite another. The vast majority of people nowadays having replacement windows and doors fitted have little need to be concerned with the, in my opinion, negligible differences between one product and another as regards security, despite what the salespeople will try to get you to believe (theirs, and only theirs, is the best, etc., etc.).
It's no wonder people are getting rid of all the old shiplap and windows, and replacing with plastic. What a dreadful job it would be to have to strip and prepare all this wood, primer it, undercoat it and give it two top coats of paint. To think about the time it would take and the cost of the paint, that's what bad dreams are made of. And what if you had to pay someone to do it properly every few years! Double glazing and having double glazed glass in replacement windows gives you insulation. Having double glazed sealed units in replacement windows doors, and conservatories - double glazing -is just like putting on another layer of clothing to keep out the cold.
The vast majority of visitors to my double glazing information website (98.73% to be precise) are outside the UK and indeed also outside of the day to day area in which I work. Double glazing and having double glazed glass in replacement windows gives you insulation. Having double glazed sealed units in replacement windows doors, and conservatories - double glazing -is just like putting on another layer of clothing to keep out the cold. The Window Man - Providing you with information, advice and double glazing quote requests.
You may be surprised to hear that the old steel 'Crittal' type windows that we loved to hate are still alive and kicking, and even more surprised to see that they are now available double glazed. Not as silly as it seems, these are an excellent and unbeatable alternative in situations where integral strength and low profile sizes have a high importance. However, these are not really a viable alternative for the average home as the framework lacks the thermal properties most will demand of a new window.
Direct Conservatories 4U have the widest ranges of DIY conservatories at the keenest prices - our DIY conservatories are direct from the Manufacturer. Our DIY conservatories start at just £1499 we offer a combination of an Economy DIY Conservatory range, a Standard DIY conservatory range and made to measure DIY conservatories, which will meet your requirements. DIY your own conservatory installation and save £1000's compared to using the "Supply and Fit" conservatories service. It's not just about buying DIY conservatories, it's the service and after sales service which counts.
If you are going to the expense of having hardwood windows purpose made in a joinery works, it is in my opinion a good idea to enquire as to the policy of the manufacturer in respect of whether heartwood (from the middle of the tree) is particularly selected for use. This part of the tree, although less well figured than wood from the outer regions, is likely to be straighter, denser, and closer grained, as the annual rings will be smaller and shrinkage will be less, resulting in a less likely tendency to split, warp or twist.
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