Electrical | General | Heat & AC | Pool / Spa | Plumbing | Roofing | Solar | LP Gas
Landscape | Contact Us | Links | Home Improvement | Home
Home Improvement Information Site Map



Why Double Glazing?


Why replace your single-glazed windows with double glazing ? For most, the precipitating factor for looking into double glazing is a need for new construction (or renovation) to conform to modern energy standards. Others decide to replace their windows as an energy saving measure. The main advantage that double glazing offers over traditional windows is insulation. Because nearly 25% of your heat is lost through your windows, well-made and well-fitted double glazing can reduce your heating costs by as much as half depending on the amount of glass in your home.

Some of the things to consider when shopping for double glazing for your home are safety, energy conservation, style, type of frame, type of glass, cost and installation. Each of these are important in your choice. Most will affect the price that you pay - and all will affect your pleasure and comfort in your home for years to come.

Safety

Single pane windows are most often made of a single sheet of regular glass which shatters into long, sharp shards when hit. When shopping for double glazing, you have a choice of several different kinds of glass, each of which are safer on breaking than traditional window panes. If nothing else, the double thickness reduces the chances that both panes will be broken. Whether you use security glass, toughened glass or shatterproof glass, double glazing offers some measure of safety over single glazing.

Security

There's no doubt that double glazing makes it more difficult for a thief or intruder to break into your home by the simple expedient of breaking a window pane and reaching through the hole - but real security has more to do with the window frames and locking systems than with the glass itself. Be sure to choose windows with frames that can be securely locked from the inside.

Energy Conservation

Double glazing can reduce heat lost through windows by as much as 50%, thereby reducing your heating bills, keeping your house warmer and helping you do your bit in the conservation of natural resources. Especially in rooms with large windows, the difference in temperature in the room is easily noticeable. Sitting by a large, double-glazed picture window is far, far more comfortable on a chill winter night.

Style and Design

Double glazing is available in many different styles and types, and most people attempt to match the style of their old windows with the new if at all possible, especially when doing restoration work. A good, reputable contractor will work with you to find double glazing windows that suit your architecture and enhance your home's beauty.

Frames

The three main frame types are PVCu, aluminum and wood, and each has its unique advantages and disadvantages. In a nutshell - PVCu frames are best at energy conservation, aluminum frames are the sturdiest, and wooden frames are the most attractive - at least in the view of some. For more detailed information about the advantages of each, see the related articles.

Type of Glass

Safety glass, tempered glass, low-e glass, Pilkington K glass - there are many types of glass that are used in double glazing. Glass with energy coatings - the low-e and Pilkington K among them - add further insulating properties to your windows, and can certainly be worth that additional expense.

Installation

Shop for a contractor and supplier as carefully as you do for glass. Shoddily done work can negate all the advantages gained in choosing to replace your current windows with double glazing. Look into the company's history and check for any complaints against them, even ask for references from others for whom they have done work. Installing double glazing throughout your house is an expensive proposition - it only makes sense to know the people who will be doing the work.

Matthew Anthony is a regular contributor to sites such as double glazing and window blinds.


MORE RESOURCES:
Electrical | General | Heat & AC | Pool / Spa | Plumbing | Roofing | Solar | LP Gas
Landscape | Contact Us | Links | Home Improvement | Home
Home Improvement Information Site Map


Two Local Home Improvement Giants Merge; Homeowners Benefit
MarketWatch - Aug 28, 2008
NEWARK, Del., Aug 28, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- What happens when two well-known, trusted exterior remodeling companies join forces? ...


Housing Related: Home Improvement Magazines Disappear [Housing ...
Seeking Alpha, NY - Aug 28, 2008
Shaw Group Makes Deal. “Construction firm The Shaw Group Inc. (SGR) will build a Lake Charles manufacturing plant and create 1400 jobs as part of a state ...


Boston Globe

Lowe’s opening new home improvement store at Alamo Ranch
Bizjournals.com, NC - Aug 21, 2008
Inc. is set to open the home improvement retailer’s newest store in San Antonio. Mooresville, NC-based Lowe’s (NYSE: LOW) will open its new store at Alamo ...
Rebuilding at Home Improvement Stores? Motley Fool
Home improvement won't improve quickly MarketWatch
Home improvement retailers fall with Home Depot Forbes
Xinhua - CNNMoney.com
all 707 news articles


Lowe’s Home Improvement outlet proposed for Albany
Daily Journal of Commerce, Oregon - Aug 28, 2008
BY DJC STAFF Portland architecture firm Baysinger Partners Architecture has proposed a design for a new Lowe’s Home Improvement outlet in Albany. ...


Simple Home Improvement Money Savers
SavingAdvice.com, WA - Aug 28, 2008
My home improvement project list never seems to get any shorter. Unfortunately, my budget doesn’t get any bigger. I’ve had to be pretty creative and really ...


Saving Pots Pave the Way for Home Improvements
PR Newswire UK (press release), UK - 10 hours ago
HALIFAX, England, August 29 /PRNewswire/ -- This research is part of the annual Halifax Home Improvement Survey, a series of research pieces that are ...
Halifax: People using savings to fund home repairs Money News
all 3 news articles


Examiner.com

Denver Home Improvement Examiner
Examiner.com - Aug 27, 2008
With the housing market in a slump you may want to reconsider moving to a larger home or even taking on a large remodel or addition. ...



US Home Improvement Announces New Line of Replacement Windows
FOXBusiness - Aug 20, 2008
PEABODY, MA, Aug 19, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) ----US Home Improvement is happy to announce a new line of replacement windows has been added to its line ...


Credit For Home Improvement: It’s Out There
3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine, Germany - Aug 25, 2008
by Johnathan Bakers Home improvement loans can be as simple or as complex as the homeowner chooses to make them, but the primary goals is to help the ...

Home-Improvement - Google News

Electrical | General | Heat & AC | Pool / Spa | Plumbing | Roofing | Solar | LP Gas
Landscape | Contact Us | Links | Home Improvement | Home
Home Improvement Information Site Map

site map

MediaRocket |