What Makes Quality Double Glazing Worth the Investment

Double glazing is a significant investment for most households, often running into thousands of pounds depending on the number of windows that need replacing. The question that deters many people is whether the windows pay for themselves in heating costs, comfort and so on. The answer differs between products and installations because cheap double glazing can give poor results whereas properly specified and installed windows can offer benefits that far exceed any savings in heating costs.

The Energy Efficiency Benefit

The main selling point of double glazing is its energy efficiency. Two panes of glass with insulation in between do a far better job of preventing heat loss and heat gain than a single pane. Double glazing helps to keep houses warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and reduces the burden on heating and cooling appliances.

The energy efficiency of double glazing is not a constant, however. The gap between the panes of glass is important; if it is too narrow there is minimal insulating effect, but if it is too wide the convection currents that form can carry the heat through the gap. Quality installations aim for a gap of between about 16mm and 20mm. The gas that fills the gap makes a difference as well. Regular air does the job adequately, but argon gas is more efficient. Some premium units use krypton gas.

The glass used in double glazing also varies. Low emissivity glass has coatings that reflect radiant heat back into rooms during the winter while blocking solar gain during the summer. These coatings can add some costs but they also add considerable performance benefits. Choosing an experienced supplier like Hadleigh Glass means getting into the details of glass specifications rather than being fobbed off with whatever seems cheapest.

Noise Reduction Performance

Energy efficiency is a major benefit, but the noise reduction performance of double glazing can have an even greater impact on the day-to-day comfort of people living in noisy urban areas, or even noisy suburban streets. The second pane of glass and the cavity between them both reduce the transmission of sound. The difference between double glazing and single glazing in terms of sound damping is enormous, and immediately noticeable.

Quality makes a difference in acoustic performance as well. Thicker panes of glass block sound transmission better than thin panes. Using different thicknesses for the outer and inner panes prevents resonance in the cavity that could amplify certain frequencies. Once again, the width of the gap has an effect, while properties in particularly noisy locations can benefit from laminated acoustic glass units that are even more effective.

The benefits of noise reduction can easily be experienced in everyday living. People have to raise their voices less around the house without noisy traffic competing with conversations. Sleep patterns can be restored when early morning deliveries or noisy neighbours can’t reach the ear drum of the sleeping household at ungodly hours. The television and music can easily be heard at levels that make sense without pumping up the volume to ear splitting levels.

Condensation Problems

Old windows suffer from heavy condensation build up on the inside surface of the window, particularly in rooms with elevated humidity levels such as kitchens and bathrooms. This results in mold growth on the frames and the affected walls, it produces unpleasant smells, and it damages paintwork and wallpaper. Good double glazing mostly eliminates internal condensation problems.

The inside surface of double glazed units is warmer so it remains above the dew point temperature. This means that water vapour does not condense on the unit, keeping the area around the window dry and putting an end to the persistent dampness that causes mold problems and damages paint and wallpaper. The quality of the frame is also important. Cheap units suffer from seal failures that cause gaps to develop. Quality frames have thermal breaks, so they don’t suffer from cold spots.

Some condensation between the panes is a sign of seal failure that requires replacing the unit. Quality double glazing from reputable suppliers comes with warranties for seal failures, so homeowners are covered for this fairly rare problem.

Improved Safety

Modern double glazed units offer vastly improved security compared to old windows. Two panes of glass improve resistance against forced entry. Quality installations include multi-point locking mechanisms that secure the window in a number of positions rather than relying on a single point of failure. Laminated glass options make it even harder to get through a double glazed window.

These features have benefits in terms of safety and even insurance premiums. Many insurers offer attractive discounts on policies for houses that have upgraded locking mechanisms. These discounts might seem small for a single policy but they add up over time, making a significant contribution to paying off the cost of replacement over the decades.

Frame Quality And Longevity

Most of the discussion about quality focuses on the glass used in double glazing, but it is the frame itself that determines how long the units perform as expected. Cheap frames suffer from warping over time; seals fail; hardware gets damaged, and every unit needs replacing far sooner than people expect. Quality frames—whether they are made from uPVC, aluminium or timber—stay true for decades.

Higher quality frames offer better thermal performance because they come with insulation and thermal breaks. They are manufactured to tighter tolerances, so they fit the house structure properly. Cheap frames might fit poorly, and their owners have to face frequent adjustments. The hardware used in locks and hinges is made of quality materials and engineered with quality workmanship, so quality windows will open and close properly for decades. Cheap windows often become stiff and difficult to operate over a shorter period.

Installation Quality

Even if they are top quality products, windows that are badly installed will perform poorly. Gaps around the installation will allow draughts; poor shimming will create twisting of the frame that affects the quality of seals; weatherproofing that is not carefully installed will let water penetrate the structure, leaving home owners with damp problems.

Professionally installed windows will fit perfectly, seal properly, and integrate nicely with other parts of the house structure, while also looking aesthetically pleasing. Good installers need to be competent in working with all sorts of wall structures, be they brick, concrete or timber frame. They also need to build effective weatherproofing seals at all openings in the building shell. A qualified installation team will check if everything operates as expected after installation instead of just leaving owners with something to look at.

Good workmanship costs money, but it is this quality that lives up to expectations instead of just being something new to look at.

Thinking In Terms Of Value Rather Than Cost

Quality double glazing might seem like an excessive expense compared to budget products at installation time. But it is important to calculate the heating savings over 20 or 30 years rather than a limited time span, as well as consider improved comfort levels, less condensation and damage in addition to improved security features and a longer life span before replacement is necessary.