SECONDARY
GLAZING LISTED BUILDINGS & CONSERVATION
Double-glazing for heritage, period
& traditional windows
What is an historic or traditional building? English Heritage gives the
following definitions:
Solid wall construction
Bay windows
Sash windows
Single glazing
Built without a damp-proof
course
Probably built before 1919
In other
words, the earlier traditional homes that form so much of our heritage - many
of which are now Listed Buildings &/or in Conservation Areas - with
original period single glazing of all types, including:
Georgian casement & sash
windows
Victorian casement & sash
windows
Edwardian windows & doors
Cristal-type steel windows
& doors
The
installation of discreet secondary double glazing for Listed Buildings,
Conservation Areas & all types of heritage & historic windows is
considered the best, and in fact usually the only, acceptable treatment: for:
Creating comfortable living
conditions
Reducing energy usage
Cutting CO2 emissions
Conserving period properties
Apart
from the strict regulatory controls on upgrading & improving Conservation
Area & Listed Building windows, practical common sense also makes secondary
double-glazing the product of choice.
Why Use
Secondary Glazing in Period Properties?
During the last few decades of the 20th century, modern replacement
windows spoiled the appearance of thousands of old Georgian, Victorian, between
& post war houses, flats and apartment blocks.
Additionally, poorly designed replacement windows have actually damaged
many older properties, which were not designed to be completely sealed up, by:
Reducing ventilation
Trapping humidity
Creating condensation traps
To add
insult to injury, many fine plaster & timber moulding details around the
window reveals were needlessly destroyed.
Ventilation
All buildings need regular changes of the internal air to avoid:
Damp & mold infestation
This is
particularly relevant for our Georgian & Victorian housing stock as these
older properties need more frequent air changes than modern ones.
Modern double glazed windows do not enable an old property to “breathe”
sufficiently in order to avoid problems and continue in a good, sound
condition.
As a rule of thumb, a traditional building needs to be ventilated at a rate of:
0.8 to 1.0 complete air changes
per hour
Which is twice that for a
modern building
Since natural ventilation rates in many older
buildings actually exceed this value, secondary glazing is normally very
beneficial in reducing the rate & improving the thermal insulation.
Why Secondary
Windows - Why Not Replace Them?
The reasons for using a secondary window rather than a complete new
window in traditional properties can be summarized as follows:
Regulatory control – generally specified by Planning &
Conservation Officers
Aesthetics – secondary glazing does not spoil the appearance of an
older property
Protection of the fabric of the building
Protection of the value of the property
Costs of secondary glazing will be considerably less than
replacements
Environmental costs of secondary glazing are far lower than
replacements, in terms of the manufacturing energy usage and the disposal
of the original windows
Most old windows can actually be repaired when necessary,
frequently they have been needlessly replaced
Good quality secondary double glazing will be virtually invisible
externally and extremely discrete internally
Conservation - to survive both structurally and financially, old
buildings need to remain in use but with improved thermal and noise
insulation and better security
The value for money will be greatly increased by installing
secondary glazing due to the reduced costs of upgrading
Well maintained and insulated period properties are increasingly
sought after
Reduced energy costs will quickly return the investment
Granada Secondary
Glazing for Listed, Historic & Conservation Properties
In addition to our standard range of discreet secondary double-glazing,
we also have a complete suite of secondary windows especially designed for
period buildings:
The Granada
Heritage Range of Secondary Glazing for Conservation
We have designed our Heritage Range specifically for older, traditional
properties - it is unobtrusive but very effective, providing:
Exceptional heat insulation
Maximum noise reduction
Concealed mufti-point locking
Clean, minimal site lines
Fixing
methods are also concealed and a sympathetic range of finishing trims and
mouldings assists in blending the secondary glazing into traditional
surroundings.
Frames can be manufactured out of square, arched, radiuses or curved to achieve
the best possible end result.
The full RAL colour range is available for colour matching as well as a wood
grain effect - & decorative paint finishes can also be applied, so that
each secondary window can be matched to either the existing or proposed decor.
Applications
Our secondary windows are installed in all types of period buildings
for:
Sound Insulation - the most
effective product for eliminating outside noise
The control of condensation
Improved security
Granada
Secondary Glazing Installations
Our secondary glazing has been installed in houses, apartments and flats
across the country - everything from country cottages, manor houses, barn
conversions, mansion blocks, Art Nouveau buildings and thousands of other
charming period properties.
Secondary Glazing Services for Listed Buildings (Grade l & ll) and
Conservation Areas
We have worked in Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas for over 20
years and we can therefore give an expert service from initial contact and
advice - through to the finished job - all supported by our unique knowledge base,
depth of experience and most of all - by our expert personnel:
Please call us for advice on any aspect of secondary double glazing
for traditional properties
We can provide specifications for your planning application
Request a site visit either for an initial consultation &
advice or for a detailed specification & quotation
Complete after sales service – including comprehensive guarantees
Great Information about heritage glazing buildings first time I read this article. Really nice work.
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