A quality set of windows is essential to your home’s function and feel. They can be the difference between a drafty home and one that’s warm, secure and comfortable.
A girl from Merthyr Tydfil was left with a Harry Potter-style scar after being hit by lightning during a storm. The bolt of electricity shot straight through her attic window and into her body.
What is double glazing?
Double glazing is the use of two panes of glass within a window or door. The space between the panes is filled with air or another gas, such as argon. The gap helps to reduce heat loss and improve acoustic performance. The frame can be made from a variety of materials, including aluminium and uPVC.
The trapped air in the gap slows down thermal transfer by conduction, reducing heat loss through your windows. This helps keep your house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. It also means that you can run your heating and cooling system with less energy, saving you money on electricity bills.
It also helps reduce noise from the outside, especially if you live near a freeway or airport. It can help prevent condensation too – the water droplets you see on your windows when it’s humid. The air in a double-glazed window is warm, so the molecules of moisture holding the water are more spaced apart. When they meet a cold surface, like your windowpane, they form condensation.
Benefits
Double glazing helps reduce the amount of heat that escapes from your home in the winter. This can help to cut your energy bills significantly. It also helps to keep your home cooler in the summer and prevents hot air from entering your home.
The gap between the two panes of glass is filled with either air or argon gas which provides an insulating barrier from the cold outside air and the warm inside air. This reduces heat loss by up to 54%. The spacer bar and argon gas also reduce noise by blocking out vibrations from the outside world.
The argon gas also prevents UV rays from causing damage to furniture, carpets and other items inside your home. It can also be used to improve acoustic performance of your windows. You can further enhance your window’s insulation properties by using a low-e or laminated glass and choosing the right framing material to match it.
Styles
With a choice of frames (including uPVC, aluminium or wood) you can choose the style that will suit your home. They can also be made in any colour and in a range of shapes.
Double glazing is a good energy efficient option because the sealed air gap between the two panes of glass slows down thermal transfer which helps to keep your home at a warmer temperature and reduce outside noise. The gas that is used between the panes is typically argon which is a poor conductor of heat so this prevents the loss of warm air from inside your home.
Many double glazed windows are manufactured with bronze or gray tinted glass which is designed to reduce solar heat gain and visible light transmission. This improves energy performance and helps to keep your home at a more comfortable temperature throughout the year. This also reduces the need to use artificial heating so can help save on your energy bills.
Installation
Double glazing is a great way to increase the insulation in your home, reducing heat loss and noise pollution. It also helps to prevent draughts and keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Double glazing can be paired with uPVC or wooden frames and is available in a range of styles including bay windows and sash windows.
Whether you’re building a new home or remodeling an old one, window installation experts can help you select the right windows for your house and install them to your specifications. They can also help you find custom window designs that will fit your needs, compliment your home’s aesthetic and meet your budget.
Located in Port Talbot, South Wales, A-Rated Home Improvements install double/triple glazed uPVC and Aluminium windows, doors and conservatories/extensions to a high standard. They are a family run business that have been trading since 1988. Mary runs the office and showroom while Christian and Kelly project manage all installs on every job. double glazing merthyr tydfil