When it comes to improving your property’s comfort, energy efficiency, and security, both double glazing and secondary glazing offer compelling benefits. As approved Granada Secondary Glazing partners, we offer a wide range of product options. Whether you are looking for a window upgrade that aligns with planning permissions or seeking to modernise with cutting-edge technology, knowing when to choose secondary glazing or double glazing is key and our blog details the ins and outs of secondary glazing.
What Is Secondary Glazing?
Unlike double glazing, secondary glazing doesn’t replace your original window. Instead, it adds an extra pane of glass inside a slim, discreet frame fitted on the interior. This approach preserves your building’s original window frames, making secondary glazing especially popular for:
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Period homes
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Listed buildings
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Conservation areas
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Commercial premises where altering external frames is restricted or undesirable
By maintaining the original window appearance, secondary glazing protects the character and architectural integrity of your property. Beyond aesthetics, it’s also an economical alternative to a full window replacement with less installation disruption.
Year-Round Benefits of Secondary Glazing
Secondary glazing is often seen as a winter-only fix to reduce drafts, but its advantages extend throughout the seasons, making it a year-round asset:
Thermal Insulation
By adding a layer of glass inside your existing window, secondary glazing creates an insulating air gap that reduces heat loss in winter and limits heat gain in summer. This helps maintain a consistent indoor temperature, reduces reliance on heating or cooling systems, and can lower energy bills.
Noise Reduction
One of secondary glazing’s standout advantages is its superior noise reduction. Thanks to the larger air gap between the panes compared to many double-glazed units, it can reduce external noise by up to 80% (50 dB).
Condensation Control
Secondary glazing helps prevent condensation build-up on your original windows by reducing temperature differences between inside and outside surfaces. This protects timber frames and interior finishes from moisture damage and mould growth.
Security
The additional pane and frame provide a robust physical barrier against forced entry, enhancing the security of your property.
With secondary glazing proving to have versatile benefits across property types, it can be a smart choice for:
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Homeowners to improve comfort, reduce energy bills, cut noise, and preserve the character of period or listed homes - all without replacing original windows.
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Public buildings, such as schools, libraries, and healthcare facilities to benefit from enhanced noise reduction, energy savings, and easy maintenance while protecting historic windows.
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Commercial premises like offices and shops to improve security whilst benefitting from a relatively quick installation process.
Understanding Different Secondary Glazing Systems
Choosing the right type of secondary glazing depends on how you use your windows and what access or functionality you need. There are a number of different ways that secondary glazing can be configured - sliding, hinged and lift-out.Sliding Secondary Glazing
Sliding panels move smoothly along discreet horizontal or vertical tracks inside a slim frame, allowing you to open a section of the secondary glazing without fully removing it. Sliding options can be best suited for sash windows, large glazed areas, and rooms where partial window opening is frequent.
Hinged Secondary Glazing
Hinged panels open like a door, either sideways or from the top, providing full access to your original windows. They’re discreet when closed, but swing open easily which can be helpful when cleaning and maintenance is required.
Lift-Out Secondary Glazing
Lift-out options can be suitable for windows with irregular shapes or sizes where sliding tracks or hinges would be difficult to install.
Is Secondary Glazing Right for my Project?
If you’re renovating and aiming for a completely new look, perhaps looking to modernise old frames and switch from timber to uPVC, then double glazing is likely to make more sense over secondary glazing. It allows you to:-
Choose new frame materials, colours, and styles to suit your updated design vision.
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Upgrade to the latest sealed double-glazed units that combine thermal efficiency with noise reduction.
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Integrate modern locking systems and other security features that come built into new window frames.
Get in Touch!
As approved Granada partners for secondary glazing, we offer a wide variety of high-quality, made-to-measure solutions. If secondary glazing isn’t the perfect fit for your project, then we have plenty of other options to explore:
Looking for casement, tilt and turn or fully-reversible windows? See our 'Windows' page.
Have an issue with a window? Consult with our 'Window Doctor' if you don't know where to turn!
Need a piece of made-to-measure glass? Whether you're in the Highlands or Grampian, we've got you covered.
