Triple glazing is still a relatively new concept in the UK. But in colder countries like Scandinavia, where homes endure extreme winter weather, they have been a used for many years. Whilst the UK might not get the same severity of weather conditions, it does still suffer from harsh winters . There are many other ways to insulate your home like the roof, walls and floor, but neglecting your windows can result in cold spots and condensation.
I installed 44mm triple glazing into my own home in 2012 and I have enjoyed the benefits ever since. Some from within KJM would describe me as "Triple glazing Guru", as I passionately believe in the product. I was even asked to speak at a national trade show about the triple glazing benefits, but declined as it was over three days and in Telford, along way from our base in Hampshire. There are pro's and cons's to triple glazing and I will do my best to explains this in simple terms.
Building regulations have become more stringent regarding thermally efficiency. The method of comparing the energy performance of windows is to use the U-Value, as used when comparing other parts of your home like walls, roofs and floors. History has shown U-values in windows have dropped. Back in the days of single glazing, windows had a U-value in excess of 5, early double glazing from the 70's/80's reduced this figure to 3, but over the years the u-value on the best double glazed units has dropped to around 1.0, with the introduction of warm edge spacers, argon gas and low-e glass. 44mm triple glazing offers a centre pane U-value of around 0.62. This type of window offers over 40% better insulation than "A" rated double glazing. It is in most cases over 25% better insulated when compared to 36mm triple glazing. You can use 28mm triple glazed units (2 x 8mm gaps) filled with krypton gas and 3 layers of 4mm glass which achieves a centre pane u-value of 0.66. The offer of this smaller unit because some windows cannot accept the wider 44mm units and some of our customers prefer the bead detail on the 28mm system. Krypton gas works better on smaller air-gaps than argon, but is MUCH more expensive than argon filled units.
Venetian blinds between the panes of a double glazed sealed unit
Integral blinds for doors and windows are perfect for controlling room temperature, maintaining privacy, protecting your furniture from fading and adding a stylish finishing touch to your new windows and doors.
Cleaning externally fitted blinds can be a real headache but our integral blind system eliminates the need for cleaning, and gives you a wide selection of coloured Venetian style blinds that will never get damaged.
The Venetian-style integral blinds are installed between two glass sheets inside the double glazed unit to give you the ultimate in protection from the heat and glare of the sun and at the same time making sure they stay clean – forever. They can also be manufactured in triple glazed sealed units as well.
The idea of integrating blinds into double glazing has become really popular. Instead of the blind hanging behind the window or door and getting dirty, each glazed panel has an individual Venetian blind sealed inside the glass unit. If you are designing or installing new windows or doors keeping the style (or number of panes) down, helps keep the costs down.
system. You operate the blinds simply by sliding the control up and down within the control zone. The magnets move up and down with ease, which in turn move the blind up and down, or operate the tilt function. The blinds will move around twice the distance that you move the control. The blinds raise, lower and tilt functions are achieved using magnetic transmission through the glass, guaranteeing the glass units hermetic seal.
Integral Blind benefits
The single magnet operator lets you raise, lower or tilt the blinds in an easy smooth movement.
The levels of light and privacy are easy to control with a fingertip operation
More privacy both day and night with increased sense of security.
Natural Light – Open for maximum light or closed to reduce glare. The blinds even help reflect more light into the room
Visual Privacy – Create a wide open view or enjoy complete privacy.
Can be retrospectively fitted to existing double glazed units (in most cases)
If you have a minute you should make a list the most
valuable possessions in your home, are they insured and do you have
photographic evidence of your possessions.
It’s likely to include at least some of the following high
value items and personal possessions:-
Flat-Screen TV’s
Jewellery
Record/video collections
Garden machinery
Desktop computer, laptop, tablets or mobile phones
Photographs
Entertainment systems
Now, imagine how you would feel if any of those objects were
stolen, sentimental items are not easily replaced and the sentimental value is
much greater than the monetary value
What should I do?
If you suspect that you could do more to protect your home
from unwanted intruders, take action now and follow key points to a more secure
home:
Install a proper burglar alarm
A dummy alarm box is not the answer; burglar-bill can
usually spot them a mile off. There is a big choice of systems out there,
ranging from DIY install wireless kits to professional monitored systems. Investigate
the market and seek professional advice for what is best suited to your home. Fitting
a quality burglar alarm should also cut the cost of your home insurance.
Install a CCTV system
This goes hand-in-hand with the alarm system, think about
installing CCTV. Many systems enable you to monitor your property via your handheld
device such as your mobile phone or tablet. Think about it businesses
frequently use it so what’s stopping you from installing it in your home?
Unwanted intruders and nuisance callers will think twice
about wondering down your path or drive if they see an installed CCTV system. It’ll
also obviously increase the chances of identifying these unwelcome guests.
Do you leave a spare key out?
Are you one of those people that’s leaves a key under the
door mat, or under the flower pot, or on a string behind the letter box. Then join
with the rest of the nation, burglar-bill will look for keys in such spots and
you’ll be giving them an open invitation into your home. How are you going to
explain that to your insurers?
Have house sitters or frequent visitors whilst you are on holiday
Heading off on holiday this summer?
Ask a friend or neighbour to pop in first thing in the
morning and last thing at night to draw or pull your curtains open, turn a few
different lights on and off. Any mail/local papers hanging out of your
letterbox should also be taken away as it’s a clear sign that you’re away from
home. Ask them to move the car, if it’s left on the drive to a slightly
different position.
You could also think about joining the local Neighbourhood
Watch scheme.
Remember to refrain from publicising your holiday on social
media too as this could be useful to wannabe thieves. Luggage bags should not
have your name and address plastered all over them, thieves work around the
check-in queues in the airports!
Gates/Fences
Lock and try to deny entry to any gates/fences that lead to
the rear of the property, this is where burglar-bill would like to do his work,
where he is not seen!
Hot and sunny days
Have you left your windows open, if so this is an open
invitation to all, seems a simple piece of advice, but one we all frequently
ignore.
Have the latest windows and doors installed
Modern day window and door systems have the latest and most
secure locking systems, with locking handles. Euro-cylinders commonly installed
in doors in the 80’s & 90’s are much easier to snap than modern day
anti-bump and anti snap cylinders. Investigate your options and go for
secure-by-design windows and doors. KJM in Andover Hampshire have a range of window and doors that meet these standards.
Double glazing windows or even triple glazed windows will
provide you energy efficiency to your home while adding security to it. New
windows and doors also add aesthetic appeal to your home. They can drastically
reduce your energy bills on cooling and heating.
The main feature which
attracts most to invest in double and triple glazing is its cost saving
benefits. Since there are many installers that supply windows and doors, you
want to make certain you choose the correct windows for your home as well as
the right contractor. Remember if energy efficiency is the key then a good quality
triple glazed window with a 44mm sealed unit will provide over 40% better
insulation than a double glazed ‘A’ rated unit.
Advantages of New Windows
Having energy efficient windows in your home will allow you
to rest at ease in knowing you made the right decision with regards saving the
planets precious resources. There are many advantages of double glazing windows
and one of them is noise reduction, secure locking systems, uPVC windows is low
maintenance and easy cleaning.
Warmer in winter
Double glazing is the ideal form of
insulation, with up to 50-70% of home heat lost through single-glazed windows.
Cooler in summer
Double glazing insulates your home against
extremes of temperature, trapping some of the summer sun’s heat gains and
minimising the heat that enters through your windows on sunny South elevations.
Reduces energy usage
Energy efficient windows mean less
need for heating and cooling systems so you will be reducing energy
consumption, which saves on your power bills and helps the environment.
Better locking mechanisms
This will discourage unwelcome intruders
for safety and security. It's more difficult for intruders to break in through
new windows and doors, particularly if you include laminated glass.
Reduces condensation
Condensation can be a serious problem,
particularly in older homes, as it causes mould and mildew, and in some cases
it will also rot timber window. Energy efficient glazing works to reduce excess
moisture on your window panes.
Reduces noise
New acoustic windows will reduce the amount of sound entering
your property. Using acoustic glass reduces noise further for a calmer, quieter
home. High performance acoustic glass like Stadip glass can reduce outside
noise by up to 60%, making it a great investment if you live by a busy street,
near a railway line or beneath a flight path. Secondary glazing is one of the best ways to reduce sound entering your home
Enhances your homes resale value
New windows and doors is an excellent
way to increase the resale value of your home. With energy efficient glazing
and maintenance free frames an older home can be just as desirable to the
purchaser who wants to ensure that the house they buy is efficiently insulated.
Reduces interior fading
Reduces the damaging effects of UV
light on carpet and furniture (laminate glass is required) Reduced interior
fading by using glass combinations that reduce the transmission of UV
radiation.
New windows and doors conclusion
Choosing to purchase energy efficient windows is an investment
you will not regret because these windows will last for a long time and have a warranty for at least 10 years with most companies offering an insurance backed policy.
If there’s one question that we get asked on a regular base it’s ‘will double-glazing stop condensation forming on my windows?’. The answer, is unfortunately, not entirely straightforward. Condensation on windows is a problem in lots of properties. In itself, a little bit of condensation isn’t too much to worry about but if left unchecked, the build-up of moisture can lead to the formation of black mould. This is altogether more sinister, with the spores released by the mould linked to a host of health concerns including asthma and breathing problems, particularly in children. Double or triple glazing can be part of the solution but also if incorrectly installed, part of the problem. To understand why, you need to understand a little bit about how and why condensation forms. Why does condensation form? Condensation occurs when warm, moist air meets surfaces that are cooler than its dew point temperature. This is the point at which the water vapour in the air becomes more concentrated, forming droplets – condensation. This is why in autumn and winter single-glazed windows tend to attract far more condensation than double or triple glazed windows. How double and triple glazed windows can help reduce condensation? This is where energy efficient double glazed windows or triple-glazing become part of the solution. Using two or three pieces of glass, they create space between the cold air outside on a winter’s day and the warm air inside your home. This has two effects. It means that the air inside your property remains warmer and the warmer air, the more water vapour it can hold. The second is that the pane of glass inside your property is also warmer because it’s protected from the cold air outside and is more likely to remain above the dew point on all but the very coldest of days. This is why you’ll see two identical properties, one with single and one with double glazing, with condensation streaming down the windows of the single glazed property with little to no condensation on the double glazed windows. Why double and triple glazing can be part of the problem But there is a ‘but’. The whole point of double and triple glazed windows is to keep warmth inside your home, cutting the cost of heating. They do this through energy efficient glazing units and by provide a far more effective seal than old windows, stopping warm air from leaking out or cold air leaking in. This means that if you’re creating moisture in your home (which you are) you need to make sure that you ventilate it effectively. Cooking, washing - it all contributes to the moisture content of the air inside your home and you need to let it out. The importance of ventilation Ventilation – this is something often overlooked. Energy efficient windows and doors seal your property, so you need to make sure that it’s adequately ventilated. At its most basic, simply opening a window in a bathroom after showering, can make a huge difference to the build-up of moisture within your home. If it’s doesn’t do the trick you might want to consider installing extractor fans in high moisture areas, for example bathrooms, showers and kitchens. Window trickle vents provide another solution, these allow a controlled, consistent and low level air-flow within your home, bringing in fresh air and removing stale moisture filled air. Good window installation businesses will raise this with you as part of the window design process. A lifestyle change But it’s the lifestyle changes which have the biggest impact: • Dry washing outside whenever you can. Washing draped over radiators and the backs of chairs releases huge volumes of water vapour into the air as it drys • Always cover pots and pans while cooking and don’t leave kettles boiling • Keep bathrooms and kitchen doors closed while in use • Insulate and maintain a constant temperature using low level heating *As a footnote if windows are misted on the inside of the glass, it means that your double-glazed unit has failed and will need to be repaired or replaced. Further information is on KJM's Customer Care page Condensation
According to the World Health Organisation, the impact of noise pollution and particularly disturbed sleep can be enough to raise blood pressure, increase the chances of heart disease and even lead to premature death. Its recent campaign focussing on the impact of products in our homes found that 40 per cent of Europe’s population is exposed to noise levels in excess of 55dB. The average washing machine has a recorded sound level of 70dB, refrigerators average at around 50dB refrigerator while in some instances food processors can reach up to 90dB.
Sound proofing and windows
Windows may not be able to provide a solution to noise inside the home but they can make a significant contribution to the reduction of the impact of noise outside it – roads and traffic, aircraft and many others. This is done through the use of acoustic glass. This uses multiple layers and different thicknesses to disrupt sound waves as they travel from one side of the glass and through the glazing unit to the other. Put very simply, it creates more hurdles for the sound wave to pass through, reducing the amount that ultimately gets through. If the concept is simple, the technology which underpins it, is much more complex. In splitting the glass into multiple layers you have to bond it back so that it performs as a single ‘sheet’. This is where the use of Polyvinyl butyral comes in. It forms an adhesive bond between ultra-thin sheets but also creates an additional layer for sound to pass through, delivering a further dampening effect. It also makes bonded acoustic glass much tougher and durable than standard glass, making it harder to break, keeping would-be intruders, out. The exact specification of acoustic glass is defined by the type of noise that you want to keep out. Road noise, your neighbour’s ‘yapping dog’, the kid next door’s drum kit – they all create different sound waves and the combination of glass sheets and their collective thickness needs to be adjusted according to the noise you’re trying to block. The critical thing is that the glass which makes up double or triple glazed units should not only be as thick as possible but also be of differing thicknesses. The additional sheets of glass used in triple-glazed units for example, won’t necessarily make things quieter because the line of travel of sound won’t necessarily be disrupted. In bringing different thicknesses of glass together in a single unit, sound is deflected and the line of travel is disrupted, keeping noise out. It's definitely worth doing your research. The big glass manufacturers, for example Pilkington and Saint Gobain offer lots of guidance online. There are also lots of good installers out there – we would like to think we’re one – who can talk you through it. It does require a slightly more specialist understanding so it’s also worth double checking that what you’re being told adds up. Soundproofing can be achieved with both new windows and secondary glazing, you can find more information on soundproof windows
Windows and entrance doors can define the character of a property but getting it right can be something of a dark art.
Aesthetics will clearly play a defining role in most homeowners choice of windows and doors but alongside them there are also a number of additional considerations - security, performance and energy efficiency to name but a few - each with its own raft of more than often confusing accreditations and acronyms.
The silver lining for the homeowner is that innovation in window and door technology over the past few years has delivered a gargantuan leap forward in performance, delivering better products and greater choice.
We have been around since 1983 and in that time we have seen massive advances in window security, aesthetics and thermal efficiency. The technology in the products that we’re fitting today is unrecognisable compared to that of 30 years or so ago - advances across the board have been huge.
This rings particularly true in thermal efficiency - probably the single biggest reason why people buy new windows. There are a heady mix of factors that govern window performance and it’s all too easy to get confused.
There are two systems for rating the performance of windows and doors – U-values and Window Energy Ratings (WERs). U-Values assess a product on how effective it is at keeping heat in or how much heat is lost through it, as a single measure of performance.
Window Energy Ratings do the same and use the U-Value (heat loss) but also balance heat loss against solar gain (warmth which passes into the room from the sun) and also throw into the mix additional heat loss through air penetration.
This not only sounds complicated but is! However, fortunately for the rest of us, the WER system uses more or less the same system that is used on fridges, washing machines and Home Energy Performance Certificates to give windows a ranking from ‘A/A+’ to ‘G’ using a ‘traffic-light’ type colour code.
To be compliant with building regulations, all new windows must achieve a minimum WER ‘C’ rating or U-value of 1.6 or less. Windows fitted today - whether timber, PVC or aluminium - go far beyond this minimum. For example, at KJM we supply an energy saving triple-glazed window with a U-value as low as 0.8W/m².K and WER off the A+ scale.
The window industry has also worked hard to shake-off a historically sometimes deserved reputation for supplying replacement windows that were ‘unsympathetic’ to the original property. Investing millions in developing products with slimmer sight-lines and also introducing a wide range of subtle colour choices and finishes, the industry has again moved on.
Progress has been particularly marked in PVC-U windows. Always popular among home owners for their low maintenance qualities but less so among building conservationists, colour choices, traditional jointing systems and flush casement finishes, make it very difficult to spot the difference between a traditional timber window and u-PVC.
Conversely wooden windows, which have always delivered strong aesthetics now deliver significantly improved weather performance and security.
Innovation has also been applied to other related products. The industry still supplies for example conservatories but also garden rooms – a conservatory/home extension hybrid – and orangeries, as a solution to contemporary demand for extra year-round living space. Ancillary products, for example bi-fold doors, give additional flexibility and appeal.
We’re seeing a growing number of homeowners opting for a higher specification conservatory or orangery as an investment in their property. These provide far more flexibility and year-round living space, for example for use as dining room, sitting room, or even gym. There are also a number of different options, for example you can add an atrium or ‘lantern’ roof to a ‘traditional’ brick extension.
Good installation businesses will make the time to talk you through all of these options and more. As providers of home improvement and building maintenance, they have access to a raft of products and among them there will be a range which is absolutely right for the character of your property and your specific need, whether that’s extra living space or making your home warmer and more secure.
• Always buy from a FENSA accredited installer.
• Trading Standards, the Glass and Glazing Federation, Trust Mark and Check-a-Trade, can also help you find a reliable supplier.
• Make sure your installer is formally certified through a competent persons scheme to fit the product – if they don’t have the paperwork to prove it, your product isn’t rated.
• Make sure that if they do offer you a guarantee it’s worth having – how long have they been in business and will they be there in the future?
For more information visit www.kjmgroup.co.uk email sales@kjmgroup.co.uk or call 01264 359355
