Top Tip For Buying New Windows & Doors - Consider Your Glazing Options

Choose Your Glass Specification

When it comes to replacing your windows, the choice of glass really does make a difference. We use A+ Planitherm Energy Standard as standard on all of our windows.

The Energy Standard glazing will likely be far superior than your current glazing. It will offer improved energy efficiency and help lower energy bills.

We are also able to Comfort & Comfort Plus glazing, which have added benefits. These include: enhanced security, noise reduction, furniture fade protection & reduce overheating. 

There are five features to Planitherm glazing and three types of glazing to choose from to suit your requirements.

The three glazing types are: 

  • Energy Standard 
  • Comfort 
  • Comfort Plus

Please see table below which explains the features of each glazing type to decide what’s best for you and your home. 

ENERGY EFFICIENCY - With Planitherm energy efficiency comes as standard

A special coating on the glass helps stop heat escaping, so you’ll use less energy to keep your home warm. Our Energy Standard and Comfort glazing captures and makes use of the warmth from natural daylight, while Comfort Plus helps limit and control it – ideal for very sunny rooms.

ENHANCED SECURITY - Help protect your family from break-ins and vandalism.

The high-security transparent layer on Comfort and Comfort Plus glass makes them much tougher to break through than standard, unlaminated glass. Used in an approved window frame, they’re designed to meet the official police security initiative ‘Secured by Design’ standard, so you’ll feel safer and more secure in your home.

NOISE REDUCTION - Make your home a peaceful respite from the world outside.

Perfect for bedrooms to ensure a good night’s sleep, a built-in acoustic layer keeps exterior noise exactly where it belongs – outside. If you live on a busy road or close to other disturbing sounds, noise control glazing should be on your list.

FURNITURE FADE PROTECTION - Keep your furniture looking newer for longer.

Prolonged exposure to ultra-violet light from the sun will contribute to your furniture and curtains fading over time. The hidden layer of protection on Comfort and Comfort Plus glass blocks out 99% of the sun’s UV rays. Think of it as sun cream for your sofa, curtains and carpets.

REDUCE OVERHEATING - Perfect balance of light and warmth.

Rooms with lots of glass will give you a great view, but the warmth from natural daylight can make it uncomfortably hot on sunny days. The Comfort Plus glass has a special coating designed to keep out heat from the sun’s rays for a comfortable, bright environment and greater control of your internal temperature. It’s particularly suited to south and west facing rooms with sunny aspects, or larger glazed areas such as bi-fold and patio doors.

Choose Your Obscure Glazing For Privacy

For privacy we offer a range of obscure glass options which have different designs and privacy levels. Level 1 is the least obscure, whilst level 5 is the most obscure.  

We also have our obscure glass on display in our showroom, and have samples available for home visits. 

Are Glass Decorations Your Thing?

Leaded Glass Designs can be seen in both modern and traditional properties alike. Leaded designs really can add elegance and grandeur to uPVC windows. 

The most popular lead designs are the classic diamond lead or traditional square lead as shown below. However, we are able to create bespoke leaded designs to suit your style. 

Georgian Bars are available as external Georgian bars, which sit on the face of the glazing. Or as internal Georgian bars, which sit in between both panes of the sealed unit. Internal Georgian bars are a more cost-effective option and low maintenance option. 

The design of the Georgian bars can be tailored to your window design; each pane can be split into as many sections as you choose. The panes on the example below have been split into eight.

Double Or Triple Glazing?

By upgrading your aging single or double glazed windows to new thermally efficient double glazed  windows, you are likely to see a significant impact in heat retention and noise reduction. 

You can go one step further by introducing another pane of glass. 

The decision to go triple glazed often depends on personal circumstance. If you do live in a particularly cold house, that has considerable road noise and you consider this property to be your home for life, then triple glazing may be the option for you. 

There is of course a cost implication to choose triple glazing. But the increased comfort and reductions in your energy bills may be worth it for you. 

Whichever window installer you choose to ask for quotes, ask their opinion on the benefits of triple glazing for your home.

 

 

We hope this information helps you make an informed decision on which glazing options are the best suited for your and your home. We would also suggest popping into our showroom to see the differences for yourself.

Find a window company that is willing to discuss and show you the options available to create the perfect windows & doors for your home.

You may also want to consider reading the following useful hints & tips: