Before you were a property owner, chances are windows were something you just looked out of to take in the view. You probably didnโt give them much thought and you might have cleaned them occasionally. That was it.
Now, as a homeowner, your single, double, or triple glazing means so much more. And if youโre about to renovate a property or upgrade your windows, itโs worth diving into the fascinating world of double glazing to find out more. (Honestly, itโs pretty interesting.)
In this quick read, we look at different types of windows and why they matter, especially as energy prices rocket.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญTraditionally, windows were single panes of glass. Great to look out of, but not the best at reducing heat loss. They were also quite dangerous if broken. While some older homes still use single panes, double glazing is now the norm.
Double glazing is a long-term solution for saving on energy costs. There are multiple types of double glazing, and their energy rating (from A to G) tells you how energy efficient they are.
๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐
๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
These are multiple panes of glass in one unit with a layer of gas in the middle. They reduce heat loss and are Building Regulation compliant.
๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ซ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
Perfect for reducing the amount of heat entering your home, these panels have a special metal oxide coating thatโs invisible to the eye. Consider these if youโre lucky enough to have a sunshine-filled south-facing home and need to keep cool during the summer months.
๐๐จ๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
If you live along a busy road or near a train line, these are a must-have. They prevent sound waves from travelling through the windows due to their thickness and sound dampening core.
๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
These windows have the wow factor. They are large pieces of glass that can hold the weight of surrounding structures. Think of big sliding doors or conservatories.
๐๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ
These windows are made extra strong due to a heat treatment and shatter into smaller pieces rather than large shards if broken.
๐๐ข๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐
For maximum energy reduction, consider double and triple glazing for your home. For example, double glazing on the south-facing side of your home and triple glazing on the cooler, north-facing side.
Itโs worth remembering that good windows add value to your home/rental property.
We love all things property in Southampton. If you have a property question, get in touch with us today on 02380018222 or email me at brian.linehan@belvoir.co.uk