Double Glazing

[Blossie]

We are looking to replace our Georgian windows with double glazing.

When looking at peoples windows which have been replaced, I'm finding that the whole window is a single glazed unit with strips applied to the outside, or worse, within the sealed unit, and I think this never looks right.

We want a window with individual units for each pane of glass, so that it is a copy of the original, and each square of glass is an individual double glazed sealed unit.

Hope the above makes sense!

We live in the Midlands area, and wondering if anyone is able to recommend a company that would be able to fit realistic reproduction windows.

Blossie

[Octavius]

That would cost an absolute fortune.

[Octavius]

There are companies that specialise in installing almost invisible double glazing in period sash windows, but it is very expensive, and not always aesthetically successful. The reason for this is that the weight of the additional glass means that non-traditional means of counterbalancing the panes have to be introduced that means some of the sections have to be increased in size, so the look of the window can be drastically altered.

Building Conservation bodies like SPAB recommend secondary double glazing in preference.

The double-hung sash is the quintessential Georgian window. Virtually no Georgian windows were constructed to a standard size, so you will have to search for a competent joinery shop. Again the Building Conservation Directory should be able to help.

The characteristic mid-Georgian sash window was usually of six-over-six or eight-over-eight panes. However as the 18th century progressed this was superseded by windows that were larger in size and four-over-four or even two-over-two panes. Glazing bars grew much thinner and the whole look much more refined. These wonderful glazing bars are very hard to replace and often of the highest quality.

Householders are frequently tempted to discard them and replace with new that are frequently inferior, so the advice is to take a hard look at them and try and repair before condemning them to the skip and replacing them with something that will almost certainly be in inferior timber and nothing like as elegant.

[jake-the-peg]

When you say Georgian do you mean sash windows (which started to come in about then) or are you talking about small leaded lights?

There's a good article on sash windows here:

http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/article041.htm

Remember you can achieve the same thermal insulation with single glass if you use something like Pilkington K glass, so you may not need double glazing at all.

Reading again though it sounds like you may mean leaded lights (numerous small panes seperated by lead strips). This can be  bit trickier. You may well have old glass in there and modern glasses just won't look the same.

Thing is in either case I'd guess that your house may be listed and if that's the case and you replace the windows without permission you can be prosecuted, fined and made to reinstate the originals so please don't do this without talking to the historic building officer at your local council.

Either way this is quite  good article you might be interested in:

http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/windows/thermal.htm

[spudqueen]

Have you ever seen the windows you would like on another house? My Mum did and knocked on their door and asked which company installed their windows.

Also, my Aunt lives in a conservation area (in the North West) and many of the houses have had their windows renewed in the style you describe, so there are firms out there which do this. It may be worthwhile ringing your local Council to see if they know of any firms in your area.

[Blossie]

Thank you for your responses to my question.

The windows were installed in the house circa 1910, although the house was built a lot earlier.

They windows are not sash or leaded.

Taking the bay windows for instance - four sets of eight small panes (32 in total) in wooden surrounds - does that make sense?

[jake-the-peg]

OK casement  windows. 

Assuming you're not listed or in a conservation area (if you are see my previous comments about the council conservation area), there are a few companies that do some appropriate windows for example see : http://www.pendlestainedglass.co.uk/ look at the leaded lights and metal frames link on the left hand side and you'll see some nice examples of the work that they've done in the past.

For something a little less bespoke you could check out this:

http://www.careyandfox.co.uk/product.asp?type=subcat&item_id=11&subcat_id=2&cat_id=1

Does this help?

[Blossie]

Thanks for coming back with those two websites - the second one looks like the windows we are after.

[Narolines]

As you're in the Midlands, try Capitol Joinery at Coleshill, nr Birmingham.  Don't know if they've got a website, but I happened to drive past there today and they advertise custom-built single or double-glazed windows in either hard- or softwood to your precise specifications. You could try Googling for them or use Directory Enquiries.

[Blossie]

Thank you - I'll give them a call.

[preet22]

ok!