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Secondary Glazing Cost & Prices: Extensive Guide for the UK
Windows are an essential part of any household, providing lightning, insulation and ventilation. Choosing the best window option according to your personal circumstances will have a big impact on your utility bills and overall comfort.
The secondary glazing of windows is an effective way for your existing windows to increase their heat retention, sound insulation and the overall efficiency of your windows. In this article, we’ll walk you through the secondary glazing costs and prices in the UK, the factors that affect the costs of secondary glazing, the amount of energy you can potentially save and the different types of secondary glazing.
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- 5 Factors Affecting Secondary Glazing Prices In The UK
- How Much Energy Can You Preserve With Secondary Glazing?
- How To Preserve Energy Step-By-Step
- Does Secondary Glazing Cost Less Than Double Glazing?
- Types of Secondary Glazing
- How Much Money Can You Save by Installing It Yourself?
- DIY Installation Of Secondary Glazing
- Where To Get The Sharpest Quotes For Secondary Glazing
How Much Does Secondary Glazing Cost?
Secondary glazing costs are less than double glazing costs. Keep in mind that while improving your comfort and saving energy, there will be several factors determining secondary glazing cost. Depending on the structure of the building, the size of the window sill, the materials for the window frames, and the extent of your project, all these factors determine how high secondary glazing costs will be.
In order to limit your expenses, there are some intelligent ways to decrease energy consumption in your home or office. Although there will be an initial investment to install secondary glazing, you will ultimately save money and reduce your energy bills, and this is a less costly solution than double glazing. By choosing secondary glazing you will improve the comfort of your home or office by retaining heat, limiting noise, and increasing your security.
To give an example, installing secondary glazing is rather budget-friendly compared to installing double glazing, as it allows you to add to the existing structure of your building. Therefore, installation will be less technical and less time-consuming.
The table below offers an approximation of the years it will take before you start profiting from your initial investment in secondary glazing. Our approximation is based on a medium-sized house with 12m2 of secondary glazing.
| Types of secondary glazing | Installation cost secondary glazing (£) | Monthly savings on energy bill (£) | Approximate years before return on investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sliding secondary glazing | £4500 to £5500 | £45 | 8 years |
| Lift-out secondary glazing | £3500 to £4000 | £45 | 7 years |
| Magnetic secondary glazing | £1500 to £2000 | £45 | 3 years |
| Fixed secondary glazing | £2000 to £2500 | £45 | 4 years |
In order to calculate your exact expenses we created a list of double glazing companies who specialise in installing secondary glazing offering the sharpest quotes for citizens in the UK.
5 Factors Affecting Secondary Glazing Prices In The UK
This list will explain how several secondary glazing cost arise. Hiring a secondary glazing professional guarantees the best fit.
- Prices range from economical systems to luxury systems.
- Fitting secondary glazing on your listed building is recommended by the Heritage Foundation and the Listed Property Owners Club.
- Installing secondary glass has more advantages than just saving money.
- Installation by a professional guarantees the quality of the fit and is cost effective.
- Secondary glazing saves money on your energy bills during winter and summer.
How Much Energy Can You Preserve With Secondary Glazing?
A well-insulated house will not only improve your comfort, it will also save a pretty penny. On average a medium-sized grade II building will have a monthly energy bill of approximately £150 each month.
| Size of building | Energy bill per month | Pounds saved per month (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | £100 | £30 |
| Medium | £150 | £45 |
| Large | £200 | £60 |
Although homes are able to retain heat, windows account for more than 30% of a building’s heating losses. No matter the age of your building, you can improve comfort and decrease your energy bills by sealing air leaks, repairing windows and investing in better insulation. If your primary windows are in fairly good condition, installing secondary glazing can boost energy efficiency and comfort by about 25% of the cost of a total replacement.
Grade II listed buildings usually have inadequate insulation, installing double-glazing windows makes for a substantial improvement in comfort. Adding modern secondary glazing to your existing windows adds the benefits of improved comfort in your monumental building.
How To Preserve Energy Step-By-Step
Preserving energy is a long-term investment. Some energy-saving techniques will have a high initial cost. Changing your old washing machine to a brand new one will easily cost £600 already. This will save you water, and it will also upgrade the freshness of your laundry, however, it will not decrease your energy bill as dramatically as installing secondary glazing. To give you an idea, here is a step-by-step guide on how you can save money on your energy bill.
- Insulation of roof, doors and windows with draft strips and silicone kit.
- Close inter-building doors during winter.
- Install high efficiency secondary glazing with these companies.
- Installation of a smart thermostat.
- Installation of grade A appliances.
Does Secondary Glazing Cost Less Than Double Glazing?
Secondary glazing windows can be installed for 25% of the cost of double-glazed windows, making it a cheaper alternative for window insulation. Secondary glazing suppliers offer a great variety of options, depending on the type of window you want to have installed.
There are horizontal sliding windows, vertical sliding windows, combination secondary glazing, hinged casing secondary glazing, sash windows, magnetic secondary glazing and a bunch more. Depending on your existing window some technical aspects may arise that either decrease or increase the cost of secondary glazing.
While double glazing can cost more, certain government incentives can help make it cheaper than secondary glazing. While they are not specifically designed to be window grants, there are numerous incentives in the UK that can upgrade your insulation.
How much is triple glazing compared to secondary glazing? Check out our Triple Glazing Cost page to learn more.
Types of Secondary Glazing
Sliding secondary glazing
Vertical and horizontal sash frame styles are offered by different suppliers, Everest secondary glazing offers a variety of side-hinged, vertical and horizontal sash windows. Their secondary glazing cost approximately £400 per square meter.
Lift-out secondary glazing
This system is perfect for big windows which need to be opened and shut on a regular basis. A major benefit is that the layer of glass is not noticeable on the in- and outside of the window. The character of the structure is guaranteed and the quality of the glass eliminates noise and improves insulation.
Magnetic secondary glazing
You can either purchase the different components for magnetic secondary glazing or obtain a ready-fixed system, where you peel off one side of the tape to get started. Magnetic secondary glazing costs approximately £150 per square meter.
Fixed secondary glazing
This type of glazing is bolted to the existing frames, therefore it is only suitable for soft material frames. Clearview secondary glazing offers a wide variety of secondary glazing kits that come with pre-drilled holes and are easy to install on softer types of window frames. One great benefit is that fixed secondary glazing is firmer and costs about as much as magnetic secondary glazing.
| Types of Secondary Glazing | Pro’s of Secondary Glazing | Con’s of Secondary Glazing | Approximate price per m2 (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sliding secondary glazing | Easy to use | Bar blocking part of view | £400 |
| Lift-out secondary glazing | Ideal for large windows that are frequently used | Heavy to handle, depending on size | £300 |
| Magnetic secondary glazing | Easy to install | Visible magnetic strip | £150 |
| Fixed secondary glazing | Robust and durable | Installation on soft frames only | £200 |
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- Quotes from local engineers
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How Much Money Can You Save by Installing It Yourself?
You can save a decent amount of money when installing secondary glazing yourself. A glazier can easily calculate an average salary of £60 an hour. If you are skilled and a bit of a hobbyist you will not only save money by eliminating that person’s salary but you will also save money on the materials used since you will be the one picking the materials with the sharpest quality to quantity ratio.
If you decide to purchase secondary glazing windows, you might consider ordering different types of secondary glazing for various types of existing windows. In the table below we give an indication of what you are expected to save when you install the secondary glazing yourself.
| Approximate purchase cost per window | Approximate installation cost per hour | Approximate installation cost per window | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed by a glazier | £900 | £60 | £240 |
| Installed yourself | £900 | £0 | £0 |
| Money saved | £0 | £60 | £240 |
Total savings per window: £300
DIY Installation Of Secondary Glazing
There are some DIY basics in installing secondary glazing which can save you a good amount of money. DIY secondary glazing solutions are less durable and far less efficient compared to professional-grade secondary glazing. Here is a list of DIY basics to give you an idea of how you can install secondary glazing yourself.
- Always measure before ordering.
- Order your secondary glazing with an extra two centimetres to allow for movement in the window over time.
- Disinfect the window frame.
- Mark the outline of the secondary glazing on the window frame.
- Make sure you fit the magnetic tape on the secondary glazing and the aluminium tape on the window frame.
- Remove the outer film after installation.
This list of double-glazed units, reveals how secondary glazing costs are lower than double-glazed window costs.
Where To Get The Sharpest Quotes For Secondary Glazing?
We can help you improve the comfort of your home by reducing noise and increasing insulation through secondary glazing. On our website, we offer the sharpest quotes from experienced secondary glazing suppliers and installers.
Fill in the form to receive up to 4 free, non-binding quotes on the best secondary glazing options for your home or business.
- Quotes from local engineers
- Payment by finance available
- Save up to £150 per year
We strive to connect our customers with the right product and supplier. Would you like to be part of GreenMatch? - 5 Factors Affecting Secondary Glazing Prices In The UK
- How Much Energy Can You Preserve With Secondary Glazing?
- How To Preserve Energy Step-By-Step
- Does Secondary Glazing Cost Less Than Double Glazing?
- Types of Secondary Glazing
- How Much Money Can You Save by Installing It Yourself?
- DIY Installation Of Secondary Glazing
- Where To Get The Sharpest Quotes For Secondary Glazing