What Is Secondary Glazing, And Why Do I Need It For My Heritage Property?

Aluminium secondary glazing in Bath

Modernise your property whilst keeping the original features.

Living in a listed property or a conservation area often means abiding by some stringent building and planning consent rules. Replacing windows and doors, adding double-glazing, conservatories, or any work affecting the structural integrity of a listed building requires planning permission and is a challenging process. These rules are in place for gardens, and even the use of colour on the exterior features of your home may be affected by strict regulations. These guidelines are in place to protect the character of these properties and keep their authenticity intact.

Although this can feel restrictive, living in a listed home means quirky and unique Georgian or Tudor houses, often in superb locations like Bath, where Clearglaze is based.

Unfortunately, many protected properties have old single-pane style windows, which are inefficient at preserving heat and have no noise-reducing qualities. In today’s climate, sustainability is essential, and no one wants to live in a cold house or waste money on high energy bills.

However, there are alternative solutions, and the easiest and most cost-effective is secondary glazing. This is achieved by fitting a single thin glass pane behind the original window, slowing the heat transfer between the glass. This adds an insulating layer that reduces noise and improves thermal efficiency without disrupting the window’s original features.

Will my original windows still work? Yes! Secondary glazing doesn’t affect the use of your original windows, and they will still be 100% functional. They come in various styles, including sash and casement fittings.

What are the benefits? Think of secondary glazing as a sustainable upgrade. You’ll get improved sound insulation and less heat loss, reducing your energy bills by up to 10% and even better security for your home.

What does it look like? Secondary glazing is incredibly discreet and designed not to interfere with the original window. You can even choose from toughened, acoustic, or textured glass to fit your specific needs.

Is it expensive? We often expect energy-saving solutions in older or listed properties to be expensive. However, fitting secondary glazing is straightforward and quicker than replacing double glazing, so it’s a very cost-effective solution.

Here at Clearglaze, we cover all areas of Bath, Radstock, Bradford-On-Avon and Midsomer Norton. Why not visit our showroom and discuss your needs with our friendly sales team? Contact us here.