Secondary glazing is a fantastic option for those who live in listed buildings or conservation areas, or simply do not want to replace their existing windows. Secondary glazing involves adding another slimline glazed panel to your exiting windows. This can be glass, acrylic, or exclusively in the case of Glaze & Save polycarbonate.

It is an extremely cost effective method of insulating and sound proofing your windows, while reducing waste and resource consumption. In fact, even the Energy Saving Trust loves secondary glazing, stating that is in an ‘ideal solution if you are unable to replace your existing windows with double glazing’.

Because secondary glazing leaves your original windows intact, it is particularly beneficial for properties in conservation areas or in listed buildings, where altering or replacing the original windows is often prohibitively expensive, if not downright impossible. But even for properties that already have double glazing installed, the addition of secondary can further improve noise reduction and heat reduction.

Traditional Glass Secondary Glazing or Magnetic Secondary Glazing?

For a long time, the only secondary glazing option available was made of glass. While glass secondary glazing is effective in reducing noise pollution, being constructed of glass limits the features and benefits that it can convey. For example, householders may be required to choose between draught proofing properties and heat retention properties, or toughened safety features and fire retardation.

Traditional glass secondary glazing can also be a relatively expensive option, especially if one requires a multitude of issues to be resolved. On top of this there can be redecoration costs: it uses screws and there is a requirement to redecorate after installation. Ugly, plastic frames go yellow over time and are not always compatible with listed buildings or conservation areas. It can also be potentially hazardous, as the plastic frame become brittle over time, placing the glass in a precarious position. It also ultimately damages the window frame and surrounding area, making it bulky and unsightly. Aluminium-framed secondary glazing is more sturdy and less likely to become brittle, but again, it can be bulky and unwieldly, and is limited in the range of features it can provide.

Magnetic Secondary Glazing

Magnetic secondary glazing is a huge step up in the secondary glazing market: but not all magnetic secondary glazing is created equal. Most magnetic secondary glazing is made of acrylic. This brittle and inflexible material is not fire-retardant, and there are currently no installation options covering the Scotland area.

Glaze & Save InvisiTherm™

Glaze & Save’s bespoke magnetic secondary glazing, InvisiTherm™, is a cut above traditional secondary glazing as well as other magnetic glazing products on the market. Our innovative and unique polycarbonate has a host of extraordinary benefits.

While other secondary glazing products exist, Double Glazing is truly innovative. Traditional glass secondary glazing offers a limited range of benefits, due to the limited nature of glass as the primary material. For example, glass secondary glazing cannot have fire retardant, UV protective and heat retentive properties all in one product. Customers with multiple drivers would then be forced to choose. Equally, with acrylic options, they often have no intelligence built into them, can shatter easily if dropped and are not fire retardant.