Double Glazing On The Web

Noone is complaining about this beautiful weather we are getting and I know many of you will be hoping that it will stay. It is nice to have the warmth from the sun and being able to get the windows open to let the breeze in.

But there are some homes and offices that after having the sun beating through the windows all day are like an oven inside making it uncomfortable to be in the room. There are many advantages of double glazing and replacement windows and many assume they are only winter season advantages; keeping in heat, preventing condensation, reducing energy bill etc. But the summer season advantages are prominent too, making it a double-whammy benefit to having double glazing or replacing your windows.

During the summer and on days when the sun pours in through your windows it brings with it ultraviolet light that can damage and fade furniture, carpets, pictures and paintings. Double glazed windows can reduce the amount of UV light entering your rooms by over 70% leading to less fade and risk of spoiling your interior items.

Come down to one of the Double Glazing on the Web showrooms for a view of the full range of windows and doors that could make a differenece to youa nd your home all year round.

Who says double glazing has to be boring? Nowadays there are so many fancy glazing options available you’ll be spoilt for choice; with Georgian Bars, Diamond Leads, even Queen Anne Leads, you won’t know which to choose from!

With options to suit everyone’s taste, adding a touch of class to your home couldn’t be easier. Various glazing options available can completely transform the look of your home. Also, most customers are pleasantly surprised to hear how little extra it costs for their exciting glazing add-ons.

Bi-fold doors used to be right up there with other ghosts from interior décor’s murky, quirky past. Standing alongside cocktail cabinets, the Oh so functional kitchen hatch and wood paneling, the bi-fold door was to many, an embarrassment from the past.

Not so today. Impressive advances in folding technology, the runners and a wide variety of uPVC options, means the bi-fold door has experienced a considerable re-birth. Coupled with the current trend for space and minimalism, the functionality of the bi-fold door has found a new place in the hearts of 21st century interior designers.

In the current economic climate the national craze for interior design is beginning to wane. With the property market falling we no longer reveal in the fascination of watching strangers ignoring the good advice of Property Ladder expert Sarah Beeny and yet still make a killing reselling their property, despite only installing one bathroom and painting every room bright pink!

Nevertheless, the underlying message of programs like Property Ladder has sunk deep into the national psyche. Everyone knows that when looking to sell their home, especially in today’s difficult market, that the smell of freshly brewed coffee and a quick lick of magnolia can work wonders.

It’s surprising therefore that so many people overlook the equally quick fix which could give them the edge and invest in replacement exterior doors

Apparently, according to English Heritage, our country is under attack from the ungainly evils of satellite dishes, speed bumps and shock horror, UPVC double glazing.

These every sights across 21st century Britain are being labeled as blemishes which pose a serious risk to our conservation areas.

Perhaps, perhaps not. Perhaps the evils of home improvements are simply being confused with progression; especially when considering the environmental credentials of double glazing. Either way, the ascetics of double glazing have come a long way and many new builds and individuals considering making improvements, are choosing to opt for woodgrain or similar alternatives to the standard white PVC. 

Proof that sound proofing and better insulating your home, doesn’t have to get ugly.

When Keith and Rona Mitchell bought Barehillock, in Aberdeenshire, it was nothing more than a derelict cattleshed.  Now, £146,000 later, it is deserving of a place on Channel 4’s Grand Designs programme.  The Mitchells, both former teachers, have a lot to teach us.

Keith Mitchell says, “When we started the development I was quite surprised at how expensive some quotes were — some were for a quarter of a million pounds. We were keen to make the most of what we had, but we wanted to remain within our budget.”  Eventually, the couple teamed up with a local architect and a local builder; they also took advice from a quantity surveyor - Keith Mitchell is convinced that, despite the initial expense of employing these specialists, in the long term it was a money-saving move.

Amongst other refinements, the building has  been given a contemporary edge by the insertion of a southwest glazed “wall,”  which comprises galvanised steel lintels and sliding patio doors that lead into the main living/dining area.  There is also a lead-clad dormer window, which enhances the feeling of spaciousness.  The ground floor “culiminates in a huge window with stunning views.”

However, there’s more to all that glass than stunning views: “The oil heating system is extremely economical, and combined with the high-performance double glazing and super insulation (glass quilt and actis tri-iso super 9), the energy efficiency has been tremendous for such an exposed site. It’s not called Barehillock for nothing.”

Now, you might not have the luxury of building your own home from scratch, but there’s nothing to stop you updating your current home, adding contemporary style and low energy requirements with new windows and doors.

Some conservatory suppliers are reporting up to 45% increases in sales over the past three months.

The probable reason for this trend-bucking statistic is that conservatories are seen as a risk-free way of enlarging the home, thus adding value to the property.  In this very uncertain housing market, moving home is nigh on impossible and there is a very real fear of negative equity.

Adding that conservatory is one way, and a very good way, of safeguarding the value of your property, and giving you more living space.

Why so SAD?

In the last article, I mentioned that, by putting a bit of thought into the positioning of your windows and doors, you can maximise the light levels in your home. And, as most people are aware by now, there is a strong link between increased levels of natural light and improvement in both physical and emotional health.

Sunlight is vital for your body to make good use of its Vitamin D stores, the vitamin responsible for strong bones. Lack of Vitamin D in adults can also lead to muscle weakness.

As far as emotional health is concerned, well, there aren’t many people around who haven’t now heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. The symptoms of SAD are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain due to lack of natural sunlight. The disorder usually happens in the winter, because the shortened days affect the hypothalamus of the brain. The first line of treatment is to have light therapy by sitting in front of special lamps for a short period each day, and some folk need the extra support of anti-depressant medication for a while.

Wouldn’t it be preferable to avoid the disorder as much as is possible by ensuring that you don’t get it in the first place?

Did You Get Out Your Compass?

By clever placement of your windows, you can maximise the amount of light that floods into your home. Obviously, this is only possible in a new build or as part of a large reconstruction job, but it is possible.

As you might expect, south facing windows provide lots of direct daylight all day long, and north facing windows provide shaded light. But its not only south facing windows that do the trick - east and west facing windows also allow in lots of daylight, with less direct rays either in the morning or evening. East facing windows are best for helping you to balance your day/night rhythms.

Other window-ways of increasing the amount of natural daylight coming into your home include: putting in patio doors or French windows; putting in a skylight (particularly useful in internal rooms that have no natural light at all); replacing your current windows and doors with larger versions.

If these changes, however large a job they might be, can help you to avoid being SAD, they’re surely worth consideration?

If you are considering installing light therapy |(that’s windows!) take a look at our home page where you will find a double glazing site with ethics!

It’s now an accepted medical fact that our moods can be seriously affected by light levels.  SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) may be an ailment of the winter months when light levels are low, but what about those who live in dim, dreary houses year round?  You know for yourself that if the sun is shining when you get out of bed in the morning you instantly feel better about the day ahead.

I imagine that when we all lived in caves, dark confinement was essential for protection against the wild animals roaming the land.  Times have moved on.  Let there be light!

Doors and windows are the only design elements in your home that are capable of increasing natural light levels - and its natural light that is needed to improve that dark mood of yours!

In the next entry, we’ll look at how to plan your windows and doors for the best possible levels of natural daylight.  In the meantime, beg, borrow, or buy a compass to work out which direction your house faces.