Double Glazing On The Web

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.

Measuring up your own double glazed windows and doors couldn’t be simpler and by measuring yourself and ordering online, you could save time, money and inconvenience.

Cut out the middle man altogether - all you need is a regular tape measure.  Be sure to measure the window or door 3 times, and take the smallest of the 3 for quoting purposes.  Always measure in millimetres and be sure to take the width measurement from plaster to plaster and the height from plaster to cill.

Now you have your measurements, it’s time to find the best deals!  Make sure you compare your quotes before deciding on a supplier; testimonials can also be a very useful tool in the decision process. 

So you found a great deal online and your window or door has arrived safely.  The final, most crucial stage is to source a reputable and reasonably priced professional to carry out the installation. Many online double glazing suppliers can either recommend a fitter or will carry out the work themselves.   

All that is left now, is to decide how to spend the money that you saved by measuring up your double glazing yourself!

Did you know that the phrase daylight robbery originates from exactly that - a tax on windows? It sounds ludicrous doesn’t it? Nevertheless I heard it firsthand from a London taxi driver so it must be true. Apparently families would brick-up unnecessary windows to avoid paying raising taxes on windows. Eventually an enraged member of parliament spoke out and charged the government with Daylight Robbery!

Remarkable as it sounds, it seems that although progress has brought with it all the benefits of double glazing, we as a nation haven’t come so far.  It was only a few months ago that I was writing about a possible government initiative that would see the implementation of a tax on properties that would take into account views, conservatories and … you guessed it double glazing!

Windows are one of those things we take for granted – will I do at least, but then I took central heating for granted until my boiler packed up! If your windows are in a poor state of repair, especially at this time of the year, whether they are double glazed or wooden frames, they will be leaking considerable heat from your property. This in turn directly impacts on the bottom-line of your heating bills. Not only that, but they can also be a security risk and an easy target for burglars.

If you are unlucky enough during the credit crunch to be in the market for replacement doors or windows, then at least you can be consoled that after the initial outlay, in the longer term your new windows and doors will be saving you money, saving the environment and securing your property.

You can’t beat a good old home make-over programme with your tea and biscuits, it’s classic ‘triumph over tragedy’ TV! You also can’t help but feel envious.  A team of professionals arriving at your home to reverse your embarrassing amateur attempt at ‘chic’ is nothing short of a dream come true.  In 60 minutes your dwelling could be transformed into magnificence AND you’ll be on telly! 

The recent credit-crunch has led to a significant increase in DIY home improvements and research shows that in order to save money, DIY enthusiast’s are attempting large projects that normally require a skilled professional.  Surely Double Glazing installation isn’t something that anyone would have a stab at……unbelievably, yes it is!

Many DIY projects fail miserably and end up costing considerably more in the long run.  If you are planning DIY home improvements, especially something as ambitious as new windows and doors, be realistic: do you really have the ability, skills and time to do this work yourself?  If a skilled professional isn’t within your budget, perhaps you should consider delaying the project until such a time arrives.  The cost of rectifying your ‘efforts’ could amount to more than it would have cost in the first place for the professional.  It’s also highly likely that your spouse will never let you forget either!

Eyes and windows; they seem to be synonymous.  We’re all familiar with the sayings ‘Windows are the eyes of your home’ and ‘The eyes are the windows to the soul’. 

Literally speaking, windows are the eyes of your home – because you look through them at the world outside.  We must give a small mention to the ‘curtain twitchers’ (CT’s) in our communities.  We all know which house they live in - they form a more covert style neighbourhood watch scheme with a somewhat differing objective!  CT’s tend to be more on the ‘vintage’ side with plenty more time on their hands to devote to the cause.  Keep up the good work!

Not many people know that windows were actually a source of income for the UK Government during the 17th and 18th century.  2, 4 or 8 shillings were payable dependant on the number of windows at the property.  The bigger the house, the more windows it was likely to have and the more tax the occupants would pay.  To avoid the tax, some occupants would brick-up their windows; this can still be seen today in many towns including Poole, Southampton and Portsmouth.

Thankfully window tax was abolished in 1851, although this doesn’t stop us moaning about washing the net curtains or keeping the double glazing sparkling!

PVC is low in its use of resources. Its production costs are moderate and it has low maintenance requirements. The PVC Aware campaign has been launched, primarily targeting the public sector, to promote the environmental benefits of PVC when used for window frames etc…

Surprising as this might be to some people, PVC does have genuine green credentials, being 100% recyclable. A quote from the  campaign website reads: “PVC, especially when used in such products as window and door frames, may be continuously recycled in a closed loop with the recycled material being used again and again in new window frames and other building products.”

PVC Aware campaign is also being supported by the Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) who congratulated the organizers on providing customers with the necessary facts to make an informed choice, rather than relying on often media generated ill-formed opinion.

PVC window frames received an A+ rating in the BRE Green Guide www.thegreenguide.org.uk

Landlords now have to provide an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or face a repeatable fine of £200 .

If you have a property you are thinking of upgrading ready to let, make sure all improvements, for example new doors, windows, conservatories etc… are energy efficient and installed by a FENSA registered installer.

In a world full of IT, microwaves, induction hobs and self cleaning glass, technology is definitely way ahead of me. I have no idea how any of them actually work. Thankfully the in the world of windows (aside from the self-cleaning glass), things are reassuringly straightforward.

A panel of homeowners who had double glazing installed in their homes in the 1980’s were asked about that decision and what they would change if they were installing new windows today. Impressively after over 25 years, very few would change their current glazing options.

The benefit over wood frames, particularly the easy maintenance and durability of uPVC, were significant contributing factors in the panel’s agreement that double glazing was a solid and worthwhile investment in their homes.

However, a few conscientious housewives did say that if there was one thing they would change if they were re-glazing their homes, it would be to have tilt and turn installed. At least a simple tilting frame, allowing you to clean both sides of the pane, is a modern technological improvement that even I can understand and appreciate!

When my husband and I remortgaged last year, had we had a crystal ball, we would never have fixed for five years. Nonetheless, the decision to add a bit to the mortgage and build a conservatory was one of the best we ever made – you win some and you lose some, but when extending your home or making any form of home improvement, you can’t go wrong with doubleglazingontheweb. 

Extending your living space is an investment, not just in the value it adds to your home, but in benefits to your lifestyle; more space, extra facilities, storage etc…

If the decision to extend is a no-brainer then the decisions which follow certainly aren’t – conservatory or extension? One room or two? Open-plan and minimal verse functional and traditional? Windows, doors, fascias, building materials, plumping, gas, electric, flooring, heating, paint, upholstery…. the list goes on, but have you ever spoken to anyone whose improved their home and can fault the double glazing? I haven’t. It’s simple, adaptable, energy efficient, kind on your purse and the environment, looks good, is easy to clean and best of all you can see through it – if only mortgages were so transparent!

Home Improvements Bring Tricky Decisions