Double Glazing - cost effective?

moonrakerz

Cardew wrote: »

Who made the analogy with a car repair? It is just as relevant to say £1000 for misted panels is much more expensive than a £20 repair of a bicycle.

The question is simply 'is DG cost effective or not?

Are heavy weight lined curtains a better bet ?

mech_2

Cardew wrote: »

You could argue I suppose that if you never ever clean windows, the layers of grime act as additional insulation!

I clean mine occasionally. I get hundreds of kWh of heat a year through my back windows. I think that outweighs any insulating effect of dirt.

Not convinced my wife will accept that argument;) - or to leave them misted up!

So the choices are: leave them misted up, replace them life-for-like, or put in single glazing which will mist up worse and dribble all over the windowsill.

I say put up net curtains. Then you'll never notice any misted double-glazed panels. I did this when I had single glazing, but the condensation made them go mouldy...

C_Mababejive

We changed our windows to DG upvc simply because the old single glazed wooden frames had had their day.

What a difference...modern engineered windows with incredible heat and sound insulation.

I think the most important things about UPVC DG are to choose a quality product and choose a quality installer.

I think many DG systems do fail prematurely due to crap product/install.

Drive along any road and you can spot rubbish, i.e frames under stress,window panes bowing etc,cheap skinny profile,doors that stick and wobble.

Pincher

Cardew wrote: »

Who made the analogy with a car repair? It is just as relevant to say £1000 for misted panels is much more expensive than a £20 repair of a bicycle.

The question is simply 'is DG cost effective or not? - given the panels will require replacing every 10 years or so and fuel savings modest?' Single pane glass panels don't need to be replaced.'

I'm not sure you are allowed to put in single pane windows, with all these low carbon building regs around. There are laminated single pane technology windows around, which can be used for listed buildings, but that's not cheap.

In any case, noise intrusion, cold seepage, dripping window shelf, drawn curtains so you can't enjoy the view, why would you want to live like that? The quality of life is also a cost.

Our old family house had one misted panel in nearly thirty years since the double glazing got put in: replaced, fine for ten years now. Some scissor hinges are going, one already replaced. Your panels were probably jammed into the frames and the seals were broken during installation.

I used to have the William Blake yearning for simplicity and want to have my own cave, with no need for modern technology,
and thought about making my own windows using dismountable edges. And then I saw German double glazing. They articalute every which way, and last forever. English double glazing is bascially Tony Blair personified: all PR, no substance. They are flimsy, lowest standard workmanship, both in manufacture and installation, and they don't even insulate all that well.

Conclusion:

It's not DG vs. single pane, which are both naff. It's English DG vs. German DG you should be comparing, and decide to spend more so you don't have to replace it for fifty years.

Owain_Moneysaver

Pincher wrote: »

I'm not sure you are allowed to put in single pane windows, with all these low carbon building regs around. There are laminated single pane technology windows around, which can be used for listed buildings, but that's not cheap..

You can use single glazing in any new build, but you'd have to have massive amounts of compensatory insulation elsewhere, and possibly go down the renewable route as well.

Lube

Its only worth having double glazing if your windows/doors need replacing, or you noise problems possible

Cardew

Pincher wrote: »

Your panels were probably jammed into the frames and the seals were broken during installation.

And then I saw German double glazing. They articalute every which way, and last forever.

Actually I had my house built for me and I specified, and got, the highest specification hardwood frame double glazed windows available. These were factory pre-assembled at fitted as unit and to be fair they have lasted 22 years.

However I was making a general point about the cost effectiveness of DG; although I readily concede that there are other considerations.

You are absolutely correct about some of the shoddy rubbish that is fitted - often by well known 'national' chains.

I have lived in Germany for many years and it is a problem they have as well, particularly with the skylight windows(same pattern as Velux).

Incidentally I had a Velux window 'blow' in another property after 10 years. Velux in Germany enjoys a very high reputation(reflected in their prices) and their Guarantee is 10 years or less.(same as UK)

http://www.velux.de/

Pincher

Cardew wrote: »

I have lived in Germany for many years and it is a problem they have as well, particularly with the skylight windows(same pattern as Velux).

Incidentally I had a Velux window 'blow' in another property after 10 years. Velux in Germany enjoys a very high reputation(reflected in their prices) and their Guarantee is 10 years or less.(same as UK)

http://www.velux.de/

You really don't have much luck with double glazing.
The same house I mentioned earlier had a new roof about twelve years ago, and the two old steel framed roof windows (rusted to the bone, but still not leaking!) got replaced by Velux ones, standard size, not custom made. No problem so far.

I can see quite a few scissor hinges needing replacement is the regular DG, but mainly due to the plastic restrictors/sleeves perishing. The hinges are friction hinges, so you can leave the window in any position you like. The old guy who came along to swap out a pair said I should lubricate them with WD-40, so I did on one: and that window now falls to fully open every time, so I can either close it or it's fully open, and I have to really lean out to pull it shut.

I propose an entirely new architecture. We dig down, as far as you want living space, and water proof it. The ground now keeps you warm-ish. On top, we have a glass pyramid, which has tilting PV panels to regulate how much green house effect we get.
Add some ventilation ducts, and that's it.

Next time you specify a house, think about it.
Sell it to the wife as a whole house conservatory.
If you put the bedrooms in a lower level, a good night's sleep is assured. If your son wants to practise drums, put him in a even lower level.

i8change

Double Glazing - cost effective?

Jeff Howell was never keen:-

http://www.askjeff.co.uk/double_glazing.html

Bet a lot of energy is wasted making the glass every few years. Would be prefer to be given the choice to go for low maintenance, but single glazed where I choose.

Poor fitting seems to make it worse and the south facing ones tend to go soonest, all things being equal.

welda

I would have thought in this day and age there would be a system in place to repair a shot unit, even in situ, dry out internal void, vacum/argon fill, then reseal?

Maybe it's time to have regs where there is a valve built in to frame to offer repair to misting problems, afterall, it aint rocket science knocking up sealed units!!