Upgrading thin single pane glass.

Junglist_grans

Recently moved to a new house and have found out that the glazing is only 2mm thick (Snowball through lounge window!). I really don't want to change the look of the windows as they were one of the main selling points of the house. I've been trying to get information on the benefits of replacing this thin glass with a 6mm replacement. I have also read about low-e glass that reflects heat back into the house, but have only seen this used within double glazing.

Any info on replacing the glass with thicker or specialised glass much appreciated i.e. will it block more noise out or decrease my heating bill!

themacster

Type of window - wood, steel, aluminium, upvc? Style - casement, sash? Age? How are they glazed - beads, putty?

Mankysteve

Is the property listed as well.

Junglist_grans

Wooden windows from the 1930's, think they are casement. Held in place with putty. Not a listed property.

Been searching the net for ages with very little to show for it. I would have thought a lot of people who love their old windows but don't love their heating bills would have looked into thicker panes or some kind of specialised glass.

tubbee2

I have cast iron windows and initially intended to replace broken panes with thicker glass to prevent heat loss. Not possible. All our broken panes have had to be replaced with 2mm glass which is now proving difficult to get anyone to fit so I've had to learn to do it myself! I would fit secondary glazing but have oak mullions and frames and don't really want these damaged so to reduce heat loss we have two pairs of curtains at each window or a blind plus curtains and make sure we shut all curtains as soon as dusk falls. Pain in the rear but works for us.
tb

themacster

If they hinge open, they're casement; if they slide up and down they're sash. Increasing thickness won't make any noticeable difference to thermal insulation - you could go for low E glass and this would help but I don't know how much it'll cost you to replace all the glass in all your windows. You need to make sure you have enough depth of rebate for there to be adequate putty, although the glass will be held in place by sprigs.

Maybe consider secondary glazing - this will better help thermal and sound insulation - and just replace the existing broken pane with 2, 3 or 4mm plain glass.

Junglist_grans

Casement they are then. I was thinking a 6mm piece of glass would have made a huge difference to 2mm both in noise and heat loss. If this is not the case then I probably won't bother.

I'm concerned that low-e glass is only ever used in double glazing, can't find any examples of people using it as a single pane of glass - probably for a good reason.

ormus

its certainly not worth the time/effort/costs of changing all the glass for.
save up for some proper DG units.

Junglist_grans

I'll do anything to avoid having double glazing including putting up with the noise and high heating costs. Think I'll have to do what the above poster has done and buy blinds and thick curtains.

phill99

the otehr issue is that even if you did replace all the glass, the wooden frames will end up rotting, so you will be back to square 1. Longer term, ypou will end up replacfing the windows. You can replace them with timber, but at that point it will be logical to ensure that they are double glazed with E glass.

Niv

Junglist_grans wrote: »

I'll do anything to avoid having double glazing including putting up with the noise and high heating costs. Think I'll have to do what the above poster has done and buy blinds and thick curtains.

Thats quite a point of view. If you dont mind me asking what is so terrible about double glazed glass? Its not like to have double glazing you have to have plastic frames or anything, I dont quite 'get it'.

Niv