We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
New Windows - Glazing kite mark
Options

DairyQueen
Posts: 1,855 Forumite

Probably a naive question but could someone in the know please advise.
Are glazing 'kite marks' a regulatory thing?
We are in the midst of a major house refurbishment. This week the glazing company began installing replacement composite windows. We visited the site today to check progress and have discovered that each of the panes is embossed with what seems to be a 'kite mark'. Each pane has a false glazing bar dividing it vertically. On some the mark is at a top corner, in others the bottom corner.
I have never seen glass marked in this way and it impacts the aesthetics of the windows (and not in a good way), especially when the mark has been embossed in a top corner. We were not advised about this and I don't recall seeing it on any samples.
Are we being dumb?
Another minor thing....
One window has a double casement (both sides opening with one LH hinged and the other RH). The handles don't align although the horizontal glazing bars do. Should we expect the handles to align? One handle is about a centimetre below the other.
TIA.
Are glazing 'kite marks' a regulatory thing?
We are in the midst of a major house refurbishment. This week the glazing company began installing replacement composite windows. We visited the site today to check progress and have discovered that each of the panes is embossed with what seems to be a 'kite mark'. Each pane has a false glazing bar dividing it vertically. On some the mark is at a top corner, in others the bottom corner.
I have never seen glass marked in this way and it impacts the aesthetics of the windows (and not in a good way), especially when the mark has been embossed in a top corner. We were not advised about this and I don't recall seeing it on any samples.
Are we being dumb?
Another minor thing....
One window has a double casement (both sides opening with one LH hinged and the other RH). The handles don't align although the horizontal glazing bars do. Should we expect the handles to align? One handle is about a centimetre below the other.
TIA.
0
Comments
-
As for the kitemark, its dependant on the location of the windows:
When do I need safety glass in doors and windows, and what type? (labcfrontdoor.co.uk)
But regardless, you honestly wont notice it after a while.
As for the handles, id expect them to be level personally.
1 -
If you don’t like the kite marks in the top corner, just take the panes out and reorientate them. Whilst the glazing company are on site, get them to do it. It’s literally a 4 min job per pane max.2006 LBM £28,000+ in debt.
2021 mortgage and debt free, working part time and living the dream1 -
pmartin86 said:As for the kitemark, its dependant on the location of the windows:
When do I need safety glass in doors and windows, and what type? (labcfrontdoor.co.uk)
But regardless, you honestly wont notice it after a while.
As for the handles, id expect them to be level personally.
None of the windows fitted so far meet the criteria for safety glass so I am still in the dark re: why this has been used (supposing this is the reason for the embossed mark).
We have a meeting with the contractor on site tomorrow and the glaziers should be there. We will ask the question.0 -
DairyQueen said:Probably a naive question but could someone in the know please advise.
Are glazing 'kite marks' a regulatory thing?
We are in the midst of a major house refurbishment. This week the glazing company began installing replacement composite windows. We visited the site today to check progress and have discovered that each of the panes is embossed with what seems to be a 'kite mark'. Each pane has a false glazing bar dividing it vertically. On some the mark is at a top corner, in others the bottom corner.
I have never seen glass marked in this way and it impacts the aesthetics of the windows (and not in a good way), especially when the mark has been embossed in a top corner. We were not advised about this and I don't recall seeing it on any samples.
Are we being dumb?
Another minor thing....
One window has a double casement (both sides opening with one LH hinged and the other RH). The handles don't align although the horizontal glazing bars do. Should we expect the handles to align? One handle is about a centimetre below the other.
TIA.Sorry I can't think of anything profound, clever or witty to write here.1 -
On some of the panes the mark is really noticeable. Depends on the backdrop and on the location of the mark.
@jonnydeppiwish! suggested removing reorienting the panes but I'm not sure that's possible. Please take a look at the attached image and comment.
Below is a pic of one of the windows. Each of these three panes has the mark in the top corner (as do most of the windows fitted so far). The pic doesn't really show the marks that well but they really grab your attention when standing in front of the window.
I really like the windows and they have cost (for us) a small fortune, but these marks really spoil the aesthetics.
Any idea why the company has used safety glass?
0 -
DairyQueen said:On some of the panes the mark is really noticeable. Depends on the backdrop and on the location of the mark.
@jonnydeppiwish! suggested removing reorienting the panes but I'm not sure that's possible. Please take a look at the attached image and comment.
Below is a pic of one of the windows. Each of these three panes has the mark in the top corner (as do most of the windows fitted so far). The pic doesn't really show the marks that well but they really grab your attention when standing in front of the window.
I really like the windows and they have cost (for us) a small fortune, but these marks really spoil the aesthetics.
Any idea why the company has used safety glass?
Those marking certainly look more prominent than the ones on my units. One thing I did notice is that one of the markings is the opposite way round to the others. This is a potential concern as my DG units have different inner and outer glass and should be installed with the correct face to the outside as one has a coating. Yours might just be not coated glass bot inside and out though.
Sorry I can't think of anything profound, clever or witty to write here.2 -
They do look quite obvious and I'm not sure I would be okay with it.
Funnily enough we've just had a new window put in and after looking closely I've just noticed a small kite mark less than 2 cm wide right in the corner, so even though I was looking at this every while they were installing it and very closely afterwards I didn't notice it.
I assume it's etched into the glass rather than stuck on so I'm not sure there's much you can do now other than make sure they all align but I would complain so they know. I'm sure there will be other manufacturers they can use in the future that will be different.
1 -
pramsay13 said:
I assume it's etched into the glass rather than stuck on so I'm not sure there's much you can do now other than make sure they all align but I would complain so they know. I'm sure there will be other manufacturers they can use in the future that will be different.
There doesn't seem to be any consistency with location.... top/bottom/right/left.... and, yes, some with the mark facing outside and some facing inside.
None of the windows fitted so far are less than 800mm from the floor so no need for safety glass.
The windows are being supplied and fitted under a main contractor statement of works. Our contract isn't with the glazing firm directly and the windows have been technically specified by an architect.
I will discuss with the contractor/architect tomorrow as I am really unhappy about the way the glass looks from the inside.
Very grateful for the replies.0
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.7K Banking & Borrowing
- 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.4K Spending & Discounts
- 243.7K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.8K Life & Family
- 256.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards