Secondary Double Glazing

Klare1

Hi all, hope everyone had a good Christmas.
Just looking into options for plugging the draughts around windows in our very old, but new to us, home.  We are in a conservation area, but not a listed property, and there is plenty to spend our cash on over the next couple of years, so looking for cost effective options.
Currently draughts are controlled with frog tape and curtains but doesn’t look great 😂
Does anyone have any experience of the Perspex secondary glazing on magnetic strips that you fit onto existing frames?  Are they worth the investment?  We have a little condensation in the mornings, but not severe, so it’s mainly heat loss that I’m concerned about, and keen that they can be removed in the summer months due to the vast majority of the rooms being south facing.
JFI some windows are sash, and some are bays.
Thanks in advance 

Green_hopeful

Hi I am looking at this as well. I did quite a bit of research online but don’t have the answer to your questions yet. I need to measure up and bite the bullet before the next cold snap. 

gwynlas

Not used the magnetic strips but did have secondary glazing using hinged panels of perspex on sash windows. It made a notable difference. Problem would be partially solved but would need to have some draught to act in the same way as a trickle vent on new windows.

RAS

Friends had sliding secondary glazing in some rooms when they bought a similar house. Which they took down and re-fitted more carefully.

They've been glad they had hinged panels fitted on a lot of the smaller windows in the last couple of years. Has halved their fuel use.

Ectophile

I have used magnetic tape with semi-rigid plastic sheet.  It was quite effective at keeping the cold out.  But that kind of plastic isn't completely clear, so it's not great aesthetically.  It's easy to peel off again in the summer.

If your window frames are flat enough, you may be able to use magnetic strips with rigid clear polycarbonate.  But it wouldn't have worked with the uneven old wooden frames I had.

Mutton_Geoff

I fitted a load of sliding glass ones inside Critall windows in listed building. Very effective, easy to lift out and clean, crack open to vent any moisture. Worked out to around £500 per window.

MikeJXE

Klare1 said:

Hi all, hope everyone had a good Christmas.
Just looking into options for plugging the draughts around windows in our very old, but new to us, home.  We are in a conservation area, but not a listed property, and there is plenty to spend our cash on over the next couple of years, so looking for cost effective options.
Currently draughts are controlled with frog tape and curtains but doesn’t look great 😂
Does anyone have any experience of the Perspex secondary glazing on magnetic strips that you fit onto existing frames?  Are they worth the investment?  We have a little condensation in the mornings, but not severe, so it’s mainly heat loss that I’m concerned about, and keen that they can be removed in the summer months due to the vast majority of the rooms being south facing.
JFI some windows are sash, and some are bays.
Thanks in advance 

Yep I do but It was many years ago and the cost was small compared what it might be now. The magnetic strips and Perspex does work. You have to be very careful cutting the Perspex as it splits easily, you need a very fine tooth saw and keep it as horizontal as possible when cutting, plus when removing from the window sometimes the magnetic strips come away with it. At that time there was another idea of using cling film on the inside, I never tried that so I can't comment. 

Chickereeeee

I have the magnetic glazing on a couple of windows (leaded, stained glass) and it works fine. It is all but invisible during the day, but can be seen at  night when domestic lights are on, due to reflections at some angles. 

It is also very effective at providing insulation and reducing condensation. I ordered my plastic  sheet online, and had  cut to size for delivery, . I bought my magnetic tape online as well. Or you can get the panes and magnetic tape pre-made from Magneglaze, and others, for a price.

Use V-type seal around window edges to prevent draughts.

Apodemus

MikeJXE said:

Klare1 said:

Hi all, hope everyone had a good Christmas.
Just looking into options for plugging the draughts around windows in our very old, but new to us, home.  We are in a conservation area, but not a listed property, and there is plenty to spend our cash on over the next couple of years, so looking for cost effective options.
Currently draughts are controlled with frog tape and curtains but doesn’t look great 😂
Does anyone have any experience of the Perspex secondary glazing on magnetic strips that you fit onto existing frames?  Are they worth the investment?  We have a little condensation in the mornings, but not severe, so it’s mainly heat loss that I’m concerned about, and keen that they can be removed in the summer months due to the vast majority of the rooms being south facing.
JFI some windows are sash, and some are bays.
Thanks in advance 

Yep I do but It was many years ago and the cost was small compared what it might be now. The magnetic strips and Perspex does work. You have to be very careful cutting the Perspex as it splits easily, you need a very fine tooth saw and keep it as horizontal as possible when cutting... 

Nowadays it is probably better and cheaper to measure accurately and buy it already cut to size.  There are plenty of on-line suppliers and prices of cut sheet are cheaper than buying the sheets uncut at any of the local DIY sheds.  

My advice would be to always go one size thicker than you think you want.

Klare1

Thanks everyone, really helpful and much appreciated.  Think we’ll go ahead for our bedroom and daughters bedroom for starters to see how we get on.

stuart45

If you need to cut perspex, clamping a piece of thin timber to it where the cut is going helps a lot.