Of all the glass products that exist for use in domestic and commercial properties, double glazing is the one that almost everyone has heard of. That applies even if they do not have double-glazing themselves. Sometimes called “insulated glazing”, double glazing had existed from as far back as the 1870s when the early versions of it were installed in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and Scotland.
Given that none of those three countries is considered holiday “hot spots“, it should give you a clue as to why double glazing was used, and well done if you said to keep out the cold. Before double glazing, what would happen was that the second sheet of glass was installed in the winter months and then removed when warmer temperatures arrived in spring. The work required, and the inconvenience led to the search for a better alternative, and double glazing was the solution.
How Is Double Glazing Constructed?
You do not need to be a glazing expert to understand that double glazing involves two panes of glass. They are set within a frame, often made from aluminium or uPVC, and the gap between these two panes of glass is filled with an inert gas, which in most cases will be argon gas. The frame is then sealed to ensure that none of the gas escapes. Other than a different inert gas, variables can include the thickness of the glass panes and the material used for the frame. The plane can then be used for windows or glass balustrading etc.
How Does Double Glazing Work?
The primary reasons that double glazing is installed in domestic or commercial buildings are to keep them warmer in cold weather and cooler in warmer weather. For those with a sense of humour asking, “How does the double glazing know which is which?” we appreciate the question, but all we can offer in response is a smile and shrug of the shoulders.
Anyway, onto more serious matters and how double glazing works. We will start with cold weather and how it keeps the inside of properties warm when the temperatures are dropping outside. One of the problems with single-glazed windows is that glass is a conductor of heat. This means if you have the heating on indoors, it will escape via windows as they absorb the heat and then radiate it outside.
This does not happen with double glazing because the inert gas between the two panes of glass stops the heat from transferring outside and keeps it trapped in that gap. Further, some trapped heat will be reflected inside the room again, keeping the room warm and reducing the heating required. This helps to lower heating bills, which is a significant reason why double glazing is popular.
In warmer weather, the heat is coming from the outside rather than your indoor heating, but the same trapped heat principle applies again, but this time in reverse to keep the indoors cooler. The heat coming from outside is trapped within the double-glazing unit, meaning that the need for air conditioning is reduced, and once more, power bills are kept lower than they would with single-glazed windows.
Other Benefits Of Double Glazing
We have talked in some detail about the benefits of double glazing concerning keeping your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, but they are not the only benefits of double glazing. Other benefits include:
- Reducing the noise coming from outside
- Long-lasting and durable
- Requires little maintenance
- Environmentally friendly as they reduce power usage
- Reducing condensation on windows
- Can increase the value of your property
One important note to finish with is that to benefit from all that double glazing fully has to offer, you must only have it fitted by a professional glass company with a proven track record over several years. This will ensure the quality of the double glazing being done to your property and the high levels of artistry required to install it correctly.
