New Guidance From Historic England on Secondary Glazing for Historic Buildings
New Guidance From Historic England on Secondary Glazing for Historic Buildings
In this blog, we take a look at a recent case study from Historic England, in which a stone farmhouse from 1820 had secondary glazing and insulation installed into the property.
Project
This project was about bringing a farmhouse that had been unoccupied for 20 years into a contemporary home that a large family could live in. Secondary glazing was used on top of an existing single-glazing, a simple process of adding a second panel of glass as opposed to removing the windows or doors completely and re-installing.
The addition of secondary glazing created a more straightforward and smoother transition that is more practical for older homes such as this one.
Benefits
The secondary glazing installation came with a variety of benefits for this particularly historic property. The farmhouse now does not have the concern of condensation, making for a more comfortable home and lessening the risk of dampness. Condensation can genuinely reduce the quality of older homes through a genuine risk of mould, which is a particularly vital issue. The addition of a secondary panel means the glass will match the temperature of the inside, lessening the risk of condensation and any potential interior damage that it could have.
“Secondary glazing will provide considerable improvements to thermal performance and energy conservation. In respect of multipane windows, it often outperforms double-glazing.”
Historic England Advice, Note 18.
Also, the seamlessness of adding secondary glazing in comparison to reinstalling double glazing meant the farmhouse had kept its unique character. Additionally, adding a second panel allows the farmhouse to reduce its carbon footprint because the property will have reduced heat loss, thus lowering energy consumption. Secondary glazing allows for substantial improvements without changing elements of the historic property.
For any potential homebuyers, the addition of secondary glazing will add another layer of protection, making forced entry far more difficult and a deterrent for intruders. All in all, this was a welcoming addition to the property and will now quickly allow for a larger family home that can be enjoyed and provide a safe place to live.
You can find out more about the process of how secondary glazing and insulation were added to the historic farmhouse, the lessons that were learned, and the impact it had.
How Fox Windows & Doors Can Help
If you are interested in having secondary glazing installed, we here at Fox Windows and Doors are the right choice for you. We have over 150 years of combined experience in our sector and the finest range of secondary glazing from Granada.
You can contact us today by filling out our contact form or by giving us a call at 01926 754044. Alternatively, you can get a free instant quote using our free online quoting tool.
