Replace Glass rather than Windows?

[MrEarl]

Hello,

Has anyone upgraded their glass, rather than gone for full window replacement?

If so, was there a significant cost saving?

Did you get a BER rating done before and after, and if so, what was the impact?

Do you feel a notable difference in heat retention, having replaced the glass?

I've heard a radio advert mention a 68% improvement on performance, compared to existing double glazing - with suggestion that the glass replacement would cost 50% less than new windows. Sounds good, but is it really?

 

[Monbretia]

I replaced the glass in all my front windows few weeks ago, now while they did say they are more efficient that was not actually my motivation so my info might be of no use to you! I did it because I was sick of looking at the georgian white bars in them, secondly the glass had been badly scratched when installed due to the plastering and thirdly was the fact that the house faces north and in fact the two bigger rooms would always have felt very cold around the window. So basically the fact that the glass might be better was a secondary bonus.

I really won't know until winter properly comes in whether or not there is any noticeable difference in the heat retention in those rooms but I did a very inaccurate test on one window as I have one of those Lidl/Aldi heat sensor things that you point and take temp of things and one of the window glasses was wrong size so they had to reinstall old one temporarily so I checked if the old glass in one side of the window was colder temp than the new glass in the other part and it actually was! Not by much and hardly scientific but there was definitely a difference.

I don't have very big windows on the north facing side, sitting room/bedroom/bathroom/hall so 3 part window in two rooms and smaller 2 part in hall/bathroom. It was €1,200 to replace the glass in the 4 windows and also two small long panes either side of door elsewhere. I thought it was great value as opposed to replacing the whole window which I had no interest in doing as really it was just the appearance of them at this stage that was annoying me too much!

 

[AJAM]

Monbretia ask your supplier if they can provide you with a U value certificate for the windows. If you can get this, then the BER crowd will accept this whenever you go to sell or rate your house. However, if they can not give you a cert (because maybe for a cert it has to include the entire window including the frames) then BER will give you no credit for it.
Now this doesn't matter if your not selling or if you don't intend to apply for any SEAI grants, but it could make a difference if you are.

 

[Monbretia]

Monbretia ask your supplier if they can provide you with a U value certificate for the windows. If you can get this, then the BER crowd will accept this whenever you go to sell or rate your house. However, if they can not give you a cert (because maybe for a cert it has to include the entire window including the frames) then BER will give you no credit for it.
Now this doesn't matter if your not selling or if you don't intend to apply for any SEAI grants, but it could make a difference if you are.

I'm not selling or applying for grants and anyway it was only windows to front of house, all others are still the original 33 Yr old ones so doubt even changing glass would matter ber wise with such old windows. All in great nick though, better than some more modern ones!

 

[hazelgreen]

We had double glazing put in existing mahogony windows and I am happy. The work was done in one day (nine windows). I was delighted by lack of condensation on glass tho I run two dehumidfiers now. We recently had a second BER report done and I quizzed chap about the result as no huge improvement. He said the windows we had did not rate as they were not Class I standard

 

[Zenith63]

We had all our windows/doors replaced last year. We went from double to triple glazing, but much more important to me was the airtightness improvements of the new frames. The previous frames were about 20 year old PVC, they weren't particularly well fitted so there were some gaps around the frames, some of the windows hard warped slightly and the hinges/seals were also in poor condition so most windows were not shutting fully.

I think airtight window frames are far more important to the comfort of the house than slightly newer glazing, so I'd be cautious of just replacing the glass unless you're certain the frames are in great condition and likely to stay that way another 20 years after you replace the glass.

 

[Sarah Ryan]

We had all our windows/doors replaced last year. We went from double to triple glazing, but much more important to me was the airtightness improvements of the new frames. The previous frames were about 20 year old PVC, they weren't particularly well fitted so there were some gaps around the frames, some of the windows hard warped slightly and the hinges/seals were also in poor condition so most windows were not shutting fully.

I think airtight window frames are far more important to the comfort of the house than slightly newer glazing, so I'd be cautious of just replacing the glass unless you're certain the frames are in great condition and likely to stay that way another 20 years after you replace the glass.

Agreed, our windows are 20 years plus, we looked into replacing glass and they said no you are into new window territory as the frames have changed so much.

 

[Slim]

We priced changing all our windows from 25 yr old pvc double glazed to new, better double or triple glazed, about 5 months ago. The guy we contacted was recommended by someone I know. He said we'd no need to change the frames as they were sound and not to put in triple glazed unless we were putting in underfloor heating. I can't say I've noticed any difference as the weather got colder but Mrs. S is much happier with the light as we removed all the beading in between the frames. I must remember to ask for U certificate. We also pumped additional insulation into the cavities and will redo the attic next year. Draughts are key and will be checking all the window sills again.

 

[lff12]

We had all our windows/doors replaced last year. We went from double to triple glazing, but much more important to me was the airtightness improvements of the new frames. The previous frames were about 20 year old PVC, they weren't particularly well fitted so there were some gaps around the frames, some of the windows hard warped slightly and the hinges/seals were also in poor condition so most windows were not shutting fully.

I think airtight window frames are far more important to the comfort of the house than slightly newer glazing, so I'd be cautious of just replacing the glass unless you're certain the frames are in great condition and likely to stay that way another 20 years after you replace the glass.

Yes - and when they fit new triple glazed ones they will ensure that all gaps are properly sealed and no cold bridging which you definitely will not get if you replace the panes only. Also, in one room, a lot of those 90s era pvc frames are pretty flimsy compared to new ones which are properly rated for the overall U-value,

If hinges/seals are an issue and you don't have the budget to replace everything it is possible to get just those done and it will make a very slight difference to your comfort.

 

[Monbretia]

Funny enough I just thought of this thread today, I replaced the glass in front north facing windows only (more to do with appearance - see previous post). Anyway I am in the habit of standing inside my sitting room window with my hands on the window board looking out at the garden in the morning. When I used to do that I always noticed the cold air which seemed to fall down from the glass to the board, it was noticeably colder there than the room would be.

This morning was the first cold morning we had and I went to have a look at outside after getting up assuming my usual hands on windowsill pose and noticed it wasn't cold at all there like it usually would be so it seems the better glass is having an effect! Thankfully my frames were in good shape.