Secondary glazing for hallway window

pilsbury · 26 Jan 2020

About to start the huge task of redecorating hall/stairs/landing. I have a large leaded window half way up the stairs which looks great but due to its size and being single glazed, you can feel the cold falling off it. Seems like in the past someone has stuck plastic sheet on it.

Replacement is not an option. The windows do not need to open. They’ve never been opened in the 3 years we’ve been here and look painted shut!

Can I simply purchase 3 panes of safety glass and bead them in? Will this help the heat transfer and kind of behave like double glazing? Will I end up with internal condensation? What are my other options?

endecotp · 27 Jan 2020

You could consider a single acrylic sheet with magnetic strips at the sides.
It’s relatively cheap, and good for noise, draught and thermal insulation.

pilsbury · 27 Jan 2020

endecotp said:
You could consider a single acrylic sheet with magnetic strips at the sides.
It’s relatively cheap, and good for noise, draught and thermal insulation.

My only worry with this is fine scratches in time and maybe a look of it being temporary. Worth considering and investigating.

Ian H · 28 Jan 2020

Do you not want to replace it because of the cost or because you don’t want to loose the pattern?

My in-laws (if I was married) had their windows done and the built the leaded windows into new double glazed units.

pilsbury · 28 Jan 2020

Both. Would be very expensive and I like the old feature.

StephenStephen · 28 Jan 2020

pilsbury said:
My only worry with this is fine scratches in time and maybe a look of it being temporary. Worth considering and investigating.

I've done this - works really well and still invisible after some years.

JohnD · 28 Jan 2020

Acrylic sheet fixed to the frame will be very effective in cutting heat loss. Unless you intend to open the windows, fix it to the frame not the sashes. To avoid condensation inside, seal it tightly from the room, and allow it to ventilate to the outside (the air in the gap will expand and contract with temperature). If the windows are not a bit gappy you need to drill a few tiny holes, sloping downwards and stuffed with glassfibre to prevent dirt and insect entry.

if the glass in the original is stained and/or obscure, I think you will not see the acrylic. The trick is not to clean it wet (leaving watermarks) or with a dry cloth (leaving scratches) and also a static charge that attracts dust.

There may be some special magic compound, or possibly you could use demineralised water. Net curtains will also hide it.

If you want to have secondary glazing on clear glass windows, acrylic is not suitable as it is annoyingly not quite clear, so you'll need glass. I have done it as described above with great success. It is especially good for preventing condensation on bathroom and kitchen windows.

catlad · 8 Feb 2020

Why not just buy a double glazed unit and stick it in.

pilsbury · 8 Feb 2020

catlad said:
Why not just buy a double glazed unit and stick it in.

Because it’s a stained glass window and looks nice.

catlad · 9 Feb 2020

NO! I mean't stick it over your old one, your reveals and your cill look deep enough. You can then buy some quad beading and paint it white to blend it in.

Tigercubrider · 9 Feb 2020

As above- I removed the original reed glass from my front door surround and fitted DG units from a local supplier. 18mm gap and it wasn't too expensive
We did something similar in a mate's house effectively triple glazing a window and just used 2x1 as a frame.

If the position is vulnerable to a body flying through it, either use the correct glass or stick to acrylic

endecotp · 9 Feb 2020

Think about whether you will want to clean the inside of the original window.
I suggested acrylic with magnetic strips because it can be removed for cleaning.

Rad1o · 9 Feb 2020

We have got similar leaded single pain windows in the hallway. I wanted to keep them when I insulated the hallway and put the thinnest possible double glazed panes in. I ordered them to a fit to allow a silicon bead to seal them all around. I painted the original window frames black where the new DG panes went in. We also had the issue that a couple of windows had not really been opened in a while and I decided to permanently shut the window and sealed it in inside and out. I then siliconed a thin strip of wood in front of the pains to cover the spacer.
I did this 13 years ago. The hallway is much warmer and is a lot more pleasant to walk past these windows now in the cold - no more biting cold.

elisa123 · 17 Feb 2020

We have a lovely stained glass window in our hall (1.20x2m). The previous owner had a sheet of acrylic fitted permanently on the outside of the window. It was done about 20 years ago, never had a problem with it.

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Secondary glazing for hallway window

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