Secondary Glazing Or Double Glazing: Which Is Better?

Unless you work in the window industry, it’s easy to confuse secondary and double glazing. Here at Reading Trade Windows, we’ve noticed that homeowners sometimes use these phrases interchangeably, but they’re not the same. We don’t want anyone to find themselves in the unfortunate situation of accidentally ordering the wrong product, and we thought we’d take the time to explain the two terms. 

So, what is the difference between double glazing and secondary glazing? Which is the better option? Read on to find out.

What’s The Difference?

The best way to explain the difference is that double glazing is two panes of glass contained within one window frame, whereas secondary glazing is more like two separate windows that have been fixed together. Both involve two panes of glass with a gap between them, and they each offer superior thermal insulation to single glazed windows. Where double glazed windows are one unit though, secondary glazed windows are two. 

Cost-wise, secondary glazing is generally the cheaper option. It can be attached to existing windows, so a full replacement isn’t necessary, and it doesn’t always require expert fitting either. If you’re a DIY enthusiast and have a free weekend, it’s possible to buy the materials from a local hardware shop and put together a decent unit yourself. It’s more hassle than hiring someone, but it will save you a few pennies. 

Secondary glazing isn’t as common as double glazing and is mainly used for heritage homes. In historic properties, getting the necessary planning permission to upgrade the windows can be difficult. Secondary glazing makes a good alternative as it doesn’t alter the existing structure of the building. 

Which Is Better?

In simple terms, double glazing is the better option. It provides better thermal insulation and is more secure. If your children are practising to be the sports heroes of tomorrow, your windows are less likely to be broken by a badly aimed football if they’re double glazed. 

That said, if you live in a heritage home or you’re working with a tighter budget, secondary glazing is well worth considering. The cost of living crisis is affecting us all, so secondary glazing can be a good temporary solution if you don’t have the finances available to replace your existing windows. It’ll take the edge off your heating bills in the short term and buy you time to prepare for a more permanent fix. 

Secondary glazing allows homeowners to preserve period properties but bring their energy performance into the modern era. We proudly supply secondary glazing to installers and homeowners across Reading and the surrounding areas. 

If you’ve been inspired and want to start working on a secondary glazing project, you can start with an online quote today. Alternatively, if you’d like further information, you can email us at sales@readingtradewindows.co.uk or call us on 0118 338 1600. Our experts will be able to answer your questions and we look forward to hearing from you.

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Tags: aluminium windows, cost of living crisis, double glazing, glazing options, heritage homes, secondary glazing, Windows