How Does Secondary Glazing Work?

Our Before and After illustrations show how secondary glazing changes comfort, draughts, condensation and heating performance on a cold day.

Cold day: scenario 1

This room has the radiator located in the wrong place. The correct place would be under the window.

Before

Bills: Very high
Draughts: Unbearable
Black mould: Unmanageable
Condensation: Lots! Time consuming. Just keeps coming.
Heating: Constantly running yet ineffective
Thermostat: Set to maximum, but the room still feels cold.

After

Bills: Significantly reduced
Draughts: Moderate (by her feet)
Black mould: Stopped dead
Condensation: Removed with a single wipe. Sometimes eliminated.
Heating: Controlled by the thermostat
Thermostat: set to medium, maintaining a warm room temperature

Cold day: scenario 2

This room has the radiator in the correct place. The secondary glazing will be especially effective in rooms with tall ceilings.

Before

Bills: Very high
Draughts: Unpleasant
Black mould: Manageable
Condensation: Lots in the morning. Dries off with the heating on.
Heating: Constantly running
Thermostat: Set higher than necessary. Some parts of the room still feel cold.

After

Bills: Significantly reduced
Draughts: None
Black mould: Stopped dead
Condensation: Only if the heating is off. Removed with a single wipe. Otherwise eliminated.
Heating: Gets to temperature very quickly, then controlled by the thermostat.
Thermostat: set to medium, maintaining a warm room temperature

Notes about condensation

Even with secondary glazing installed condensation is very much a factor of how much moisture is in the home, corresponding to the activities and number of people living there. Two people living in a large house might not experience much condensation. Most Extraglaze customer reviews (look for the Feefo button and yellow stars) claim it has elimintated this problem for them.

The materials used in your choice of secondary glazing also matter. An aluminium frame with glass will rarely stop condensation because these materials transfer heat rapidly. Extraglaze, however, has no metal frame and is glazed with acrylic, being warm to the touch, so it makes a far superior thermal barrier.

When behind thermal blinds and shutters, secondary glazing will cool overnight because it is denied the warmth of the room. You may see condensation when you open them in the morning.

Reviews

1 months ago
Product : Efficiently as improved insulation to a wide range of window shapes. Light and easily cleaned they can be fitted for you or done your self.

Stuart Day
1 months ago
Service rating : All very helpful and efficient

Product : Good system, looks great, not cheap, but will find out efficiency come winter.

Sam Mahon
4 months ago
Great product

Service rating : Would definitely recommend
Good product and customer service

Product : Easy to fit. Rooms much warmer. Condensation very much reduced. Very good customer service
4 months ago
Great Quality

Service rating : The product was well built, simple and solid. Easy to fit in and out of place as we can see fit. Very happy to recommend.
Product : It has made such a difference to our summer room. We had been using a compact air conditioning unit to keep the temperature down in the summer, but had been needing to leave a window open for the hose (which in turn let warm air in). Nic managed to design build and fit a simple extra glaze solution that enables us to feed the pipe through the window and keep the room closed. Very happy with the product.

Phil Birtwhistle
4 months ago
Great product and service

Service rating : Great customer service - no quibble when we receive a product with a defect. Service seems personal, human and so much better than a large company.
Product : Great product that has really helped us make our draughty old Victorian house much more energy efficient. There's an added bonus that we also hear much less noise from the road outside. They look great too - visitors are often amazed when we show them that they are there!

SLC
4 months ago
Fantastic, helpful company

Service rating : Great company. Easy to order, clear measuring guides, very well made. I always get a phone call when my order is ready, to arrange delivery.
Great, personal customer service, which is rare these days!
Product : These secondary glazing panels are perfect for my draughty little listed house. They are easy to use, look great (hardly noticeable) and are very effective at stopping the draughts.
I'm saving up so that each time I can afford another, I eliminate more draughts!
They aren't expensive for the quality, and always perfectly made and brilliantly packaged.
5 months ago
an excellent company to deal with

Service rating : Clare communication despite a re reschedule delivery and plenty of telephone advice before ordering.
Product : clear and concise installation instructions. The glazing panels were very well packed and arrived in pristine condition.
Following installation we have noticed a huge improvement in warmth and insulation, yet The secondary glazing is barely noticeable.
as these panels provide extra insulation for roof lights inside a sloped ceiling, extraglaze we’re able to supply wider magnetic strips for greater security.

James
5 months ago
Product : Effective and unobtrusive. Needs to be fitted carefully if the windows are at all uneven.
6 months ago
Excellent

Service rating : From design to delivery, quick and professional service. Highly recommend.

Product : Simple and efficient, mounting the panels was easy and we can already feel the difference in our grade II listed cottage. Would recommend to anyone.
7 months ago
Service rating : Get rid of the black edging.

Product : Easy to put up. Almost invisible against window mouldings. No maintenance.
Stops dripping windows. warms the house.

More reviews

Extra news

Secondary Glazing vs a Glass Upgrade to Double Glazing: Which Is Right for Your Home?

The Window Efficiency Debate

In the quest for energy efficiency and comfort, homeowners often find themselves at a crossroads: should they opt for secondary glazing or invest even more in upgrading their existing windows by swapping the old glass for some modern double glazing? Both options offer promise to improve insulation and reduce energy bills, but they are significantly different in their approaches and budgets. This guide explores the nuances of each solution to help you decide which is best for your home.

A Price Guide for Secondary Glazing 

Are you tired of feeling cold in your own home, of high energy bills or constant noise from outside? Extraglaze magnetic secondary glazing could be just the solution you need. It is an additional panel fitted over your existing windows, improving insulation and reducing noise without changing your home’s appearance. And installed with very little upheaval.