A set of old patio doors were treated with Selectaglaze secondary glazing in a quiet residential home in Barnet makes a living room warmer and more comfortable for a couple’s new born baby.
Newlywed, Mr, and Mrs Chowdhury moved into a semi-detached property in a cul-de-sac 6 years ago, renovating it from top to bottom. However, they neglected one area as they felt a change was not needed at the time. The single glazed patio doors were clearly timeworn, but the slight draughts and noise from outside did not affect them enough to warrant replacing them, and they were secure. Fast-forward to Autumn 2019, the couple had a baby boy and this all changed. The lounge was chillier than other areas of the house, and this was substantiated by the fact that the wooden floors were also cold to the touch in the area closest to the patio doors, which were originally installed when the house was built in the early 70s. Doing little to stop draughts and heat loss, as well as allowing the noise from trains passing New Barnet railway station to penetrate the interior, something needed to be done to address these issues.
Having explored most of the alternatives to improve thermal insulation, it turned out that by installing secondary glazing to the patio doors would be a less expensive solution, as opposed to replacing the doors with double-glazed units. The reveal was approximately 2m x 2m and it was important to the family that the treatment would be as unobtrusive as possible and matched the sightlines of the existing single glazing.
An order was placed for a Series 10 2-pane horizontal sliding unit – the best option for the couple’s needs. This unit is a versatile secondary glazing treatment that allows easy access to the outer window and can be used to treat sliding patio doors. By installing an independent glazing system, heat loss can be reduced by up to 60%. The high-performance brush seals ensure draughts are eliminated, thus encouraging better comfort near a window. Prior to the units being installed, timber grounds were fixed into the reveal, which had skirting boards. Installers scribed into the timber frame to create matching grooves and nuances to fit snug in the reveal and over the skirting. This ensured a thoroughly airtight finish.
To create the required noise insulation, the Series 10 was set 100mm apart from the doors and therefore achieved an acoustic reduction of over 40dB. In addition, from a security standpoint, the inclusion of secondary glazing to a set of patio doors provides a second barrier to entry. Furthermore, in this instance, the Series 10 included 6.4mm laminated glass which increased noise reduction as well as offering added strength and security to the unit.
"I am so impressed by the look and performance of our secondary glazing and it has done wonders to our living room. The whole point of getting our doors treated was to improve thermal and noise insulation for the benefit of our baby and it has done that. The surveyors and installers were friendly and extremely professional, and we were appreciative of the quick turnaround time given the time of year. I highly recommend Selectaglaze to anyone looking for a great solution for draught or outside issues.” Monika Chowdhury
The living room is now considerably warmer and the unit has also provided an extra level of security; all of which has given peace of mind to the parents and a content, cosy baby.
Founded in 1966, Royal Warrant Holder Selectaglaze has considerable experience of working within Listed buildings and newbuilds. An extensive range of literature and guidance notes covering acoustics, thermal performance and added security is offered together with a technical advisory service and RIBA approved online CPD Seminars.
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