Double Glazing Costs

Double glazing cost used to be prohibitive to many people but as with most things in this recession the prices have dropped substantially. However, if you’re planning to double glaze your entire house, it’s still going to cost a substantial amount of money and here at doubleglazingcost.com we want to ensure that you spend your money wisely and get windows that will last a lifetime.

Calling on years of knowledge and experience in the double glazing trade, we’ve put together this site as a guide to buying double glazing and to ensure your double glazing doesn’t cost too much. We’ve tried to be as detailed as possible, but if you feel we’ve missed anything please get in touch and we’ll answer you individual queries and update this site if necessary.

Find a reputable company when looking for double glazing cost

Reviewing local advertising literature is a good way of sourcing double glazing companies. Have a look in the local paper and draw up a list of 4 or 5 companies that you like the look of. Once you finalised the list, start asking friends and family if they’ve heard of any of the companies or even better with they’ve experienced their work first hand. First hand reviews of their work will be one of the best ways of identifying the best double glazers and save you time by removing undesirable companies from your list.

Some will offer a prompt payment discount, so if you’ve got the money available it’s worth mentioning.
For many homeowners, performing household repairs and upgrades themselves is the only way to make double glazing cost affordable. For others, going the do it yourself route provides too many headaches and choosing a reputable professional to do the work for them is the preferred way to go. Before deciding on which route to take, knowing what each process entails and the initial double glazing cost is a must have.

When a homeowner decides to work with glass, a dose of confidence is needed. Though not impossible to install double glazed units oneself, it does take some time and understanding. For ease of installation and cost effective purposes, most homeowners going the do it yourself route opt for units with wooden frames.

First, the old windows must be removed. A homeowner that does this process themselves saves even more on their double glazing cost. Typically, 10mm of wood surrounds the old window pane and is used to keep the glass secured in its place. A knife is used to separate the silicone seal from around the inside of the frame. Once the seal is broken, the glass is removed.

Next, the frame must be cleaned up and all traces of the old silicone seal removed. Working carefully and cleanly brings the double glazing cost for homeowners down as well. The double glazed unit is then inserted into the frame. It’s important to note that the units being described above are already double glazed. The unit must rest flat and fit securely against the frame. In some cases the frame is not even and must be widened.

Once the homeowner is sure the window unit fits properly into the frame, it is removed and a rubber seal is applied to the frame. The double glazed unit is then re-inserted into the frame. A silicon seal is applied around the window as well as some wooden beading to keep the window secured. On average, purchasing pre-double glazed units and installing them oneself reduces the price to about $5000 in a home that has 215 square feet of windows.

Is double glazing cost to expensive for a home owner

If this is still too expensive for the homeowner there is a way to slash their double glazing cost by a considerable amount. This process requires doing the work themselves and entails applying secondary glazing. In this case, the entire unit is not replaced. A piece of Low-E glass is purchased by the homeowner and applied to the outside of the first window.

A plastic moisture barrier is added between the two panes of glass. This step cannot be skipped because the moisture barrier prevents condensation from building up between the two panes. Another layer of beading must be put into place to secure the second piece of glass. Screwing the beading in makes it easier to perform needed adjustments and repairs later on. The double glazing cost is then reduced to the amount of money the homeowner paid for their individual window panes, additional supplies, and tools.

Homeowners that prefer not to install double glazed units themselves should expect their double glazing costs to rise considerably. Again, using a home that has 215 square feet of windows to be replaced can cost the homeowner around $16,000. This cost includes professional installation as well as the units and new frames. Typically, a home with sufficient wooden frames can expect to pay a lower double glazing cost and save almost half.

There are many variables that go into calculating double glazing cost. This includes the size of the windows, window styles, insulation options, and labor and installation. On average, homeowners should expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $450 per window.

Generally speaking, double glazed window units use a basis of 94 united inches when determining cost. This includes the entire opening. Most manufacturers charge roughly the same standard amount for double glazed windows up to 94 united inches. Anything more than that and the price will certainly go up.

In the U.S. for example, it is standard to use a form of measurement called united inches as mentioned above. Simply measure the height and width of the windows to be replaced and add the two measurements together. A window that measures 59” in height and 30” in width would equal 89”. Those are the united inches.

Double glazed windows come in a wide assortment of styles. Individual taste and price usually come into play when selecting windows. Each different style of window has its own double glazing cost. The styles to choose from include sliders, double hung, bow windows, bay windows, hopper windows, casements, and a few others.

Insulation options also affect the cost of double glazed windows. Common insulation options offered by manufacturers include Low–E, argon gas, and tinting. These prices vary among manufacturers and it is best to check with individual vendor for specific price lists.

Lastly, labor and materials must be factored into the cost for double glazed windows. These two aspects vary widely per company. It is important to note that the manufacturer and installer are two separate companies. Typically, manufacturers do not install the windows so their prices do not reflect the installation process.

Contractors or installation companies can charge different amounts for their labor and materials. When looking for the most affordable installation company, it is best to get several quotes from different area installers. The manufacturer of the double glazed windows may be able to recommend reputable contractors by area. Installation costs depend on the size of the windows and the materials of the home and range between $100 and $500 per window.

Of course, any homeowner who wishes to save on their double glazing costs can have their new window units installed a few at a time. This solution makes having the entire house redone more feasible for most, as a few window units can be replaced each year. The initial double glazing cost is expensive but homeowners save a considerable amount on heating costs each year allowing the investment to quickly pay for itself.