From the first day you step foot on Melbourne ground, you’d like to hear and understand what it means when Melbournians say we have ‘four seasons in one day’. The weather in Australia can be pretty consistent in some parts of the country but in Melbourne, it’s known to be pretty temperamental, volatile and straight-up unpredictable. This is one of the reasons that double glazed windows have become not just a great addition to your home, but almost a necessity to get through the day when the weather isn’t playing nice.
Double glazed windows are great for temperature control, particularly when the summers are extra hot, the winters are very cold and you experience major fluctuations with a mix of both throughout an entire day or week. At Windows Republic, we’ve been providing high quality double glazed windows for years and one question we always get asked is: can you double glaze existing windows?
The answer is yes. You can double glaze existing windows!
This is a great option if you have relatively new windows that aren’t double-glazed or if you’re looking for a slightly cheaper option to provide that extra insulation and improved temperature control in your home. Adding a second layer and double glazing existing windows can give you more comfort, more efficiency in your energy bills and reduce external noise in your home. A great way to adapt your home to the harsh and unpredictable Melbourne climate, this option of double glazing can be super beneficial!
The process would involve one of our experienced technicians examining your windows, seeing if they’re suitable to provide you with a quote and getting started on retrofitting your windows with secondary glazing. One of the reasons why our processes are so efficient is that we source all of our equipment and manufacture our double glazed windows in Australia and have short lead times. We know how important being comfortable in your own home is, particularly when you’re going through a rough summer/winter or in-between season, so we work hard on installing great windows at great cost/benefit ratios.
Pros & Cons of Double Glazing existing windows
Although it seems like a no-brainer to go for double glazing existing windows, there are a few factors to take into consideration before making your decision as not all windows will be appropriate or suitable for secondary glazing.
At Windows Republic, we care about your experience and what you’re looking to achieve for your windows and sometimes secondary glazing may be what you need. However, sometimes it’s often best to go the extra mile and invest in new double glazed windows instead of secondary glazing too. We know that every customer we have will likely have different houses, different windows and different circumstances, which is why our consultation involves examining your property and providing you with the best solution for your situation.
Are the existing windows suitable?
One of the assessments one of our qualified installers will make is whether your existing windows can get secondary glazing in the first place. Your existing windows may not be suitable if they’re not supportive or strong enough, or are draughty or require repairs. If any of these are the case, it’s often not worth installing secondary glazing as the overall finish and quality won’t be up to par with new double glazed windows. If it’s the case, it can also be more expensive to get secondary glazing as we have to take extra measures to make sure the existing window is in good condition to support the second pane of glass and the process of installation.
Will you need to open the windows for ventilation?
Since everyone’s home is likely to have different styles, sizes and shapes of windows depending on when and who built them, sometimes when we’re looking at retrofitting windows with double glazing, they have to be permanently shut to strengthen the structure and provide adequate support. This often means that you won’t be able to open these double glazed windows properly, or at all, which can affect your comfort if you prefer to have natural ventilation through these windows. This is another case where depending on your needs, we would evaluate the cost/benefit of secondary glazing against investing in brand new double glazed windows for your home.
If you’re thinking about double glazed windows Melbourne and considering the possibility of double glazing your existing windows, you can reach out to us to get a professional evaluation by one of our expert technicians and a competitive quote to get you on your journey to a more comfortable home with double glazing. Contact us today!