Double Glazing Market Continues to Grow as We Become More Concerned with Energy Efficiency

Jan. 17, 2011 - PRLog -- Maidstone, Kent, January 17, 2011 -- Double glazing of windows and doors are rapidly becoming the preferred method in reducing energy bills and keeping homes warm and quieter. Heat escapes through the glass of normal windows and therefore require more fuel to keep the homes warm continuously which in turn increases the carbon dioxide emissions in the environment.

Twin glazed windows are made by using two sheets of glass with an air or gas filled space between them. The most common material used to make the frames with is uPVC, unplasticized polyvinyl chloride. It is a hard, durable plastic capable of lasting a long time with the benefit of being recyclable. Advantages include the strengthening agents used to prevent it from warping and that they don't fade from ongoing exposure to the sun's ultra violet rays.

Other common materials used for frames in double glazing are aluminium, steel, fiberglass or wood, although wood requires regular maintenance. Passive gasses like argon, xenon or krypton are used to fill the space between the two glass panes. The spacers used to keep the two panels apart are made of a range of products like aluminium, stainless steel, rubber or foam.

Double glazing windows and doors of a home are available in a variety of styles and materials to suit different tastes and homes. It is used in houses, apartments, offices and industrial and commercial buildings. There is a rating system in place which directly reflects how well the windows' double glazing: stop heat from escaping, allow sunlight in and stop air from leaking in or out. These ratings give the potential buyer a fair idea of the energy efficiency of the double glazing with a G-rating being the least efficient and A the most competent in improving your home insulation.

In the United Kingdom it is expected that double glazing as the main choice of insulation will expand greatly in 2011 because of a policy approved by their parliament to be more energy efficient and reduce the carbon footprint. It will involve a program which will see the government encouraging and financially assisting consumers, when making home improvements, to choose double glazing or insulation with a minimum of a C-rating. Consumers will in turn repay these loans through payment of their energy bills.

The most preferred substance used in double glazing windows is a low emissivity or Low-E glass. This glass is covered with a discreet coating of a metal oxide on one of the sheets facing the gap. It has the capability to allow light in but on the other hand it acts as a thermal mirror by reflecting heat back into a room. The glass itself has a R-rating which reflects the ability to resist heat transfers with a higher rating being more thermal resistant and therefore a better product .

Upgrading to double glazing include advantages like the reduction in condensation, the filtering out of noise outside of the home, added security because they are harder to break and the durability in terms of age. Double glazing your windows and doors is an improvement which can last for twenty years or more with the only maintenance required being the replacing of the seal between the two sheets. This will be obvious by the build-up of condensation in between the two sheets of glass. Ventilation needs to be taken into consideration when double glazing your windows, making your home more airtight. The new frames can have small holes placed in them to let in small amounts of fresh air. When a property is situated at a high altitude, the windows will need a breather pipe without which the glass can break under the higher pressure.

With so many varieties and options available for double glazing on the market, seeking advice and gathering as much information as possible can help any person to make the best informed decision to insulate their home and make it more energy efficient.

Contact:
Paul Simms
Double Glazing Quotations
174 Merton Road
Maidstone, Kent, ME15 8LW
01622 208336
info@doubleglazingquotations.co.uk
http://www.doubleglazingquotations.co.uk