Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 Mar 13, 2010 10:53 am To achieve a 5 star energy rating on our house, we've been asked to sign a variation to install low-e glass. Questions: * is the following quote reasonable? * other threads on H1 indicate that double glazing is more efficient. If so, what would be the approximate cost of double glazing compared to what we've been quoted for low-e glass? Quote for window sizes: 2057mm * 1450mm = $433 2057mm * 1810mm = $571 1200mm * 1810mm = $318 As the total quote for the windows comes to just over $4k, (which is totally unexpected), any helpful comments/advice/opinions would be most appreciated. Re: Low-E glass quote 2Mar 13, 2010 1:07 pm I initially looked in to Low-E as I was told it was cheaper than double glazing, however the cons outweighed the pro's for us. From *memory* Low-E is a film placed over the glass that can be scratched quite easily, and can not be cleaned with any products. There seemed to be a lot a care required and with kids it didn't seem appropriate for us. Can't help with pricing. MH&LS Re: Low-E glass quote 3Mar 13, 2010 5:03 pm You might be able to improve your energy rating using other methods such as thicker ceiling and wall insulation, window placement, etc. Has your builder suggested any other alternatives that may be more cost effective? Re: Low-E glass quote 4Mar 13, 2010 8:07 pm theyetti Has your builder suggested any other alternatives that may be more cost effective? Not as yet. I have left a message and am waiting on a call back. I don't hold much hope of them being proactive with this, which is why I'm doing research before they contact me. This is a huge expense so I'm looking at alternatives. Any suggestions are great. Thanks Re: Low-E glass quote 5Mar 13, 2010 8:12 pm We're looking at around $4k extra to get all our windows double glazed, however that is without the builders margin as we're OB Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Low-E glass quote 6Mar 14, 2010 7:28 am Rowena To achieve a 5 star energy rating on our house, we've been asked to sign a variation to install low-e glass. Questions: * is the following quote reasonable? * other threads on H1 indicate that double glazing is more efficient. If so, what would be the approximate cost of double glazing compared to what we've been quoted for low-e glass? Quote for window sizes: 2057mm * 1450mm = $433 2057mm * 1810mm = $571 1200mm * 1810mm = $318 As the total quote for the windows comes to just over $4k, (which is totally unexpected), any helpful comments/advice/opinions would be most appreciated. Hi Rowena, Have they asked you to upgrade ALL your windows? If this is a variation and you have not modified the house, then I assume in one orientation that the house requires no upgrade to glazing at the base price. So, which orientation is that? If this is a standard project home, this is something that was predictable by the builder before you signed. All builders have every house energy rated in every orientation, it makes it easier. So ask the questions... Although it comes up as an alternative in the software and raises the star value, Low-E glass works differently to double glazing. Double glazing is like insulation batts, or a snugly blanket, insulating you with its air pocket, preventing heat conduction. Low-E is like one of those reflective blankets, keeping the radiant heat in or out. Which would you rather have, a snugly blanket or a reflective blanket??? Of course, you can have both and they work very well together. Low-E on it's own might tweak the stars in the software, but it won't make you cosy. Ask the builder for a quote in double glazing, this will give you a bigger boost in energy, comfort and noise... I think the price would not be so different to your quote for Low-E. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Low-E glass quote 8Mar 14, 2010 7:08 pm Thanks for your help guys. Ed, thanks for your professional input. Yes we have modified the house but the shape has always been homestead style with lots of windows at the front. We've just changed a couple of the rooms around, so to speak, but all of the bedrooms have always been at the front of the house. So I agree that the original house design should have been 5 star energy rated and we should have been told about the extra cost required. Grrrr. I shall email them as they are quicker at responding to emails rather than phone calls Thanks for the info about double glazing. Hope this works out as we are on a main road and this will help with noise reduction. I'll let you know how we go. Re: Low-E glass quote 9Mar 14, 2010 7:43 pm Rowena Thanks for your help guys. Ed, thanks for your professional input. Yes we have modified the house but the shape has always been homestead style with lots of windows at the front. We've just changed a couple of the rooms around, so to speak, but all of the bedrooms have always been at the front of the house. So I agree that the original house design should have been 5 star energy rated and we should have been told about the extra cost required. Grrrr. I shall email them as they are quicker at responding to emails rather than phone calls Thanks for the info about double glazing. Hope this works out as we are on a main road and this will help with noise reduction. I'll let you know how we go. You're welcome... by orientation I mean which side faces North. If you decide to upgrade to double glazing, make sure that the builder does not downgrade the other insulation and stay within 5 stars, if you are paying, you deserve the improvement. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Low-E glass quote 10Mar 14, 2010 8:42 pm Bam We're looking at around $4k extra to get all our windows double glazed, however that is without the builders margin as we're OB Our upgrade to double glazed windows was $4k and that's building a 41sq house (plenty of windows) and through a mainstream builder. Our house thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=18335 Re: Low-E glass quote 12Mar 15, 2010 6:49 am Rowena GSK - great. Fingers crossed that they'll quote us a similar figure. Ed - I see what you mean now, yes, orientation of the whole front of the house is north - so it'll get full sun. Cheers If you don't have a verandah or wide eaves, and you can't afford both D/G and Low-E, for comfort you will be better opting for Low-E to the front... but you won't need it to the South facing side, there double glazing would be the go. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Low-E glass quote 13Mar 15, 2010 10:58 pm Rowena Hope this works out as we are on a main road and this will help with noise reduction. I'll let you know how we go. http://www.chevronglass.com.au/ "Thicker glass is exceptionally good at reducing traffic noise, while laminated glass can greatly reduce voice noise, and using thicker laminated glass is even better. Using either of these glasses in an Double Glazing® insulating glass unit improves their performance even further, and can cut voice or traffic noise by 46%." Re: Low-E glass quote 14Mar 20, 2010 10:29 am Thanks for all of your helpful advice. After lots of phone calls this week, we have decided to stick with the current variation of low-e glass. We are unable to have double glazing unless we change our sliding windows to awning ones. (which we originally had and changed to sliding) They are also upgrading the insulation to the ceiling and garage to R4, plus providing "2.0 plus wrap to walls" & weather seals etc. We're just gonna have to suck up the extra cost. Question: (and yes, it may sound silly...) Which way should we ask for the film to be placed on the windows? I've read that you can have it on the outside or inside and that there are differences for both. Re: Low-E glass quote 15Mar 20, 2010 11:50 pm All of my experience is with Viridian ComfortPlus™. It has stickers on it showing "Glaze this side out". It is always applied the same side. And it is applied to the glass by the glass manufacturer. So its your window companies job to make your windows with the glass facing the wright way. Re: Low-E glass quote 16Mar 21, 2010 8:16 am It's not film, it's a metallic deposit, which is all but invisible. The right way round depends on what you want to achieve (though suppliers may override this because it can be difficult to clean). Generally to work best... to keep radiant heat out, it should face inwards, to keep heat in, it should face outwards. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 4 6201 If you can calculate the reasonable charged head from let's say 100mm below the gutter to the top of where the vertical riser's horizontal discharge pipe will be, that… 11 17530 Those span tables can be pushed a little for a low deck if you dont mind a little flex. Last deck I did, I pushed it a little and it was still rock solid - no noticeable… 6 13753 |