Browse Forums Windows & Doors 1 Dec 13, 2013 8:40 am Hi All If I purchase an established home and want double glazing, can existing windows be double glazed or is it a matter of getting new windows. I know nothing about this topic just that double glazing is much better for energy usage and for reducing noise. Appreciate any info Re: established home - double glazing 2Dec 13, 2013 8:54 am You can use some products like magnetite to fit double glazing to your existing windows but not sure if they are really as good as the real thing but imagine it would be much cheaper. This is just the one I know of I imagine there would be others: http://www.magnetite.com.au/?gclid=CPjh ... pQodT1sAsg http://camdenbuild.blogspot.com.au/ by invite only please pm me Re: established home - double glazing 3Dec 13, 2013 9:23 am My understanding is double glazing is two sheets of glass with a small gap between them, we just had double glazing installed in our extension and are going to retro fit it in the rest of the house. Our windows are timber and because a sheet of double glazing is quite thick (your two sheets of glass and gap as opposed to a single sheet of glass) the channel that your glass is going to sit in has to be wider than normal. In out existing house because our wooden windows are quite thick we are getting each channel increased I'm not sure this would be possible with your normal aluminum type windows. I also don't think it would be any cheaper Good luck <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=62083">viewtopic.php?t=62083</a><!-- l --> Re: established home - double glazing 4Dec 13, 2013 12:59 pm IMO, the only way to go is to replace the windows. Very few windows can take the thicker glass, and hardware will not be up to the standard for the weight. Secondary glazing (Magnetite etc.) will cost as much or possibly more, than replacing the windows. What brand windows do you have? Are these aluminium or timber? 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: established home - double glazing 5Mar 28, 2014 8:01 am Hi Strata struggler, Double glazing will help for noise reduction I understand there are three important principles in order of importance 1. the air gap - the bigger the air gap the better the noise reduction - aim for 100mm between the first pane and second pane. This generally means secondary glazing outperforms traditional double glazing 2. the seals - the better the window seals and the more air tight it is the better it will stop the noise 3. glazing thickness - thicker glazing will stop more vibration because it is heavier from a pricing perspective air gap beats glazing thickness so if you are limited in funds ensure you get a secondary glazing system that has a bigger air gap (the air gap costs nothing). If you prefer the idea of a single window for aesthetics or functionality then you should consider replacement windows that are acoustically rated. You will be more concerned with the overall thickness of glass (i.e. 5mm glass + air gap + 5mm glass will perform similar to single pane window with 10mm glass) The air gap is too narrow to significantly affect the noise reduction. Don't forget the style of window will also affect the results as it must seal well. I understand Awning and casement window perform better than sliding windows as the seals compress better giving a better seal. No point using thick glass if the windows don't seal or the frame is light weight and has large hollow sections for the noise to vibrate through. If as your name suggests you are part of a strata you may have better luck with a secondary system that is fitted internally as it doesn't change the exterior appearance of the building so more likely to get approved by strata. good luck Re: established home - double glazing 6Mar 28, 2014 9:12 am @ Adrian, I think you have inadvertently added a zero to you air gap as I doubt any window in the world has a 100m or 4 inch air gap. Not sure you are correct about thicker single panes providing similar noise reduction to double pane with small air gap either. I could be wrong but my understanding is that the noise reduction comes from the isolation of the two panes. This is very similar to the concepts employed in sound proofing. Double glazing is not new and I am sure there is enough variety to ensure aesthetics are taken care of. @OP Listen to Ed, he speaks wise words. You mentioned that your window frames are wood. If going for replacement windows uPVC should be the cheapest, followed by Aluminium and then Wood. Both the uPVC and ALuminium should be thermally broken to provide maximum thermal benefits. I believe that there are a varying range of Air gaps and glass thicknesses that can be used. You do not mention which state you are in but I would suggest finding a supplier/ installer and getting a quote. Why not measure your windows and shoot Ed a mail as he is an advertiser here and knowledgeable. If you are in Perth you can PM me and I will provide the vendor I am using for my build. Cheers Mark Re: established home - double glazing 7Apr 01, 2014 10:21 am Hi Mark, I was correct when I wrote 100mm not meters but millimetre which is as you said about 4 inches. This applies to the ideal gap for noise reduction and is achieved through secondary glazing. I was also correct when I said that the total thickness of glazing is the important factor to consider when looking at a single replacement window. The air cavity in double glazing is primarily for thermal insulation as it is too narrow to give a significant acoustic reduction. This said there are other qualities in a double glazed window that may give it an edge over single glazed windows (overall glass thickness being equal) such as - better seals, better frame. I don't think that I contradicted Ed and agree he has window wisdom. I would also point out that a uPVC window is by its nature a thermal frame so it is not relevant to seek a thermally broken uPVC window. Thermally broken frames applies to metal framed windows which allow heat to conduct more easily. Re: established home - double glazing 8Apr 01, 2014 10:54 am Hi Adrian, No offence for intended and I hope you took none. No problem, I re-read my post and agree that uPVC does not need a thermal break due to its inefficient thermal properties. I actually meant that the Aluminium frames should be thermally broken. I did look into uPVC but decided against them as my frames are quite large and from my reading I gathered that it may not be the ideal solution. I was not sure about your comments around the ideal cavity space being 100mm from reading most of the double glazing specs, and thought, maybe this applies to windows only. I do know that many home theatres that use gyprock use isolated sheets that employ a gap that is much smaller than 100mm. I suspect that the acoustic properties of gyprock are very different from glass. I have heard the sound reduction of the double glazing that I will be using and it does provide a substantial sound reduction. The gap is a lot less than 100mm however I am not sure how much of the reduction is attributed to the excellent seal of said window. I do know that both panes are 6.38mm but I have observed a similar sound reduction when thinner panes are use (similar but not as much, also no sound testing equipment used). I also was not suggesting that you contradicted Ed. I did google the air gap and found some papers suggesting 50 to 100mm for noise reduction which suggests that most domestic applications are more for thermal properties rather than noise reduction and the seals are probably the main contributor. Today I learn a little more. I am thankful that I don't have to change my spec as I am in a quiet neighbourhood. Cheers Mark This is one of the reasons I decided to go overseas for my double glazed windows. As the builder indicated, he's worked on many upmarket builds, these were the most well… 13 19036 For your reference Performance Labels: Window assemblies in housing, except timber windows, must be labelled so the label can be seen when it is in situ. For timber… 6 7634 I am saying that double brick has similar thermal performance due to thermal mass effect. It will be still very interesting to see the state of your framing after 10-15… 10 29659 |