4 Reasons why Planners Prefer Secondary Glazing | Glaze & Save

It can be tempting to tear out your original windows, who doesn’t love shiny new things? But for many reasons that we have explained here , hereand here, it’s best to retain them. But for those of us who live in listed buildings, tearing out windows just isn’t an option…and that can make you want to tear out your hair.

The planning consent for double glazing and other replacement windows is usually refused unless you intend to replace your windows with exact like for like replacements. That can be extremely cost-prohibitive, with replica windows running into the thousands of pounds per window.

Luckily for listed building lovers, planning departments tend to take a much softer view towards secondary glazing. In fact, with secondary glazing such as Glaze & Save InvisiTherm, you don’t even require planning permission at all in most cases. So let’s take a look at four reasons why planners love secondary glazing.

1. Non Invasive

Secondary glazing is a non-invasive option that leaves your original windows intact. That means no damaging removal of original windows. This is particularly important in older buildings as, in many cases, the windows were set into the actual structure of the building, leading to extensive damage and future structural issues upon removing them. Secondary glazing upholds the structural integrity of older buildings, which means they’ll continue to be with us for years to come. And with InvisiTherm, you don’t even need to worry about any damage to your internal walls with the addition of bulky frames. InvisiTherm requires no additional frame to be constructed outside of the window frame itself; it’s the most non-invasive secondary glazing solution on the market.

2. Protects Heritage

The windows that sit in your listed building may well be hundreds of years old. They are pieces of history in themselves. The types of glass, the working of the glass, the exceptional quality of the wood frames and the craftsmanship that has lasted many years are not exemplar of excellent quality, which is not the norm in today’s windows. They are also pieces of heritage and history themselves. Retaining your original windows and opting for a secondary glazing product like InvisiTherm retains quality and craftsmanship that may have lasted hundreds of years, making your listed building even more special.

3. Environmentally Friendly

It’s no secret that we live in a disposable, throwaway culture. At the rate we consume the planet’s resources, we need three planets to sustain the human race. That in itself is unsustainable. Retaining original windows and opting for secondary glazing over replacement windows stops the cycle of waste and replace: your historic windows will stand the test of time for far longer than new windows, which may only have a 15-20 year lifespan (and sometimes even less). Glaze & Save is committed to reducing waste, recycling over 95% of the waste produced from our installations. We even remove unneeded systems when a building changes ownership or use, and recycle the systems into fuel poor households.

4. Virtually invisible

One of the main requirements of planning departments and conservation officers is that, in the instance of listed buildings and conservation areas, any amendment or addition must be completely invisible from the outside of the property. In some listed buildings the criteria is even more restrictive, with amendments required to be aesthetically discrete even on the inside of the building. This is where InvisiTherm is especially helpful in listed and conservation properties. Not only are our discrete and slim line systems completely invisible from outside your property, they are also virtually invisible inside the property too! Our bespoke colour matching service and sympathetic installations means you would be hard pushed to know it was there, and that’s something that takes conservation officers over the moon. Check out our galleryfor some stunning examples.

So there you have it, four reasons why planners prefer secondary glazing over replacement windows and other window amendments. It really all boils down to respecting the heritage of the building, maintaining its structural integrity and being aesthetically pleasing, all of which InvisiTherm delivers.

Glaze & Save InvisiTherm is bespoke magnetic secondary glazing, approved for installation in listed buildings and conservation areas. Contact us hereto book your free no obligation survey today.