Some people will be of the right age to remember when double glazed windows were the hot new trend on everyone’s lips, and it was seen as a luxury that not everybody could afford to install within their homes. These days, double glazing comes as the standard option in almost all newly built properties, highlighting precisely how important it was to home improvements throughout the UK. Double glazing Colwyn Bay have a dedicated new builds team who are fully experienced in fitting double glazed windows for new homes.
Not many youngsters would believe that their grandparents often sat shivering in their homes because of single glazed windows – so, how come so many of us don’t actually understand what double glazing does?
Here is how double glazing works in simple steps:
- It has two panes of glass
If you are a novice about the science behind double glazing, don’t feel guilty. For many, the extent of their knowledge is that double glazing has two panes of glass. Two panes of glass means that it’s got to be twice as warm, right? There is a little more to it than that.
- Glass has many different types
Most people won’t be aware of the number of different glass types that now exist on the market, as well as the variety of different functions that they are able to perform. Some of the different types include; sound reduction glass, security, self-cleaning and anti-sun.
- The Argon factor
Sitting comfortably between the two panes of glass, is a layer of Argon gas. This is relevant because Argon is denser than air, meaning that wherever there is a wall of the invisible, odourless, tasteless gas, there is a barrier that stops cold air from passing through it.
As a rule, the thicker the wall, the more air it stops, but as windows are restricted by how thick they can logistically be, many tests have been run to find an optimum distance within the window. A space of 20mm is ideal, but a lesser distance can still perform effectively depending on the glazing of the window.
- Air tightness
In reality, you can be the proud owner of the greatest window in the world; but if the glass is loose within the casing or if there are gaps between the window casing and the frame, warm air will leak out of the house and cold air will pour in from outside. This is why windows must fit perfectly into the space around it. Any gaps will act as a weakness and hinder the overall performance of the window.