All windows need glazing – glazing is an intrinsic part of a window’s functionality. Allowing light to pass through the window (at varying rates, depending on the glazing) without letting negative side effects such as cold air or wet weather into your home, glazing has been part of window design for hundreds of years. However, over the course of more recent decades, glazing has evolved considerably, with plenty of new innovations implemented to improve performance and style.

There are currently several different glazing options on the market, with many window models – such as those produced by Crystal Direct – offering a multitude of choices for each frame design. With glazing having a considerable influence on a window’s pricing, it is important to get your choice right for you. Different glazing options boast different features, abilities, and appearances, all of which can change the efficiency of a window.

Everyone will require something different from their glazing; the purpose of this guide is to find the glazing option that is best for you. We will look at the key glazing options that can be applied to the majority of our windows, as well as explore some of the benefits and drawbacks, allowing you to make a more informed decision on your ideal window glazing.

If you’re reading this, the chances are you already understand the importance of window glazing, but you may not be aware of all the benefits even a single pane of glass can provide. When glazing was first implemented into window design hundreds of years ago, the primary purpose was to keep the house warm while still allowing in sunlight as an alternative to lanterns, candles, and other artificial lights.

Windows still serve this main purpose, but there are other benefits to window installation that have only been discovered more recently. Below are some of the key advantages that even the simplest of windows are capable of providing a household:

• Insulation and Energy Efficiency – Even a single glazed pane can significantly reduce heat escaping through your window. This means that in cold weather, less heat is able to escape your home, while in hot weather, less heat is able to enter. The latest glazing options have made vast improvements when it comes to heat conservation.
• Control of Climate – Window glazing helps to maintain a consistent indoor temperature, which saves you the hassle of making constant adjustments to your heating or cooling systems. Not only does this make for a more comfortable living space, but it can also save you considerable money.
• UV Protection – This is a recent development that is now featured in the vast majority of glazed panes. Special alterations to the traditional pane design allow the glass to block a significant portion of potentially harmful UV rays. This prevention helps to protect everything from furniture and flooring to books and artwork from sun damage and fading.
• Noise Reduction – All glazing helps to dampen outside noise, but certain options are far more effective than others. This is especially important for homes located near busy streets or in loud neighbourhoods, where the investment in these specialised frames will be worth the extra money.
• Security – Admittedly, a single, traditional pane of glass is unlikely to provide much protection for your home, and broken glass is both unsightly and dangerous. However, several modern glazing options boast extra security measures such as impact resistance and additional lamination. This gives your glazing an extra layer of protection against break-ins and accidents.
• Condensation Control – Properly insulated glazing will help to reduce condensation on the interior surface of the glass. Such condensation can lead to a variety of problems including mould and mildew growth as well as damage to your window frames.
• Eco-Friendlier Efficiency - Energy-efficient glazing options can reduce your home's carbon footprint by decreasing the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling. This is beneficial for the environment and can contribute to sustainable living.

One of the most common questions we are asked relates to U-Value, which is directly linked to glazing. U-Value simply refers to how effective a material is an insulator. The same measurement is used in insulation as well as other products associated with DIY, building, and construction. Specifically, the U-value measures the rate at which heat is transferred through a material, such as a window, over a given area.

What you may consider the best glazing option for you depends on what you need from your window. You may be someone who simply wants to allow more sunlight into your home. However, you may also live in a lively area, or you may live in the countryside where it is typically quieter but colder. In these cases, glazing with additional features will be the best choice for you.

Whatever you are seeking from your glazing, it is best to understand the different options available. Who knows? You may learn of a glazing option you weren’t aware existed, and it may well sport some advantages that will suit your preferences. You can read about the various glazing options we stock below:

Single Glazing

The standard glazing option for hundreds of years, single glazed panes are now on the decline in popularity in favour of more effective options. In fact, building regulations dictate that single glazing is no longer viable for buildings intended to serve as accommodation, primarily because it is no longer considered energy or cost-efficient. This is due to the fact that, while it does retain some inside heat, it allows too much heat to escape during the winter, which, in this country in particular, can cause serious problems for the home and its residents.

However, single glazing does still see use. One example is its utilisation in sheds and summerhouses. While some of these buildings possess polycarbonate (plastic) glazing, others use glass, both for its efficient light transmission and visual appeal.

Double Glazing

The new standard, double glazing consists of two panes of glass with a space in between them. This space is usually filled with air or inert gas, which improves its insulation properties among other advantages. This glazing option offers superior noise reduction too, and with a highly versatile design, it can be inserted into the vast majority of modern window frames and spaces.

Double glazing is found in the vast majority of homes, especially if they’ve been built fairly recently or have been renovated. Most UK building regulations demand double glazing as a minimal requirement. Double glazing comes with a number of additional features, the most important of which we will cover later in this post.

Triple Glazing

Triple glazing has three panes of glass with spaces in between. These spaces – as with double glazing – are usually filled with air or inert gas. Triple glazing is one of the best options on the market for heat conservation and noise reduction and is considered a more premium option than double glazing. This does, of course, drive up the cost of triple glazing, although the long-term energy-saving provided from installing will counterbalance the cost.

Triple glazing is found across the country, and is particularly popular in larger, rural homes, where it is able to conserve precious heat effectively. It is also useful in urban areas, where noise can be a problem.

Low Emissivity Glazing

Also known as a Low-E Coating, this glazing type is actually a coating, usually applied to double or triple glazing to help it reflect heat more effectively. This enhancement of the window’s energy efficiency saves you money on heating your home, while also actively contributing to heat expulsion over the course of the summer months.

The main drawback of this glazing type is the price – such a specialised coating makes glazed panes all the more expensive, which will be especially apparent when it comes to the already-pricier triple glazing. However, if you’re feeling the pinch of your energy bills, you may find this option a worthwhile investment.

Tinted Glass

You can substitute clear glass for tinted or reflective glass. This reduces glare, making it ideal for use in offices, hobby rooms, and other areas of the home where intense sunlight is an issue. Rooms with screens will especially benefit. Tinted glass lowers the intensity of the light flowing into the room otherwise making visibility on televisions and computers clearer.

As well as improving interior visibility, tinted glass can also provide some privacy, but it doesn’t totally prevent outdoor viewing like obscure glazing. It can bump up the price, but not to the extent of several alternative glazing options.

Laminated Glass

Laminated glass is made up of two or more layers of glass with an additional layer in between, usually made from plastic or PVB. It is one of the most popular types of glazing among those who value safety and security and is often utilised in community buildings as well as flat and apartment stairways and corridors. The glass offers improved resistance to impact, which makes it considerably harder to break.

If the glass is shattered, the PVB interlayer keeps everything in one piece as efficiently as possible, reducing risks to safety as well as making clean up and replacement easier. Laminated glass tends to lack the heat conservation capabilities of other glazing types, though certain types utilise double and even triple glazing to improve these qualities.

Impact Resistant Glass

This glass is designed to optimise resistance to impacts and other attempts to damage the glass that may otherwise shatter most other glazing types. It is ideal for ground-level windows, especially those in urbanised areas with a higher concentration of people. However, they will prove useful in pretty much any building, helping to deter potential intruders from breaking into your property.

This glass also helps to protect your window from conditions often experienced during storms, such as heavy rain and hail, wind, and flying debris. Impact resistant glass can also make a window more expensive but can also increase a property’s value.

Obscure Glazing

Obscure glazing essentially serves a similar purpose to tinted glass but is far more efficient at completely blocking out views from outside or in, as well as considerably reducing glare from the sun. The trade-off from this is the fact that obscured glazing can make rooms dimmer, meaning you may have to rely on artificial lighting more. However, as this is usually the case in bedrooms and bathrooms anyway, little is lost from incorporating this glazing into your home.

We’ve reached the end of our look at window glazing, covering the most important things to know about all the options, their benefits, and drawbacks. Because window glazing is so important, it’s crucial that you make the right choice for your situation. We hope this guide has given you enough facts and advice to help you purchase the ideal glazing for your new window, whether it be in your kitchen, bathroom, living room, or perhaps within a corridor or entrance hall.

If you require any additional advice regarding window glazing, do not hesitate to contact our customer services team, who will do their best to help answer any queries you have relating to windows and glazing. Whether you’re working out the best frame size or you would simply like to know more about the different brands on offer, they’ll be happy to assist.