Double glazing finance – what to do if you don’t qualify for a grant

• Many double glazing companies offer financing options
• These can help you spread the cost in manageable instalments
• Double glazing helps insulate your home and reduce outside noise

Double glazing is one of the best ways to make your home warmer, quieter and more secure.

As with any long-term investment in your home, there are upfront costs to consider. Double glazing costs on average between £10,000-£15,000 to install throughout a three-bedroom home.

Some people will be qualify for government grants that will help reduce these costs, but the criteria for these grants is quite strict and not everyone will be eligible.

This is why some people choose to get their double glazing installed on finance, which helps them spread the upfront costs into more manageable monthly payments.

On top of the comfort and quiet, the Energy Saving Trust estimates that the average semi-detached house will save roughly £120-£140 a year on its energy bills by installing double glazing, so it is well worth making the investment.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about double glazing finance, looking at a typical finance payment plan plus we take a look at other ways in which you can reduce the upfront costs of getting new windows and doors for your home.

If you want to go ahead and install double glazing, we can help. Fill in our online form and our trusted partners will be in touch with a no-obligation quote.

Finance options for windows and doors

At time of writing (September 2024), double glazing companies like Anglian, Everest and Safestyle offer credit terms at a representative 12.9% APR – rates vary subject to status – and credit terms that start from 36 months.

Deposits for windows, doors, rooftrim and garage doors start from just £249, which excludes timber windows and doors, where deposits start from £999.

Take a look at the table below to see what you would be paying each month, how much you would be paying in total, and how a typical finance option for doors and windows breaks down over a 96-month term.

This example is for illustration purposes only.

For a free bespoke quote for new windows and doors for your home, fill in our simple form and a trusted installer will be in touch.There are a small number of schemes available for homeowners looking to install double glazing that are unable to qualify for a grant:

• Green Deal Loan scheme
• Barclays Greener Home Reward

You’ll also be able to get financing options from some of the best-known double glazing companies in the UK, including Anglian and Everest. Both provide comprehensive finance plans that’ll help you spread the total cost of installing double glazing throughout your home.

Green Deal Loan scheme

The Green Deal Loan scheme was initially set up by the government to help people make energy-saving improvements for their homes. Unfortunately, government involvement ended in 2015 but the scheme found life again in the hands of private providers.

What the Green Deal Loan scheme allows you to do is spread the cost of improvements over a 10 to 25-year period. You can use the scheme to help pay to install double glazing, as well as:

• Energy-efficient lighting
• Insulation (lofts or walls)
• Draught-proofing windows and doors
• Improving heating
• Green technologies including solar power and wind power

You’ll pay back your loan via monthly payments on your energy bill. What’s good is that your energy bills should reduce as a result of the changes, which should help to offset the monthly cost of the repayments.

In order to qualify for the Green Deal Loan scheme, you’ll need to get your property assessed by a qualified assessor. They’ll recommend the home improvements that will have the biggest impact on your home’s overall energy efficiency. It’s not available in Northern Ireland.

Barclays Greener Home Reward

The Barclays Greener Home Reward is a one-time cash reward that can contribute to the costs of double glazing, or other eco-friendly home improvements including:

• Solar panels
• Solar batteries
• Insulation
• Low-carbon heating

The reward depends on what measures you are putting in – for double or triple glazing it’s a maximum of £500, so you won’t be saving all that much with the scheme.

You need to have a residential mortgage with Barclays in order to qualify for the Greener Home Reward. You also need to meet the following requirements:

• Have a direct debit for your mortgage payments
• Be up to date on all mortgage payments
• Haven’t claimed the Greener Home Reward before
• Not be in breach of your mortgage conditions
• Proof of payments or of work carried out, dated within three months of your claim

You’ll also need to use a Trustmark registered business to carry out the improvements in your home. Once the improvements are completed, you can claim your reward from Barclays. Make sure you meet all the requirements before starting the work, otherwise your claim could be rejected.

Is there anything else I can do to save money on double glazing?

Yes, there are several things you can do to save money on your double glazing that don’t rely on qualifying for grants or financing:

• Get multiple quotes and negotiate – It’s a good idea to get quotes from several companies so you can compare prices. Also, negotiating a price can be a good idea to try to see if you can get a price reduction (sometimes possible if buying a certain number of windows).
• Plan around sales – Window companies often have sales at certain times of the year. If you’re not in a rush, you could be patient and wait for a sale to happen.
• Replace some windows, not all – You don’t have to replace all of your windows at once. Even replacing just a few windows will still improve the energy efficiency, sound isolation, and security of your home.
• Look for group discounts – Some companies offer discounts or financial incentives for buying windows with a neighbour or friends, or for referrals. If you know your neighbours are buying windows, consider approaching the company they’re using and asking for a group discount.

Summary

• Double glazing finance helps you spread the cost of installing double-glazed windows.
• Companies such as Anglian, Everest and Safestyle offer financing options.
• If you don’t qualify for grants, there are other ways to save money on double glazing.
• It’s still worth checking to see if you qualify for a grant before applying for finance options.

Written by

Tom Gill Writer

Tom joined The Eco Experts over a year ago and has since covered the carbon footprint of the Roman Empire, profiled the world’s largest solar farms, and investigated what a 100% renewable UK would look like.

He has a particular interest in the global energy market and how it works, including the ongoing semiconductor shortage, the future of hydrogen, and Cornwall’s growing lithium industry.

Tom also regularly attends Grand Designs Live as a Green Living Expert, where he provides expert solar panel advice to members of the public.

He frequently focuses on niche environmental topics such as the nurdle problem, clever ways to undo the effects of climate change, and whether sand batteries could store energy for clean heating in the winter.

If there’s an environmental niche to be covered, it’s a safe bet Tom’s already thinking of how to write about it.

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Maximilian Schwerdtfeger Content Manager

Max joined The Eco Experts as content manager in February 2024. He has written about sustainability issues across numerous industries, including maritime, supply chain, finance, mining, and retail. He has also written extensively for consumer titles like City AM, The Morning Star, and The Daily Express.

In 2020, he covered in detail the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) legislation on sulphur emissions and its effects on the global container shipping market as online editor of Port Technology International.

He also explored the initiatives major container ports and terminals have launched in order to ship vital goods across the world without polluting the environment.

Since then, he has reported heavily on the impact made by environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on the supply chain of minerals, with a particular focus on rare earth mining in Africa.

As part of this, in 2022 Max visited mines and ports in Angola to hone in on the challenges being faced by one of the world’s biggest producers of rare earth minerals.

His most recent sustainability-related work came much closer to home, as he investigated the eco-challenges faced by independent retailers in the UK, specifically looking at how they can cut emissions and continue to thrive.

Max lives in South London and is an avid reader of books on modern history and ghost stories. He has also recently learned to play the game Mahjong and takes every opportunity to do so. He is also yet to find a sport he doesn’t enjoy watching.

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