- Secondary glazing usually costs around half as much as double glazing
- It typically costs between £300 and £500 per window
- Secondary glazing can reduce noise by up to 50%
If you have single glazing in your home, any attempt to add extra layers of glazing is always a good idea if you are looking to cut your energy bills. That being said, double glazing costs can be expensive, but luckily, there’s a cheaper alternative: secondary glazing.
Secondary glazing involves fitting an extra pane of glass and a frame onto the inside of an existing window. While not quite as effective as double-glazing, it is leagues ahead of putting up with older single-glazing. Plus, it’s easier to install since it doesn’t involve replacing the entire window.
But, if you’ve got your heart set on double glazing and all the benefits that come with it, just fill in our short form with your details. Our professional installers will contact you shortly with quotes to compare.
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Get startedHow much does secondary glazing cost?
Secondary glazing, including installation, can cost between £300 and £500 per window.
For a typical three-bedroom house with 8-10 windows, installing secondary glazing will cost around £3,600. For comparison, double glazing costs around £6,000, on average, for a house of this size.
The table below outlines the amount a homeowner can expect to pay for secondary glazed windows based on how many windows the property has:
Number of windows | Average cost | Duration of installation |
|---|---|---|
4 windows | £1,600 | 1 day |
8 windows | £3,200 | 1 day |
12 windows | £4,800 | 1-2 days |
*Figures are based on an average of £400 per window.
It’s essential to keep in mind that these figures are just averages. The cost of secondary glazing will vary, depending on the number of windows being upgraded, the type of windows a property has, and the type of secondary glazing being fitted over them.
To get a better idea of pricing for your property, it’s worth getting a few quotes from different installers to find the best deal – and if you fill in this form, you can do precisely that.
The cost of secondary glazing by type
To better understand what’s available, we’ve provided a breakdown of the different types of secondary glazing and their cost in the section below.
If you’re more interested in double glazing and want to see whether you can get double glazing grants to help subsidise the costs, check out our guide.
- Magnetic secondary glazing – It costs £100 – £200 per window or £1,200–£1,500 for a three-bedroom house and is installed via magnetic strips, making it easy to remove. This is important as it needs to be detached to open the primary window. It is, however, less effective at retaining heat as it isn’t sealed as tightly.
- Lift-out secondary glazing costs around £300 per window or £3,000 for a three-bedroom house. It is another type of semi-removable secondary glazing, where a single pane of glass and a frame are fitted on top of a fixed window. The frame stays fixed, but – as the name suggests – the pane can be lifted out for cleaning and to open the primary window.
- Permanent secondary glazing – It costs between £350 and £500 per window, or around £3,200 to £4,700 for a three-bedroom house. It’s the most expensive due to a strong seal, resulting in the best heat retention and draft reduction capabilities. It provides easy access to the original window because the secondary window can be opened through hinges or a sliding mechanism with a choice of direction.
What factors affect the cost of secondary glazing?
Several factors can affect the cost of secondary glazing, including the number of windows a property has, the type of secondary glazing being installed, and the material the secondary glazing is made of.
Permanent secondary glazing is more expensive than temporary magnetic or lift-out because it has a more complex design and takes longer to install. It’s also important to consider the materials the window is made from.
As a rule of thumb, the thicker the glass is, the more it will cost. The type of glass used for the pane can also affect the price. For example, specialised noise-reduction glass is typically more expensive than standard glass, costing upwards of £800 per window.
For frame material, uPVC windows are the cheapest option, followed by aluminium and wooden windows, which are the most expensive.
Secondary glazing maintenance costs
Secondary glazing doesn’t require much maintenance – the panes must be kept clean.
Homeowners can either clean the window panes themselves or hire someone, which costs around £30–£60 for a three-bedroom house, depending on the area. This kind of work typically takes a few hours to complete, though this depends on how easy it is to access windows in your property.
If the secondary glazing breaks, repairs cost anywhere from £30 to £200 (or more), depending on the severity of the damage and the type of glazing needed.What are the benefits of secondary glazing?
As we’ve previously touched on, secondary glazing is well worth installing if you want the benefits of double glazing, such as better insulation and lower energy bills, without spending as much.
It offers several key advantages, which are as follows:
- A warmer home: The average home loses 18% of its heat through windows, but secondary glazing can reduce this heat loss by providing an extra insulation layer. A second pane of glass helps lock in warmth and reduce outside drafts, keeping your home cozy.
- Lower energy bills: Better heat retention means less energy is needed to keep the home warm so energy bills will be lower. High-quality secondary glazing can reduce your energy bills as much as double glazing, which can cut up to £195 off bills annually.
- Noise reduction: Secondary glazing is highly effective at keeping noise out, reducing noise pollution by around 45 decibels (dBA) compared to 18-25 dBA for single glazing. That’s about a 50% reduction in noise levels. The gap between the panes is also wider (100–200 mm) than in double glazing (16 mm), making it better at reducing outside noise.
- Extra security: The additional pane of glass makes windows harder to break. Secondary window panes are also almost impossible to open from the outside, enhancing your home’s security.
- Easy installation: Installing secondary glazing is much simpler than double glazing since it doesn’t require replacing the entire window. Some types, such as magnetic secondary glazing, can even be a DIY project.
- No condensation: Secondary glazing doesn’t typically cause condensation and can even help reduce it. Retaining more heat in the primary window panes prevents them from getting colder than the air inside the room.
- It only takes a day to install: It should take about one day to fit secondary glazing onto all the windows of a standard three-bedroom house. The exact time will depend on the size and number of windows – the more windows you have, the longer it will take – and the type of secondary glazing being installed.
Secondary glazing is also an excellent option for homeowners in listed buildings or conservation areas, where changes to the property’s appearance aren’t allowed. Since secondary glazing is installed on the inside of windows, the original windows don’t need to be replaced, and the external look of the building remains unchanged.
You can learn more about installing double glazing on listed buildings by visiting our page.
Another significant advantage is that secondary glazing is around half the price of double glazing; even less if you opt for magnetic glazing. Plus, it doesn’t require planning permission, though homeowners in listed properties or conservation areas should seek listed-building consent before installation.
While secondary glazing shares many benefits with double glazing, it’s important to note that it might not necessarily add value to a property because it’s an easily removable fixture. In contrast, as a permanent installation, double glazing typically increases a property’s value by around 10%.
Next steps
- If you want to improve the insulation of your home and reduce your energy bills in the process but can’t get double glazing, then secondary glazing is a cheaper, effective alternative.
- It’s not complicated to install and can easily be removed. Plus, it won’t alter the appearance of your property whilst still doing a great job of keeping out noise and drafts.
- And since you’ll be using less energy to heat your home, not only will your bills go down, but your carbon footprint will also go down.
- The same can be said for double glazing and other benefits for homeowners. So, if you’ve decided that double glazing is a better option, we can help you find the best deal. Just fill in our short form, and professional installers will be in touch with their best double-glazing prices.
Summary
- Secondary glazing is a cost-effective alternative to double glazing, typically costing half as much, with prices ranging from £300–£500 per window.
- It’s a versatile option for improving insulation, reducing noise by up to 50%, and lowering energy bills without altering the appearance of your property.
- Secondary glazing is ideal for listed buildings or conservation areas since it can be installed inside existing windows without replacing them or requiring planning permission.
- Options like magnetic, lift-out, or permanent secondary glazing offer varying levels of heat retention, ease of installation, and pricing to suit different needs.
- Maintenance and repair costs are low, making secondary glazing a practical and budget-friendly choice for homeowners.
- If you’re considering upgrading your windows, secondary glazing offers excellent benefits, but double-glazing may be a better choice for a long-term investment in property value.
