Granada’s secondary glazing heals leaky windows at architect’s practice

Architects at a Warwickshire practice were so impressed with Granada’s secondary glazing system that they decided to get it installed to improve thermal efficiency and reduce energy costs in their own premises.

Jonathan Holland Architects, based in a Grade II listed property in Kenilworth, serves clients throughout the UK and around the world for a wide range of commercial, public and private projects.

After inviting a Granada Glazing specialist to present a secondary glazing CPD session, they quickly recognised that their building’s original single-glazed and draughty windows were not up to the job and that their working environment could benefit from additional thermal insulation.

Single glazed windows are highly conductive, letting in unwanted cold air during the winter and too much heat in the summer. Studies have shown that up to 70% of the heat from buildings is lost through single-glazed windows, leading to higher energy bills to maintain a comfortable inside temperature.

Installing quality secondary glazing provides excellent thermal insulation that reduces heat loss by up to 65%. Low-E glass is often the best choice for this extra internal glazing panel as the special coating reflects heat back into the room. Secondary glazing is also far less expensive than full window replacement and frequently the only option to improve thermal efficiency in historic or listed properties.

Granada Glazing’s specialists fitted eight secondary glazing units in total: four Balanced Vertical Sliding Units, three three-panel Horizontal Sliding Units and one two-panel Horizontal Sliding Unit - all with 4mm toughened Low E glass to reflect heat back into the rooms.

Designed specifically for traditional box sash windows, Balanced Vertical Sliding Units blend in seamlessly with the internal décor and are undetectable from the outside, maintaining the character of a building’s external appearance.

Robert Cottam, Commercial Sales Manager at Granada Secondary Glazing, said: “We initially heard from the team at Jonathan Holland Architects back in February 2022 when they requested that a member of our team pay them a visit to deliver one of our secondary glazing CPD sessions.

“It became apparent as the session progressed that the company’s HQ may well require a secondary glazing install. Operating out of a listed building, the customer found themselves in the familiar position of being unable to complete a full window replacement due to planning restrictions. As heating bills continued to rise in line with the ongoing energy crisis, it had quickly become obvious that something had to be done to address the leaky windows.

“Our proposal comprised a mixture of our vertical sliding and horizontal sliding units designed to match the décor of the primary windows. Low E glazing was chosen to offer the team at Jonathan Holland Architects the best possible thermal performance and improved comfort.”

Suitable for all property types, Granada’s slimline aluminium secondary glazing frames can be powder coated in over 200 RAL colours. Virtually invisible, they blend in with any interior décor. The Granada Glazing product range encompasses hinged, sliding, vertical sliders, including tilt back, and lift-out options.

Granada Glazing partners with architects and specifiers on the design, manufacture and supply of high quality commercial secondary glazing for all sectors and building types across the UK. For more information on the Granada Secondary Glazing range, please call 01909 499899, visit www.gsecg.com or email info@granadaglazing.com.