How would you tackle secondary glazing for this window?

[Athers1971]

Just got round to fitting extra glaze secondary glazing (acrylic and magnets) to one of the bedrooms and condensation has vanished overnight.

Going to order some more for our two attic windows and the window in the picture which is currently my office but likely to become a (guest) bedroom in time.

The issue with this window is that the window fits flush with the frame and therefore the handles protrude ‘beyond the frame’. Means that there is no space for the secondary glazing to sit on the central ‘mullion’.

I’ve thought about building a frame out from the window frame for the glazing to attach to but I’m increasing the size of the cavity then.

Anyone else have any bright ideas?

I intend to replace the handles - with something more low profile as currently these would dictate the depth of the timber frame required.

TIA.

 

[Cubist]

KISS approach - I would be tempted to remove the handle and its stop, fit the chosen acrylic to the full width of the timber frame and then re-install the handle and stop over the top. But you might need some longer screws.

 

[Stevers]

I would have thought a frame just deep enough to clear low profile handles. What you'd lose thermally you could gain acoustically.

 

[Kearn]

Sounds like you’re planning to remove the Perspex to open the windows if fixed to the mullion.

How about 2 pieces, attached to each casement, inside of the handle so it can remain in place when opened. Possibly slightly clunkier aesthetic, but much more practical

 

[Athers1971]

Sounds like you’re planning to remove the Perspex to open the windows if fixed to the mullion.

How about 2 pieces, attached to each casement, inside of the handle so it can remain in place when opened. Possibly slightly clunkier aesthetic, but much more practical

Yeah I thought about that but I believe the installation advice is to cover the gap between the window and frame as well as the glass itself. Or do you think I should just be covering each window separately and then making sure the gap between window and frame is adequately sealed?

 

[CliffordPope]

It's a balance between convenience of use v. most effective insulation and draught prevention.

With individual DG on each window they would open normally but not be so effective as DG. But a single sheet would be fiddly if you wanted to open a window, although it would look the neatest and less obtrusive.

A single sheet mounted in a light wooden frame that simply clipped into place would be best in my view, as long as you could store it somewhere when not in use.

 

[Athers1971]

It's a balance between convenience of use v. most effective insulation and draught prevention.

With individual DG on each window they would open normally but not be so effective as DG. But a single sheet would be fiddly if you wanted to open a window, although it would look the neatest and less obtrusive.

A single sheet mounted in a light wooden frame that simply clipped into place would be best in my view, as long as you could store it somewhere when not in use.

I should have added that I do like to have one of the windows open all day during the better weather. To be fair, if I used screws to attach the frame then I could/would remove the whole unit during the better months. Failing that simply remove one of the panels and it should attach to the other one for storage.

 

[a twig]

You can use screws similar to these plus some dome nuts to provide easy and reliable on/off mounting:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/easydrive-machine-to-wood-dowel-screws-m8-x-75mm-10-pack/7618h

Get some nice brass dome nuts and you could leave them on when not using the glazing and would look less ugly than the exposed thread

 

[Kearn]

Yeah I thought about that but I believe the installation advice is to cover the gap between the window and frame as well as the glass itself. Or do you think I should just be covering each window separately and then making sure the gap between window and frame is adequately sealed?

Depends on the goal I suppose… it’s a sliding scale of improvement vs practicality. Usual benefits people claim are lack of condensation, due to the fact that the cold single panes are better insulated, so less heat loss. Sealing gaps for me is a different challenge to having single pane windows.

We inherited secondary glass panels, clipped over casements and they’re a pig to use and store. They will be replaced soon with 4mm Perspex and mag tape, wherever feasible to minimise removal when opening windows, which is and should be a daily occurrence all year round.

The 4mm Perspex doesn’t like being too large either as the magnetic tape can’t cope and you need physical clips, which for me make the solution less subtle.