How Much Does Secondary Glazing Cost?
Prices vary far more than people expect, because two quotes for the same window can describe completely different products. Here is what genuinely moves the number, and how to compare like with like.
What drives the price
Size of the opening, the system chosen, the glass, the finish and the difficulty of the fit. A lift out panel is the cheapest framed option because it has no running gear. A counterbalanced vertical slider costs more because of the balances and the extra sash. Acoustic laminated glass costs more than float, Low E costs more again, and a non standard RAL colour adds a little. Awkward access, shaped heads and deep sills add labour rather than material.
- Lift out and fixed panels: lowest cost
- Sliders and hinged units: more moving parts
- Acoustic laminated and Low E add cost
- Shaped and arched openings are templated
Why per square metre pricing misleads
A square metre of glass in a simple square opening and a square metre split across a shaped bay with three facets are not the same job. Reveal depth, sill slope, out of square openings, shutters, radiators and window seats all change the work. We price per opening after templating, because that is the number you actually pay and it does not move afterwards.
Comparing two quotes properly
Ask each quote to state the same six things: the system, the glass type and thickness, the cavity depth achieved, the frame finish, whether the units are made to measure to a survey template, and what the guarantee covers. Most large price gaps disappear once you discover one quote is 4mm float in a stock size frame and the other is 6.8mm acoustic laminated templated to the opening.
- System and opening type stated
- Glass type and thickness stated
- Cavity depth achieved
- Made to measure from a site template
Where to spend and where not to
Spend on cavity depth and sealing quality, since they cost little and drive the result. Spend on acoustic laminated glass in the rooms facing the noise, not in every room in the house. Do not pay for the heaviest glass on a quiet elevation, and do not pay for an openable system on a window that has been painted shut for thirty years. Phasing room by room is completely normal and we quote so it is easy to do.
Frequently asked questions
No. Survey, templating drawings and the written quote are free and there is no obligation.
Ready for a free, no-obligation quote?
South Yorkshire's specialists in secondary glazing — survey, measure, manufacture and install.