Removing and Refitting Secondary Glazing
Reversibility is the core argument for secondary glazing on protected buildings, and it is not a theoretical claim. Units come out in an afternoon and go back on the same fixings.
How removal works
Glazed panels lift or slide out of the frame first. The perimeter seal is cut, and the sub-frame is unscrewed from the reveal. What remains is a set of plugged fixing holes in modern plaster and a line where the seal ran. Filling and touching in the paintwork takes an hour. Nothing has touched the historic window at any point.
- Panels out first, then the sub-frame
- Fixings are in plaster, not historic joinery
- Fill, sand and touch in — an hour's work
When you would take it out
Redecorating the reveal properly. Repairing or overhauling the primary sash — cords, beads, glazing putty. Access for a structural repair or damp works. Or a house move where the buyer does not want it, though in practice buyers usually do.
Refitting into the same opening
If the reveal geometry has not changed, the original sub-frame refits to the same fixing points and the panels go straight back. Where a reveal has been replastered, dimensions can move by a few millimetres and the frame may need packing or, occasionally, a new sub-frame. We check before removal so there are no surprises.
Taking it with you
Units are made to specific openings, so they rarely fit a new property directly. Where sizes are close we can sometimes reframe existing panels, which is worth asking about before you assume they have to be left behind.
Frequently asked questions
The panels, yes, easily. The sub-frame is straightforward for a competent DIYer, but on a listed building we would rather do it and guarantee no damage to historic fabric.
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South Yorkshire's specialists in secondary glazing — survey, measure, manufacture and install.