Secondary glazing – Measure to Fit 

Ecoease Measure to fit –  Frequently Asked Questions

How much does secondary glazing cost?

The Ecoease Measure to fit system is £139 per square metre including VAT. For example, this would mean that an average sized panel measuring 700mm x 900mm would cost £87.57 including VAT. That is for the fully framed system supplied completely made up and ready to attach easily to your window frame.

Will secondary glazing really save me money on my heating bills?

Secondary glazing works to save you money heating your home, It helps stop the heat generated from your boiler from being lost out of your windows. This helps to keep the room warm more easily and economically. This heat loss can be reduced by as much as 63% with secondary glazing. The static air space between the glass of your original window and PET secondary glazing sheet creates a barrier that results in effective thermal insulation. This also helps to stop cold spots in your room from forming. You save money as your boiler isn’t working so hard to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room.

What is the sheet used in Ecoease Measure to Fit secondary glazing?

The Measure to fit system uses premium PET (Polyethylene terephthalate). We use this for the following reasons:

• Excellent acoustic and thermal insulation performance. More than 10% better than glass.
• High optical clarity. Its clear, glass like appearance makes it perfect for secondary glazing.
• Excellent fire resistance.  Class 1 according to BS476 Part 6. Acrylic sheet is only Class 3.
• Light weight.  About half the weight of glass of the same thickness. Keeping installation as easy as possible.
• Environmentally friendly. PET contains only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen molecules. No Bisphenol A, no ozone depleting materials, no acid-rain causing ingredients. PET is classified worldwide as a food-contact safe material. It is also the most recycled plastic material in the world today!

How thick are the glazing sheets?

There are several types of sheet used in secondary glazing including acrylic and polycarbonate. These are offered in a range of thicknesses.

We use 3mm thickness sheet for our PET secondary glazing.  Over the course of many years we have found this to be the optimum size as it offers the best performance as well as keeping the weight manageable.

What else is included in this system – magnetic tapes?

The Measure to fit secondary glazing is a complete system with all the components included and pre-assembled ready for installation.

How effective is PET for secondary glazing windows?

This type of secondary glazing is highly effective. Ecoease® PET has been calculated to have a U-value of 2.7 when used with a 20mm gap on single glazing, lower than some types of double-glazing. The lower the U-value, the better the insulating performance will be. Single glazing typically has a U-value of approximately 5.8. Ecoease can help to lower the U values of your windows which in turn can help with your EPC certification.

It is also very effective at sound insulation. PET is more flexible than glass and the difference in thickness to standard 4mm glass helps the sound to dissipate rather than resonate.

Does PET secondary glazing reduce condensation?

PET secondary glazing is excellent at reducing, and more often eliminating, condensation from windows. The insulating airspace between the warm Ecoease panel and the cold glass of your window makes it less prone to convection and conduction. The net result is drier windows!

How does secondary glazing compare to standard glass double glazing?

Secondary glazing can drastically reduce heat loss through your windows. Research by Historic Scotland found this to be by around 63% whereas standard double glazing was 55%. It is also more effective at sound insulation than standard double glazing.

How easy are magnetic secondary glazing panels to remove?

Our magnetic secondary glazing kits are quick and easy to remove. You may want to remove them to get access to clean the original window. Some people leave the panels in place in the winter and remove and store them in the summer if the window will be opened a lot. It is worth bearing in mind however, that the panels also help to keep heat out in summer. When it is time to replace the sheet first ensure the panel and tapes are clean and dry. Now offer the magnetic tapes on the panel back up to the tapes on your window frame and they will clip back in to place.

How do I store my magnetic secondary glazing panels if I remove them?

To safely store the panels make sure they are clean and wrapped to protect them from damage. Store them flat to stop the sheets bowing and in a cool dry place. Avoid excess heat as this can distort the shape of the sheet.

Secondary Glazing – is it the right choice for you?

Will it benefit your home?

Does your house feel cold? Despite modern heating, you can still be losing a lot of heat through your single-glazed, or old double glazed, windows.

Secondary glazing can be an excellent solution! It can help to stop heat and energy being lost through poorly fitted window panes.  Perhaps you are not permitted to add double glazing as is often the case with listed buildings. Also, it might just not be within your budget at the moment to replace your windows.  Not only are there a variety of materials with which you can improve your window insulation, there are also a variety of methods and you can choose the best fit for your home and your budget.

What is ‘secondary glazing’?

Defined as ‘insulation by means of a second pane of glass, or a sheet of plastic: a simple form of double glazing.’ It effectively adds a second skin to your window.

What types of secondary glazing are there?

You can improve the insulation in your home with various types of secondary glazing.  There is glazing with a metal casing, where a metal frame is fixed to your existing window frame with a pane of glass within. Then there are wooden or PVC frames holding a glass pane.  Finally you have magnetic secondary glazing. In this case you have strong magnetic tapes which hold a pane of high performance plastic against your existing window frame.

Thermal insulation?

With secondary glazing alone, you can improve thermal insulation by 63% which is more efficient than double glazing at 55%. This is a direct reduction of heat loss through your windows, meaning you can have warmer rooms and save money on your heating bills.

Acoustic insulation?

The gap between the added pane and your glass can also make a big reduction in noise transmission. This empty space acts as an effective sound baffle and, as a general rule, the bigger the gap, the more noise is reduced.

Why choose Ecoease magnetic secondary glazing?

Ecoease uses a PET panel instead of glass. This is a warm material and is excellent at reducing heat loss through your windows. This warmer panel creates a pocket of static air between it and your cold glass window pane. This barrier greatly reduces heat loss but also condensation and all of the associated issues.  PET has high optical clarity and unlike many plastics is extremely fire-retardant.  Finally, PET is a very affordable material. This means that even if your budget isn’t huge, you can still improve the warmth of your home even if just one window at a time. This system gives you all of the benefits of secondary glazing at a fraction of the cost.

Our magnetic secondary glazing is also very easy to fit. It requires no specialist tools and creates no mess. Simply attached to your window frames magnetically, you do not need to alter the framework of your windows at all. You also don’t need costly installers – it is super easy to fit yourself in minutes! 

In summary secondary glazing can:

• Reduce heat loss through your windows
• Reduce or even eliminate condensation
• Reduce external noises

To get prices for your home simply enter your window frame sizes in the top section of this page and see prices instantly. Or get in touch to find out more!