The requirement to improve energy efficiency in our everyday lives is enshrined in Government legislation, which impacts on our homes primarily through the Building Regulations, and is becoming increasingly stringent.

It is no longer possible to supply single-glazed windows (with a U-value of 5.6W/m²K) except for certain classes of Listed Building, and then only with a specific condition of Planning Permission requiring it.

Consequently, our ‘standard’ grade double glazed sealed units have a U-value of 1.6W/m²K, and are ‘C’ rated for energy conservation. Our ‘premium’ grade double glazed sealed units have a U-value of 1.2W/m²K, and incorporate Argon gas filling the space between the glass panes: they are B-rated for energy conservation. We can also supply our ‘premier’ grade double glazed sealed unit which has a U-value of 1.0 W/m²K and which, using Argon gas filling coupled with a special ‘warm-edge’ spacer bar, is ‘A’ rated for energy conservation. It doesn’t get any better than that.

In addition to these options there a number of others. Solar control glazing, some of which retains heat (keeps heat in the house or conservatory) or repels heat (prevents heat getting into the house or conservatory) is a popular option. Self cleaning glass is also a popular option, and come in two form, hydrophilic, which prevents the rain forming droplets and makes it ‘sheet off’ taking dust and debris with it, and hydrophobic which makes the rain form large droplets and rivulets to run off faster (similar to some products available for car windscreens to improve visibility at speed in rain and spray).

Several of these characteristics can to be combined to provide highly thermally efficient, low noise, low maintenance glazing for your new doors and windows, or your new conservatory.

We use two main suppliers, depending on the circumstances and performance specification required of the glazing. They are Pilkington Glass and Saint Gobain Glass, the world’s largest glass and glazing manufacturer.

From Pilkington Glass we use their low emissivity (low E) ‘K’ glass and ‘Activ’ for a self-cleaning glass. Additionally Pilkington Glass produce textured and obscured glass which may be desired in certain circumstances.

From Saint Gobain Glass we use their low E ‘Planitherm Total 1.1′ glass and their ‘BioClean’ for self-cleaning glass. This is made and supplied through a subsidiary company in St. Austell which, in conjunction with our uPVC or timber windows, doors or conservatory, makes the whole product ‘Made in Cornwall’. Saint Gobain Glass also produce a translucent glass, ‘Satinovo’, which provides a soft, diffused light where privacy might be an issue.

In addition to all of the performance options, it also possible to put a range of tints onto the glass, so it is possible for the ‘sky’ above your conservatory to be always blue (or bronze, or orange or…)!

There are too many permutations of ‘what glass can be combined with what other glass’ to list them all, coupled with orientation and other factors, to provide useful or precise information here. We simply suggest that, once you have decided on which door or window or conservatory you want, you come along and talk to us about the best glazing options for your situation. We will give wholly unbiased advice.

There are too many permutations of ‘what glass can be combined with what other glass’ to list them all, coupled with orientation and other factors, to provide useful or precise information here. We simply suggest that, once you have decided on which door or window or conservatory you want, you come along and talk to us about the best glazing options for your situation. We will give wholly unbiased advice.