I'm about to do battle with my local conservation officer over double glazing in my listed Victorian/Edwardian house. I want to replace some nasty sixties aluminium casements with softwood to replicate the original, but to incorporate sealed double glazing units. He says "no" due to a blanket ban on double glazing on listed properties in my district - he wants either to see single glazing in new windows, or to leave them as thay are. I think this is bonkers because they look awful and leak heat like a sieve. Does anyone know of any examples of projects where timber double glazing has been sympathetically introduced in a listed property, so that I can work on him?
Paul in Montreal
posted on 03-11-06
Sounds like he's insane! I defy anyone to be able to tell from the street if a piece of glass is a single pane or a sealed double glazed unit. The window frames may be slightly deeper, but it shouldn't be possible to tell.
For what it's worth, I live in heritage area in Montreal and the rules are very strict. Level I buildings have to use the same materials as the original, but there's no restriction on using sealed double glazed windows. All they care about is the frames.
If it's useful, point your pedantic fool over to this document:
We have a lot of similar age buildings here to yours and the urban planning department are noted as one of, if not the strictest in Canada.
I hope this is useful.
Paul in Montreal (really Westmount)
Liz M
posted on 03-11-06
The Traditional Window Company do timber double glazed sash windows. Perhaps they can advise?
Altenatively, I'm sure Biff can help....
Biff
posted on 03-11-06
I wouldn't be too sure. This is a minefield but feel free to contact me with more details and I'll try to suggest something.
www.biffvernon.freeserve.co.uk
Nigel
posted on 03-11-06
As I understand it has something to with the the thickness of the glazing bars to get a worthwhile glazing unit in. The slim georgian glazing bars would be impossible. Much depends on the correct style for the building you have in mind.
There are some very good secondary glazing units available which are more likley to be acceptable.
Paul Teather
posted on 05-11-06
We have the imperial war museam for man made artefacs that have caused great harm.
Preserving /retro-restoring a building that is proven to cause harm is crazy.
I would go to the politicians who employ the council officer and use them to further your cause - you might end up helping a lot of people. If Architecture is sympathetic and of quality then a pastiche of the past is irrelevant. (this also applies to the hordes of 'modern' housing estates.
