Take a look through the history of double glazing
The way we use windows to protect our homes and keep them warm has evolved hugely over the last 150 years.
From makeshift secondary panes set in place with clay, to the high-tech sealed units of today, we explore the history of double glazing and the events that shaped its fortunes.
Download our double glazing history timeline.
Earliest origins
It is difficult to accurately pinpoint the beginnings of double glazing. Over more than a century, there have been various alterations that have contributed to its development.
1870s
Dating back to the 1870s, there is some reported evidence that homes in Scotland, Germany and Switzerland were fitted with a second piece of glass using clay to secure it. This would be akin to what we know as secondary glazing today.
1930s
American refrigeration engineer, Charles D Haven is credited with the invention of what we would now recognise as modern double glazing.
First announced in 1932, Haven’s ‘Thermopane’ system used two panes of glass, separated by an air gap, and sealed around the edges with rubber strips. The air between the panes was dehumidified to prevent condensation.
Manufacturing setbacks and World War II meant that Haven’s invention wasn’t brought to the American market until the late 1940s.
A period of construction and huge change
1960s
Here in the UK, during the 1960s, there was a huge focus on building new homes, quickly.
Thousands of new homes were constructed in a short space of time, which included tower blocks.
These homes were poorly insulated and, whilst single glazed windows kept the wind out, they created issues with condensation and mould, giving rise to knock-on health and wellbeing impacts.
1965
In 1965, Harold Wilson’s Labour Government introduced the Buildings Regulations Act.
This set of laws set standards for the design and construction of buildings, to ensure the safety of people’s homes and the health of those living in them.
Part of the legislation encouraged builders to invest in energy saving technology and materials.
A fuel crisis and a window revolution
1970s
It wasn’t until the 1970s that the UK caught up with the USA, where double glazing had been commonplace since the late 1940s.
The availability of cheaper construction materials coupled with international tensions combined to escalate the need to make a change to the way homes were insulated.
In 1973, the Suez Canal crisis caused a fuel shortage that forced a rethink about the way homes were heated and insulated.
This lead to a huge surge in the installation of double glazing in homes, a trend that has continued to this day.
Part of everyday life
1980s
During the 1980s, double glazing certainly took off.
Huge numbers of homes started to benefit from its insulating qualities for both windows and doors.
Those of us ‘of a certain age’ will remember a windswept Ted Moult, the celebrity Derbyshire farmer who was the reassuring presence on our screens, extolling the virtues of draught-free windows.
Many familiar faces were happy to associate their names with double-glazing, which was then primarily constructed from aluminium.
1990s
Window Wise was founded in 1990 and became part of an industry that would help insulate and protect customers’ homes for the long-term.
This decade saw the rapid expansion of ‘PVCu’ windows into the market.
PVC is an abbreviation of polyvinyl chloride, which is a chemical compound of chlorine, hydrogen, and carbon. The U in PVCu stands for unplasticised, which means that the material has not been softened through the addition of plasticisers.
Standing the test of time
Today, many PVCu windows are virtually unrecognisable from those installed in the early days.
Precision manufacturing means that PVCu windows are now available in a wide range of colours, styles and finishes – some of which are indistinguishable from timber.
Streamlined designs complement contemporary architecture and allow maximum light in. Traditional designs ensure that period character is maintained, whilst bringing outstanding energy-efficiency.
The extent of the thermal efficiency available with contemporary replacement windows is outstanding.
For the ultimate window insulation, sealed units with triple glazing are a popular choice.
Whether timber, aluminium or PVCu, nowadays double and triple glazed windows are incredibly robust and secure. Customers have the confidence that their windows will continue to look great and function well for many years.
10 year guarantee
We are so confident of the quality and longevity of the products we supply and install for our customers, all our work and materials are covered by a 10 year guarantee.
If you are thinking about home improvements, including replacement windows and doors, or a glazed extension, please call us on 01444 45 71 45 to chat through your requirements.