Double glazing is not a new phenomenon – it was first invented in the US in the 1930s, although it didn’t make its way over to the UK commercially until the 1970s.
Today, it’s a popular choice for new windows, with many homeowners opting for double (or even triple) glazing because of its multitude of benefits, including insulation, heat retention and energy saving abilities.
But let’s face it, new windows are an expense and for many households one they just can’t afford.
So what types of financial support is available in terms of grants and other support schemes?
Sadly there’s not much financial support available in the current year, but with that said there are still some forms of support for those eligible. In general you must meet the following criteria:
- Be in receipt of a certain benefits.
- Live in a certain type of property.
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So What Types of Window Grants are Available in 2022?
Home Repair Assistant Grant
The Home Repair Assistance Grant offers a £5,000 grant over 3 years if you meet one of these criteria:
- 60 years of age or older
- Over 18 and currently receiving one of these benefits: Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit, or Working Tax Credit
- Over 18 and have a disability or receive Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, or Long Term Incapacity Benefit
The amount that you could be eligible for will depend on the work needed for your home. This grant will cover practical, small scale works on the inside or outside of the building, including glazing for the windows.
Care and Repair
The Care and Repair scheme was introduced by a small charity in 1986 with the aims of improving living conditions for older people. In order to be eligible, you must be aged 60 or over and have broken or damaged windows that impact the home’s energy efficiency.
If you have a disability, you could also be eligible for this grant in order to make improvements to your home. Every local housing authority must offer these types of grants, so it is worth checking with your authority if you think you may be entitled to some financial help.
Usually, your local authority will send out an occupational therapist who will visit you at home and be able to advise on which improvements are necessary.
Housing Aid for Older People
This is a scheme that has been set up for anyone who is over 66 years of age and is living in a home with ‘poor living conditions (i.e., broken or damaged windows that affect your quality of life). Whilst it’s unlikely that you’ll be eligible purely just to get double glazing if your windows are broken then this is a great option.
In order to be eligible, you will need to have a ‘means test’ carried out on the property to fully assess the living conditions. If found to be eligible, you could receive the following:
Income Grant Available:
<£30k £8,000
£30k-£35k £6,800
£35k-£40k £6000
£40k-£50k £4000
£50k-£60k £2,400
>£60k Not eligible
If you happen to be eligible for the scheme, you can use the above grant to pay for new double-glazing windows.
Green Homes Grant
On July 8th 2020, the UK Government introduced a scheme that ensured homeowners in England could be given vouchers of up to £5,000 to make energy-efficient improvements on their property.
This grant was scheduled to run through until 2022, although the Government decided to close this early. However, it’s important to note that if you applied for this grant before the deadline of 31st March 2021, you must ensure that you check the expiry date and redeem your voucher.
The vouchers that were offered cover different types of insulation, including heat pumps and solar panels, as well as allowing you to replace single glazing with double or triple glazing. You can also upgrade your current doors to energy-efficient doors with double glazing that will help your home to retain heat in the winter months but keep cool during the summer.
What is Double Glazing?
Put simply, double glazing is a window with two glass panes that sit within the frame. The two panes of glass have a slight spacer bar between them, which allows an air gap to be filled with insulating gas.
Because air is unable to circulate properly between the two panes of glass, this slows convection down which benefits the home all year round.
Check out our complete guide on the price of new windows, if you want a rough idea of how much you can expect to pay (including installation). You can also read about the various window styles available, as well as double glazing, triple glazing and decorative windows.
Benefits of Double Glazing
Some of the main benefits of double glazing include:
- Insulation – Double glazing is great at keeping the home warm during the winter months as it manages to capture natural heat.
- Cost savings – Because of the energy-efficient qualities, this will save you money on heating bills.
- Less condensation – The airtight seal on these windows means that less water can gather on your window panes, reducing the opportunity for mould to form.
- Cooler in summer – Double glazed windows are able to trap some of the sunlight coming through in the summer, which will automatically cool your room down and reduce the need for air conditioning.
- Quieter – The thicker glass means that they reduce the amount of outside noise heard from within the home.
- Safety – Double glazed windows are harder to break into as they are tightly sealed.
How much does double glazing cost?
Whilst double glazing for the whole property will usually cost between £3000-£7000, it will vary depending on which type of window you choose to have installed in your home.
Casement windows made from uPVC are one of the cheapest types of windows, and a double glazed one will set you back around £500, however, opt for a bay window and you will be looking to pay anywhere up to £3000 for double glazing.
Another price to consider is the cost of installation – this will vary depending on the installer and so it’s advised to get plenty of quotes before you decide on a tradesperson.
Secondary glazing
If you’re not looking to replace a whole window, secondary glazing could be a good option for you. Whereas double glazing will be fitted at the same time as a new window, secondary glazing involves adding a second pane of glass to the inside of an existing window in order to achieve the same effects as double glazing.
The benefits are similar to those of double glazing, including being incredibly energy-efficient and having extra security, but secondary glazing is more bespoke and can be fitted exactly to the existing window, as well as costing less than replacing the full window.
Double Glazing Grants Summary
Double glazing makes a great addition to your home, not only because of the energy benefits but also for noise reduction and safety. Whilst the grants available at the moment are limited, mainly for pensioners, it is worth checking around to see if you are eligible for any money off the price of double glazing.
