Windows and doors

Before replacing your windows, check with your local planning office if any of the following apply to your property:

• You live in a conservation area.
• You have an article 4 direction on your property, removing the right of permitted development.
• You live in a listed building.

Most people have double or triple glazing fitted by a professional. Competent DIYers can fit some secondary glazing systems, but a professional should carry out removing old windows and installing new ones.

Energy efficient windows come in a range of frame materials and styles. The energy performance of a window depends on how well these materials stop heat from passing through, as well as how much sunlight travels through the glass and how little air can leak around the window.

Energy efficient windows are made of two or three glass panes sealed in a single unit, surrounded by a frame made from uPVC, wood, or another material.

•  Double-glazed windows have two sheets of glass with a gap in between, usually about 16mm.
•  Triple-glazed windows have three sheets of glass, and two gaps. This can make them better at insulating than many double-glazed windows, but it’s not always the case.

The gaps between the glass panes are filled with air, or an inert gas such as argon. The air or gas is completely sealed.

Double glazing costs vary significantly depending on the materials and style. PVC windows tend to be cheaper, while hardwood frames are the most expensive. A set of A-rated windows for a semi-detached house will typically cost around £15,000.

By installing A-rated double glazing to windows in an entirely single-glazed semi-detached gas heated property, you could save £135 a year and 380kg of carbon dioxide.

If you installed A++ rated double glazed windows replacing single glazing, the savings could be up to £150 a year and 415kg of carbon dioxide.

The energy performance of a window is influenced by a wide range of factors, so it’s not easy to choose a window by looking at how it’s made. Fortunately, there’s a rating scheme to help you find the most efficient.

Window manufacturers can show the energy efficiency of their products using an energy-rating scale from A++ to E. The entire window (the frame and the glass) is assessed to allow for heat loss, draughts and solar gain, giving a rating that indicates the overall impact of fitting that window in your home.

The British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) runs the scheme. To choose the most energy efficient window, look for the BFRC rating.

Windows that have an energy rating will have the ‘u-value’ of the window displayed on the energy label, and you may see u-values quoted for windows without a label

A u-value is a measure of how easily heat passes through a material, but it is not a complete measure of how efficient a window is. The overall label rating will give you a better indication of the window’s energy saving potential.

The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) is a membership organisation whose members sign up to a consumer code. This means that you should receive excellent customer service.

If you use one of their members to fit your windows but you are unhappy with the work, you will also be able to use their free reconciliation service. You can use the Glass and Glazing Federation’s website to find a member who works in your area.

In England and Wales, the easiest way to make sure your windows are fitted to the UK Government’s building regulations standards is to choose an installer who is registered with one of the official competent person schemes. Installers registered with these schemes will give you a certificate when the job is finished that states your new windows have been fitted in compliance with the regulations. Find registered schemes for windows.

If you use an installer who isn’t registered with one of these schemes, you will need to apply for building control approval before installing the window. Visit the Planning portal to find out how to apply for building control approval.

In Scotland, each local authority has a building standards office. Check with them first to see whether you need a building warrant for your new windows.

As secondary glazing is more specialised than double glazing, there isn’t currently a central body that certifies these installations. Always get at least three quotes to ensure you get the best deal.

If you live in a conservation area, there may be restrictions on what you can do to your windows.

These areas are of special architectural or historic interest, meaning that any work you carry out on your home must preserve or enhance the character of the area. This does not necessarily mean you cannot replace your windows, but it might mean you will need to get windows that complement the character of the building and area.

An increasing number of companies offer double glazing in period properties. Double glazing can be made to look like your building’s original windows, but for any changes you do need to contact your local council’s conservation officer for guidance.

Listed buildings will require permission if you want to make changes to your windows. Old windows in historic properties can be protected, not only for their appearance, but also for the materials and methods used to make them. However, secondary glazing can be a non-intrusive way of insulating historic windows from the inside, and may be granted permission.

There are a number of non-intrusive window insulation options available for historic homes, such as heavy lined curtains, shutters, secondary glazing and sealed blinds. However, each historic building is considered individually, so check with your local council to see what options are available to you.

Visit Historic Environment Scotland and Historic England for additional ways to make a historic home more energy efficient.

Sash windows are common features of period properties and can be a design feature. They consist of two vertically sliding frames, but often don’t achieve an airtight seal, and are typically made of a single pane of glass. Altogether, this gives them poor insulating properties.

If you want to upgrade your sash windows, there are a number of alternatives to conventional double-glazing. If you want to keep the design and look of the sash windows, there are units available that are in keeping with the original design but that are sealed to prevent draughts and incorporate double glazing to reduce heat loss. The frames may be wood to match the original as closely as possible, or made from other materials such as uPVC, but designed to resemble the wooden original. Replacing sash windows can be expensive, so good-quality secondary glazing may be worth considering.

If you can’t install double glazing – for example, if you live in a conservation area, period property, or listed building – you can install secondary glazing, use heavy curtains, or preferably both. But if you’re not replacing an old window, the first thing to do is make sure you’ve fixed any draughts. Visit our draught-proofing pages for guidance.

Like any other part of the home, doors can be insulated and draught-proofed to prevent heat escaping. Building regulations state that installing a new door requires approval from the relevant buildings control body, and new external doors now generally contain integrated insulation to reduce heat loss and comply with regulations.

A properly fitted new external door should include an effective draught-proofing system. Existing doors can be improved by fitting draught-proofing strips around the seals and the letterbox.

Fitting draught-proofing to the doors and windows will save the typical household around £35 a year.

Even the best quality glazing loses heat more quickly than an uninsulated cavity wall. This means that conservatories are not thermally efficient, so we would recommend that you don’t heat them if possible.

Provided they are never heated, and the doors between the conservatory and the heated house are kept shut in cold weather, they can actually reduce heat loss by acting as an extra insulating layer outside your house. You can make the most of this by installing a sealed sliding door, and sealed blinds or heavy, lined curtains, to separate the conservatory more effectively from the rest of your house.

If you heat your conservatory, any insulating benefit will disappear along with the heat that escapes into the outside air. Double glazing, blinds and shutters can all reduce the amount of heat wasted, but it is not possible to bring a conservatory up to the thermal standard of even an averagely insulated room.

Replacement windows will be more airtight than your original frames, so condensation may build up in your house due to the reduced ventilation. If your house does not have much background ventilation, look for replacement windows with trickle vents incorporated into the frame to let in a controlled amount of ventilation.

If you start to see condensation building up around your windows, there may be a damp problem in your home. Damp can occur when there is:

• Inadequate ventilation.
• Low levels of heating.
• Gaps in insulation.
• High levels of moisture production.
• Problems with guttering, pointing, damp proof course, etc.

If you’ve started to notice condensation in between the panes of glass in your double glazing units, then it is likely that the seal is broken, and the unit will need to be replaced.

If you are getting condensation on the outside of your windows, this is not a problem. It’s a sign that your windows are very efficient. The condensation will clear quickly and won’t lead to any damp problems.