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By replacing the single glazed windows in your home you stand to make savings of around £170 each year. It’s not just the financial gain that makes double glazing attractive though and you can also save up to 680kg of carbon emissions annually. Over 20 years this is a saving of around £3,400 and 13,600kg of CO2.

Windows, being a very crucial feature in every home, are one of the things you simply can’t afford to ignore in your home. Having a good understanding and solid knowledge of your windows’ components like the window sash will help you stay up to date with them and able to identify any minor mishaps early on before it leads to a much bigger problem. So what exactly is a window sash?

Well without much fuss, a window sash is simply that part of your windows that’s able to open and close. And there could as well be more than one window sash that’s operable depending on your window’s type. Window sash usually possess a very basic design as well as structure. What’s more? This section of a window happens to be a frame that’s designed in such a way to make for easy placement inside the whole window casement. You’ll discover inside the sash frame, the window glass alongside any framework possessed by your window which includes grids.

Usually, the sash is fitted into the frame of the window on a runners’ set in such a way that allows for both upward and downward movements. And finally, the window sash’s frame typically comes with a locking system which provided for extra safety and security.

The window sash is a vital feature that can determine the durability and overall performance of the windows. In the event whereby your window sash is malfunctioning, it can result to numerous problems which includes both drafts as well as leaks. As a result, it’s very important to keep your window sashes in a great working condition as failure to do so will make opening and closing your windows a really difficult task.

One of the essential factors that makes a home truly a home is the convenience and comfort it provides us. As a result, we usually have a long to do list comprising things that come together to make sure our home is comfortable with ambient temperature at the very top of the scale of preference. After all, no matter how greatly designed your furniture and home decor is, it probably would amount for nothing if the temperature is either too hot or too cold. Some of the most common ways we incorporate to make the temperature a lot more conducive and warm during the winter months is by installing air conditioning system or through top notch insulation materials, but the fact still remains that a lot of heat would escape through the doors and windows. And that’s exactly the use of double glazing. So how exactly does double glazing work?

Double glazing basically works by preventing the escape of air and trapping it between two panes of glass. It’s the trapped air which serves as an insulation barrier which delivers 3 major functions. First and foremost, it stops the escape of heat through the window as the barrier created insulates the room from varying air temperatures at both sides of the glazing unit. The second major function is the double glazing works to keep down noise pollution coming from outside. While the third major function of double glazing I the fact that it helps minimize condensation which usually occurs on the single glazed windows’ inside as the cold outside air works to cool the warm air inside the house. When you install a double glazing window, the insulation barrier generated will work to stop the air temperature transmission which ultimately helps prevent the occurrence of condensation.

A porch is a small and low structure (with a roof) located at the main entrance of a building or house. It’s typically without a window (although newer variations may come with one) and can either be screened-in or enclosed to prevent unwanted access from insects and extremes in weather. In addition, some homes may have a three-season porch or sun porch. This may be situated by the side of the house and covered by the roof overhang - they’re usually screened in to offer good access all year round.

Generally, porches serve a wide range of purposes. They include:

• Provision of an outdoor living space to relax during the summer months

• It’s an informal extension of the the living room.

• It serves as a great place for social gatherings especially in small towns.

• You can take off your dirty shoes and dry a dripping wet dog before entering into your living room.

• It can be incorporated for relaxation purposes and watching street activities.

• It can serve as a reception area for guests.

• It can also be used for outdoor storage.

Pros & Cons Of A Porch

Pros

• Due to the fact that they’re covered, porches may require little maintenance practices.

• It can go a long way to improves the curb appeal of your property.

• It protects against the extremes of the weather.

• It can be constructed using a wide range of materials.

Cons

• It does not improve the use of the property

• It can be quite expensive to install depending of the material required as well as size of the porch.

• It does not add to the value of the home unlike several other home improvement projects

• It may not be safe to be used by a child or pet.

The simple answer to this question is... they can be! Although there are many types of porch designs that are available in the market, the uPVC porch happens to be one of the most loved and cost effective. Most home and property owners prefer the installation of a uPVC porch for a number of reasons. These includes:

• Value for money

It’s no coincidence the uPVC is widely accepted across the building industry with a plethora of uses. Not only is it relatively inexpensive to manufacture, but even the recycled uPVC is now becoming more and more useful. UPVC’s main rivals are wood and aluminium, and both are way more expensive to incorporate for frame profiles. Therefore, making use of uPVC is going to make your initial costs relatively low.

• Life Span

Although the main rivals in both hardwood and aluminium can also boast a lengthy lifespan just as uPVC. However, considering the price that you can get a uPVC, the lifespan is just incredible as it can be measured in decades.

• Aesthetic Appeal

UPVC gives you a wide range of foil colours that’ll fit your home perfectly well while also enhancing it’s visual appeal. You can actually get a porch that looks exactly like it’s manufactured from timber frames. To achieve this, all you need to do would be to make use of a wood grain surface finish. This is also long lasting, strong and resistant to fade.

• Little Maintenance

This is a very common feature of uPVC that makes it even more advantageous when used in making a porch. Unlike timber or wood which swells due to absorption of water or shrinks, you’ll never need to worry about all these distortions and more with uPVC. No painting, no sanding and ultimately, low maintenance required.

As well as keeping your home warmer and reducing noise, you’ll notice a saving on your energy bills from installing double glazing. If you install A++ rated windows in your home after having single glazing, you could save up to £120 year on your energy bills. The Energy Saving Trust has more information.

Yes, of course! It’s common for people to replace just one double glazed window. One reason that people want to replace one window is that the sealed unit inside has failed. You’ll know if this has happened because you’ll be able to see condensation on the inside of glass, which gets frustrating because you can’t wipe it away. In this case, you can choose to simply replace the sealed unit or the entire frame, which you might want to do if it’s looking past its best.

When you’re replacing just one double glazed window, if you know the brand of your current windows you could ask your installer if they can source the same ones. This will help to keep them looking as similar as possible, although if your existing windows are very old you may notice some discolouration on the exterior compared to the new one, and locks and trickle vents might look different.

Replacing just one double glazed window shouldn’t take a qualified window fitter long, and could cost as little as £400. If you want to simply replace the sealed unit, that may only cost around £250. You could try to fit a new window yourself, but it’s worth bearing in mind that all replacement windows need to be certified that they’ve been installed to meet building regulations, so you’ll need to apply to your local building control officer who will come and inspect the work then issue a certificate. If you ask an installer who is registered with a self-certification scheme (like FENSA) to fit the window for you, they can issue the certificate themselves when they’ve finished the work.

Removing a double glazed window can be quite labour intensive. If you decide to try it yourself, make sure you give yourself plenty of time, and wear gloves and goggles.

Begin by unscrewing all opening windows at the hinges and removing them. Then take away the beading and putty around any fixed panes and take them out too.

Once you’ve removed all the glass, use a saw to put angled cuts in the frame, and a bar and hammer to remove it in sections. You should remove the sill if you’re going to replace that too.

Finally, cut through any screws holding the frame into place with a hacksaw.