Aluminium Secondary Glazing vs Plastic Secondary Glazing

Refuse to settle for an inferior alternative:

The use of secondary glazing is becoming increasingly popular in homes and businesses, as it offers a number of benefits over traditional single glazing. There are a number of materials used in secondary glazing, with aluminium being one of the most popular. Aluminium secondary glazing is superior to plastic or acrylic alternatives for a number of reasons, including noise reduction, insulation, and better functionality.

Why is Aluminium Secondary Glazing Superior To Plastic?

This is in part due to the vastly superior U-values and noise reduction capabilities of aluminium secondary glazing. Aluminium secondary glazing offers a U-value of 1.8 W/m2k, far superior to the plastic/acrylic secondary glazing alternative which offers a U-value of only 2.8 W/m2k and 2.7 W/m2k respectively. 

The substantial difference in U-values means that aluminium secondary glazing provides far better insulation to your home, resulting in improved heat retention and lower energy costs.

Superior Noise Reduction

Furthermore, aluminium secondary glazing offers a much higher level of noise reduction compared to plastic/acrylic secondary glazing. Aluminium secondary glazing provides up to 52dB reduction in external noise, compared to the 26dB reduction offered by plastic/acrylic secondary glazing. This makes our alumimium options an excellent choice for homeowners looking to reduce external noise in their homes.

Superior Insulation

Another benefit of aluminium secondary glazing is that it offers superior insulation compared to plastic alternatives. Aluminium is an excellent conductor of heat, meaning that it can help to keep the heat inside during the winter and keep the heat out during the summer. This can help to save money on energy bills, as it will reduce the amount of energy needed to heat or cool the building. Studies have shown that aluminium secondary glazing can reduce heat loss by up to 40%, which is significantly higher than plastic alternatives.

Increased Functionality

In addition to these benefits, aluminium secondary glazing also offers homeowners a great deal of functionality. Our product range is designed with a variety of high-spec aluminium frames that allow for six distinct product types, and further variations within this. As well as offering a range of styles and designs, these frames also offer the flexibility to open and close the secondary glazing, depending on the homeowner’s needs.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Using Plastic Secondary Glazing?

Plastic secondary glazing is often used as an alternative to aluminium secondary glazing for various reasons. However, there are some major disadvantages to using plastic over aluminium for secondary glazing.

Plastic Is Less Durable

The first disadvantage of using plastic secondary glazing over aluminium is that it is typically less durable than aluminium. Plastic window frames are more prone to cracking, warping, and other damage over time due to changes in temperature or exposure to sunlight. This can lead to air leaks that can reduce the efficiency of your home’s insulation and increase your heating and cooling costs.

Plastic Is Less Secure

Another disadvantage of using plastic secondary glazing is that it is not as strong or secure as aluminium. Plastic window frames are not as strong as aluminium window frames and they are more likely to be broken into or forced open by intruders. This can put your home’s security at risk.

Less aesthetically pleasing

Finally, plastic window frames are not as aesthetically pleasing as aluminium window frames. Plastic window frames do not have the same sleek and modern look that aluminium window frames do and they also tend to be more prone to fading. This can make your home’s exterior look less attractive.

Choose Aluminium Secondary Glazing

In conclusion, aluminium secondary glazing offers huge benefits over plastic/acrylic secondary glazing. It provides superior insulation and noise reduction, as well as offering more functionality in terms of opening and closing the secondary glazing. Therefore, if you’re looking to improve the insulation and noise reduction in your home or business, aluminium secondary glazing is the only choice. 

For more information on how Granada can help you with aluminium secondary glazing, call 01909 499899 today and speak to one of our expert specialists.