Sash windows and double glazing dilema. Also, what is secondary glazing.

[Spidermama]

I've got Victorian sash windows. We live on a road on a hill so the cars are noisily going up and down in second gear.

I want a solution to cut down on the noise but I don't want to ruin the original sash windows and possibly lower the value of the house.

My husband says secondary glazing would be an option but I don't understand what it is or why it would be better.

Any thoughts?

We have secondary glazing. Basically it is another layer of glass between the original window frame and the edge of the window sill, enclosing the window recess, with a gap (about 4 inches in our case) between the two. Ours slides horizontally (modern style windows) so you can still access the external window to open for ventilation and to clean it. You could remove the secondary panes altogether for the summer. Not sure if you could perhaps get vertical opening ones for sash windows.

secondary glazing is UGLY, but it doesn't damage your original windows and their casements. Secondary glazing panels sit inside the window recess but are an inch or so from the original glass.

Like for like replacement double glazed wooden sash windows are HUGELY expensive, many many times the cost of their UPVC counterparts, but they will add value to your house. Lots of buyers will be turned off a period house if it has plastic windows

Thanks LIZS. How much noise does it cut out?

There are some sash ones here

Well, we live by a mainline railway line with a main road not far behind and are not disturbed, also helps with heating.

We have secondary glazing - we live in a conservation area and are not allowed to alter the original windows (would not want to as they are lovely).

The 2ndary glazing does cut out noise significantly, although we are in a quiet area, and definitely helps with insulation in the winter - our windows are huge and it would be freezing without them.

Downside is the are a PITA to clean as it's double the work and a lot of ours have to be lifted out and are v heavy.

Thanks LIZS. Thanks for the link too. We have a railway out the back and a road at the front, so I', really keen to sort something out.