Leicester · Leicestershire
Secondary Glazing in Leicester
Our surveyors can measure windows across Leicester for secondary glazing, checking reveal depth, opening style and fire escape needs before quoting.
- LE1
- LE3
- LE4
- LE5
- Guide from £465
Secondary glazing listed buildings across Leicester
The price of secondary glazing depends on the size and number of windows, the opening style, the glass specification, any shaped or arched heads, reveal depth and condition, and access. Acoustic laminated glass and shaped frames cost more than standard clear glass in rectangular frames.
Low-level secondary glazing is still glazing, so the safety glazing rules for critical locations apply. In England, Approved Document K treats glass within 800mm of the floor as a critical location, so low-level secondary panes should be toughened or laminated safety glass.
Secondary glazing can also add security, because an intruder would have to break through two separate windows. Laminated glass and locking catches on the secondary unit add further resistance, which is useful for ground-floor and basement windows in period properties.
Opening styles include vertical sliders that line up with sash window meeting rails, horizontal sliders for wide openings, hinged casements, lift-out panels for windows that are rarely opened, and fixed panes. The choice depends on how you use the window, cleaning access and fire escape needs.
What you get
- Advice on opening style, glass and fire escape
- Removal of packaging and cleaning of new glass
- Survey of each window, reveal depth and sightlines
- Written quote fixing the price for the specification
Local details for Leicester
- Postcodes covered
- LE1, LE3, LE4, LE5 and the surrounding area, including Oadby, Wigston Magna and Earl Shilton
- Coast
- Leicester is well inland, around 83 km from the nearest coast, so salt exposure is not usually a factor.
- Daylight and sun
- In Leicester the midwinter sun reaches about 14° above the horizon at noon, with roughly 7.4 hours of daylight, rising to about 61° and 16.6 hours in midsummer. Secondary glazing adds an extra layer of glass, which slightly reduces daylight. Low-iron or clear low-E glass keeps light loss to a minimum, while on sunny elevations solar control glass can help reduce overheating in rooms with large windows.
- Access and setting
- In city centres and busy streets, acoustic secondary glazing is a common response to traffic, rail and nightlife noise. Flats, listed buildings and conservation areas often limit external changes, which makes internal secondary glazing a practical option.
- Rules in England
- Approved Document K requires safety glass in critical locations in England: glazing in doors and in side panels within 300 mm of a door, up to 1500 mm above floor level, and any glazing in walls or partitions up to 800 mm above floor level.
Guide prices in Leicester
| Typical job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Slider, 900 × 1200 mm | £465 – £595 |
| Slider, 1200 × 1600 mm | £665 – £845 |
| Acoustic glass, 1000 × 1400 mm | £675 – £865 |
Get a guide price for your size
Approved Document B covers escape windows. Where an existing window is an escape route, typically in first-floor bedrooms, its replacement should give at least the same escape opening as before.
Options to choose between
Vertical sliding
Panels slide up and down, with meeting rails aligned to sash windows so the secondary unit is discreet from inside and outside.
Lift-out panel
A lightweight panel that lifts out of its frame, for windows rarely opened, giving a slim and economical secondary unit.
Hinged casement
Panels open inwards like a door, giving full access to the original window, and can be chosen for escape windows.
Secondary Glazing in Leicester: questions
Can I still open my original windows?
Yes, as long as the secondary glazing has an opening panel in front of the part you need to open. Sliding and hinged panels give access to the original window for ventilation and cleaning. Lift-out and fixed panels suit windows you rarely or never open.
Is secondary glazing as good as double glazing?
It depends on the goal. For noise, secondary glazing is often more effective, because the wider gap between the two windows reduces sound better than the narrow cavity of a sealed unit. For heat, a well-sealed secondary unit with low-E glass significantly improves a single-glazed window. It also keeps original windows, which matters in listed buildings.
Does secondary glazing need safety glass?
It does in critical locations. In England, glass within 800mm of the floor, glass in doors and glass near doors are critical locations under Approved Document K, and these apply to secondary glazing too. Low-level secondary panes should be toughened or laminated safety glass. The surveyor checks each window during the survey.
Will secondary glazing cause condensation?
It can, if the original window is sealed tighter than the secondary unit, because warm, moist room air then gets trapped in the cavity. The secondary unit should be the more airtight of the two, and the original window should not be fully sealed. Opening the secondary panel lets room air into the cavity, so close it again afterwards.
Do you cover Leicester for secondary glazing?
Yes. We can quote for secondary glazing across Leicester and the surrounding Leicestershire area, including postcode districts LE1, LE3, LE4 and LE5, and nearby Oadby, Wigston Magna and Earl Shilton. Start with your postcode on the quote form and a glazier will arrange a free survey before giving you a written quote.
Get a written quote in Leicester
Free survey for new glazing, clear guide prices and one point of contact for every glazing job.