Double Glazing

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Double Glazing

by Keith Robinson
(Cottingham, UK)

Hi Sue,

I can find very little advice on encapsulating a stained glass panel within a double glazed window unit.

In Europe its important to have exterior windows double glazed. I have seen a UPVC window that had a double glazed panel with a stained glass creation in the middle, but dont know how this could be achieved? Can you offer any guidance.

Kind regards
Keith

Answer

Hi Keith,

I know very little about double glazing, but I have read about it on a forum. I'll look for the information and write about double glazing when I know more about it.

You can always install the stained glass in front of an existing window, leaving a small space at the top and bottom for ventilation (to prevent moisture forming between the two pieces). However, I'm fairly sure this isn't what you're talking about.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Sue

PS...If anyone else, reading this, knows more about double glazing then I do, please tell us about it in the comments section. Thanks!

Comments for
Double Glazing

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Feb 07, 2008

Double Glazing Information NEW
by: Sue

Hi Keith,

I have found all sorts of opinions about double glazing stained glass. Some say don't do it, it will cause glare, and a heat buildup between the 2 pieces.

Others say to have it done by a professional window business that specializes in double glazing. They also say the dimensions of the window will need to be altered to accomodate the double glazing.

Then there were 2 people that did it themselves. They said to go for it! The only problem was condensation build up between the 2 pieces.

One person said: "You may have trouble with condensation on the inside surface of the cooler pane.

Your best bet at avoiding this problem is to completely seal the space between the two panes and to fill it with very dry air or even bottled nitrogen gas, which can be obtained cheaply from a local gas supply company.

You'd have to blow the dry air or nitrogen in through one hole and allow the trapped air to flow out through another hole.

After the trapped air has been replaced several times with dry gas and you're sure there is little moisture left between the panes, you can stop replacing the air and seal both holes.

But with stained glass, you have many potential gaps through which moisture can enter the trapped air, so achieving a seal could be very difficult."

Another (Rebecca) said: "I used Super Spacer and Super Spacer Sealant from C.R. Laurence. The Super Spacer is a black spongy roll of sticky-on-both-sides tape with a desiccant in it.

The Super Spacer Sealant is also black and squirts out of a tube. The Super Spacer is about 1/4-inch wide and you put it all the way around your panel set 1/8-inch from the outer edge.

Prop the panel up and slide the glazing right to it, lining the two up and pressing them together. (Sliding them together makes sure the bottom edges match.) Then squirt the sealant all the way around."

Keith...I hope this information will help you, and I hope you don't find it too confusing.

Sue

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Double Glazing

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