The predicted longevity of a double glazing unit is at least two decades, meaning that these windows are well worth the investment.

Over time window beading can deteriorate and can become very thin. This can cause the beading to break easily when replacing glass or reglazing a window - so should always be done with great care.

If you would like to know more about the tools needed when removing beading from double-glazed windows, then keep on reading.

 

Double Glazed Windows

Double Glazed windows are a popular choice of window for many in modern homes. Most double-glazed windows that you’ll see are engineered from uPVC.

A uPVC window stands for unplasticised polyvinyl chloride - and is a strong, incredibly durable, low maintenance and lightweight plastic, which makes it the perfect building material.

Cost-effective and low-maintenance, double-glazed uPVC windows are built with security and energy efficiency. The lightweight nature of uPVC in double and triple-glazed windows means that they are easy to install.

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Benefits Of Double Glazing

There are many benefits to double glazing. The airtight construction of double-glazed windows creates insulation in your home and reduces the amount of heat that escapes through your windows due to the tight seals and layers of glass - this can cut the cost of your energy bills significantly.

Double glazing offers sound insulation as well as heat insulation. This is good for giving a home as much peace and quiet as possible from the environment outside, particularly useful when living near busy roads.

Double glazed windows also ensure limited condensation, this is important as condensation on the inside of windows instantly makes a room feel colder. The layers of glass prevent condensation from building up by blocking moisture in cold weather.

Safety is also another important factor which double glazing helps to add to a property. Double glazed windows are much tougher to break into than single-pane windows, increasing the security of a home. The tight sealing of them also makes them harder to force open from the outside.

Finally, another benefit to point out is that double glazing helps limit the amount of sun damage the sun's UV rays can have on possessions.

Reducing the change in the sunlight can bleach possessions, painting, photographs, wallpaper, paint or any other objects that happen to catch the sun through the glass.

 

Downsides to Double Glazing

Alongside the many benefits of double-glazed windows, there are a few disadvantages too. Some of the downsides include; that they are not a good match for older homes.

Double-glazed windows are modern looking, they can clash with older properties and can make the appearance of a building look odd and mismatched.

Double glazing is not so suitable for warmer weather, although a great addition to homes in the UK when the weather is mostly cool.

Double glazing in the heat in the summer months does not work well - the windows will trap heat in and cause rooms to be hot, stuffy and uncomfortable. Tinted double-glazed windows can be bought for an added cost to prevent stuffy rooms in the summer.

Another downside to double glazing is that if the seal isn’t airtight, condensation can seep through between the panes, once sealed the panes cannot be pulled apart and repaired. The whole window will have to be replaced in this instance.

 

What Is Window Beading?

The ‘beading’ in the glazing industry refers to the part of the window frames where the glass is in place, this is usually a plastic strip at the edge of the glass which snaps securely into the recess.

When windows are described as ‘internally-beaded’ it means that the beading is located on the inside of the frame, facing into the room. ‘Externally-beaded’ windows have been externally glazed and their beading strips will be situated on the outside of the window.

If you do need to remove the glazing beads to replace window units this should be done with great care so you do not damage the glazing bead.

 

A Guide On How to Remove Double Glazed Window Beading With A Lead Knife

Lead knives or putty knives can be used to remove double-glazed window beading. Double glazed uPVC windows are held in place against their frame by the beading strips.

If you want to remove the glass from a uPVC frame, you will need the right tools to fit the window but before this, the beading on the windows must be removed first. This is when a slim but rigid lead knife can be used to pry off the beading without damaging the glass or the window frame.

Keep reading below for a more detailed step-by-step guide on how to remove beading.

 

Step 1 - Locate The Beading

The beading on double glazed window installation will hold the glass in place but can be either on the inside or outside of the window - (internal or external beading).

If the beading is external, you will need to remove the rubber gasket seal from the inside of the window first, the gasket seal can also be prised out with the same putty or lead knife, it then should pull out easily. Take note of how it comes out so you can replace it correctly.

 

Step 2 - Insert Your Knife Into the Beading

Insert the blade of the putty knife into the seam, between where the bead and the frame meet and in the middle of the longest bead.

You may need to apply some force and push the putty knife to separate the bead from the frame, you can gently tap the bottom of the knife with a hammer if you require a little more help/force. Be careful when doing this, too much force can damage the window or glass.

 

Step 3 - Prying Off the Beading

When removing the beads, you will use your lead or putty knife to pry the beading out of place, all whilst taking care not to damage the frame or glass.

When the beading begins to come away it can be pulled off by hand, pulling the beading away carefully by hand helps to minimise the risk of damaging the window or its surrounds - then the double-glazed unit should be free to be removed and/or replaced.

 

Final Notes

There you have it, we hope you have learnt something new from this blog post today, do be sure to check our range of deglazing tools on our website to help you with all your deglazing needs. We also stock a wide range of glazing tools and different products to buy and hire.

If you need any help from us then get in contact with us, our details can be found on our website, and we will always be happy to help you.

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