Topic: Condensation-free Single Glazing

Condensation-free Single Glazing 

I've had a number of people tell me there is a new system in America where a film is applied to the glass and it stops condensation so you no longer need Double Glazing but no one seems to know the name of the product - does anyone here know?

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Doesn't sound likely with the outdoor temperatures we experience. Perhaps this is in florida?
Can you ask these people for a bit more info?

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Ug 1.2 or 1 impossible without double glazing.
DG is always better for noise, security and it is less likely to break than SG

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Grand designs mentioned an interesting product which might be related to your mystery film, JD?
It was called heat mirror
http://www.southwall.com/southwall/Home/Products/Commercial/HeatMirrorInsulatingGlass.html

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

I'm not concerned with security - it's not a problem where I live.
I will be using Hush glass for the noise so that isn't a problem.
I don't want to replace DG when it fails in the future - my parents have replaced another panel today making it 6 so far on their house.
I want some massive picture windows and previous enquiries have mentioned that DG would need a big cap between the panels so they don't touch in the middle in big winds and leave a permanent mark inside the glass.
The Southwall product still seems to be DG.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

What type of windows are your parents house?

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Is single glazing an option on a new house? The physics of single glazing does not make sense at all. I am from Canada and have seen a few poorly made windows, but not many drastic failures. And there the standard is triple or quad glazed. My parents home build in 1983 has quality 4 panes. It is a bit frustrating that like mining, finance companies, earthquake building standards, and dry, efficient homes there does not seem to be a standard for quality thermally, efficient windows in NZ. For better windows, check out Pella Windows or Anderson in the States, and even better companies in Canada. To go backwards to single glazing is a very poor option indeed.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Quite strange that this single glazing ghost is still hanging around and even considered as viable for human housing.
Besides the thermal side of it I find it really strange to be separated from the outside by just 4mm of glass.
If a glass breakes (happens less with multiple glazing) in most cases just one pane breakes and the house is still shut.
No need then to pay a premuim for "emergency" glazing services.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Never had a piece of glass break on a house I've ever lived in - 52 years.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

The glass will be laminated too.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Hi JD,
Is this product any use?

http://www.hpwf.co.nz/index.php?page=collection&subpage=lateral

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

There doesn't appear to be any information on condensation on that website.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Condensation is depending on the relative humidity inside the room.
And because single glass has no insulation it is normally the coldest surface and you get the condensation first even if the RH is ok.
If you eliminate this abnormally cold surface the humidity can be vented out before it causes any condensation.
Double or triple glazing is accepted and proven for decades worldwide for good reason.
Single glazing is ok for garages or sheds or other non heated or airconditioned buildings but no good for spaces where comfortable temperatures are required.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Hi JD,

I have a house on the West Coast and it just so happens in the West Coast Messenger this week there was an ad for just the product you're talking about, it's called Magic Seal and they don't have a website there but there is an 0800 number - 0800 10 44 66. I'm not sure how effective the product is but there's the number for you anyway!

I have read the discussion here about glazing etc - I put double glazed uPVC windows in my house as the aluminium company I approached said they'd be happy to put aluminium in the house but wouldn't warranty it due to its proximity to the coastline so we did our homework and went with uPVC joinery. We get zero condensation and the acoustic properties as well as thermal are amazing.

As someone else said on the post, triple glazing is standard around the world and uPVC is set up for quadruple glazing. There is a huge problem in NZ with poorly insulated homes (which includes single glazed windows/doors with frames that are not thermally efficient). Being poorly insulated is much like driving around in a convertible with a tear in the roof - your heater will work hard to heat the space but the heat just escapes right out of the roof (as does the heat in your home - alot of it through windows).

If you're interested in uPVC joinery get in touch with the guys at www.upvcwindows.co.nz (Simon Kennedy) - they're awesome and my partner and I now supply their windows in Central Otago, the quality is exceptional and I've never met people more passionate about windows than them! We also supply Mitten Insulated Vinyl Cladding from Canada (www.mittenvinyl.com.au) which is extremely thermally efficient so check it out if you're looking to improve thermal efficiency in your home.

Cheers and I hope you get the product you're looking for JD!

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

I wanted sash style windows in order to have fly screens on the OUTside but they tell me that it cant be done because double glazing is too heavy ... do you know if anyone here does crank open windows like we had in Ontario ?

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Vertical sliding windows is what you are after?
You can get them in uPVC double glazed.
Wonder which company told you this nonsense??
Or you can also look at tilt and turn windows which are versatile, can be fully opened and the screen and or shutters are on the outside where they belong.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

I've finished wading through the bad advice, misinformation and also the help from people here and elsewhere and I will never mention single glazing again :)

It seems I won't need hush glass either based on the performance of DG with a suitable air gap, so thanks for all the comments.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

The only thing I have even come across (living in 6 different countries) was a film made by 3M which was applied over the whole window then tightened with heat to make a tight smooth surface.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Vertical sliding windows is what you are after?
You can get them in uPVC double glazed.
...tilt and turn windows ... [Guess What?]

Yes vertical sliding is what I want but the price they quoted me was just over 7x the cost of a 'normal' window !!
I saw some excellent tilt and turn windows in Ontario last year but uPVC is not favoured here because of the harsh sun.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

The fairy tale of uPVC windows not lasting here comes from the marketing departments of the almighty aluminium window industry and distributed by builders who have no idea what they are talking about.
If the ali window people would spend their time designing joinery and hardware which deserves to be called so they would have no need to spread lies in order to stay in the market.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Someone should compile a list of myths in New Zealand. There are other myths but people just do not take the time to find out for themselves. You have to rely on your own good research when you live here. Don't rely on word of mouth stuff. Remember that 25 years ago they did not even insulate houses here.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

And just about five or ten years ago zero insulated windows were regarded as normal.
And till now concrete slabs with no perimeter insulation are standard.
And it is still legeal to put no insulation in the corners and wall junctions in timber framed houses.
And what gets me too is the amount of guttering I come across which falls AWAY from the downpipes.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Slabs with no perimeter insulation are still standard. Worse, I've seen more than one recent build with pipes going in the slab (at what cost?) but with no edge insulation at all!

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

Oh and I am still waiting for the first house to be in where the plumbers have calculated the sizes of the pipes properly. So I don't get burned in the shower if someone else opens a tap.

Re: Condensation-free Single Glazing 

And when do I get a kitchen where I can boil water for a cappa while the dishwasher is running without blowing the fuse????