History Of Glazing

Early Glazing

In Pre 16th century, windows in England were simple openings in a structure with no glass. It wasn’t until later in the 16th century where glass became a wider used material. Due to glass becoming more readily available, the innovation of the timber sash window came into the market by the 17th century however was less popular than mullion glazing due to the added costs. Instead of using timber frames between stone mullions and transoms, a single pane of glass sealed with a type of putty could be used. This ensured maximum light and was very fashionable and appealing.

The Sash Window

By the 18th century, the sash window design had evolved and because of more cost-efficient glass, it became less expensive too. This increased its popularity and with better glazing bars and glass, sash windows became larger and stronger. During the 19th-century sash windows were widely and commonly used and have kept their popularity to date.

Stone Mullion Glazing

Traditionally, buildings with stone mullions would be glazed using a single piece of glass. This ensured that there was no sightline which meant an attractive appearance. As glazing in general progressed, stone mullion glazing was somewhat left behind. Due to stone mullions generally being tall and thin, new modern types of glazing such as PVC would take up much of the window due to their large sightlines. A problem that has now been solved by Touchstone Glazing Solutions.

Secondary Glazing

To combat the problem of poor thermal single glazed historic windows, the use of secondary glazing is an option. Secondary glazing was created to form a secondary barrier from the external environment. Instead of replacing the existing glass, a new double glazed window would be placed in front of it.

Modern Glazing

Nowadays the most common type of double glazing is made with a PVC frame. This is the most cost-effective solution and is widely used across the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, the use of PVC does compromise on sightlines and therefore is not the most effective solution when it comes to stone mullion glazing.

At Touchstone Glazing Solutions we have developed our own double glazing system with the purpose of solving single glazed problems within historic and listed buildings. Find out more here.