
My new build house overheats in summer, and this is only going to get worse in future. My triple glazed windows have been condemned by an expert (bad manufacture and installation) and I could get everything replaced with Velfac 200. I feel like I should go for solar glazing g = 0.35 instead of the default g=0.53. Who (which company) can analyse the heat loss and solar gain for my property and tell me what's best?
If your property has long glazed elevations on its south or west-facing facades, then specialist solar control is worth considering. Solar gain – which is the technical term for heat build-up inside your property from the sun – can be reduced by 30% through windows with standard solar coatings, or by up to 60% for the highest-performing solutions. These coatings are designed to reflect some of the sun’s rays away from the property while letting in as much light as possible. But here is where the compromise lies – the higher the control performance, the less natural light enters the internal space. As a result, the strongest solar control solutions should only be considered for very large, windows and, usually, when specifically advised by Building Services Engineers. Most glazing would benefit from standard solar control products, which is cheaper than their higher performing alternatives but roughly 5-10% more expensive than standard glazing. Given the benefit of cooler and more comfortable interior spaces during the ever-increasing UK summer temperatures, however, this additional cost is definitely something to consider.
Kev Woolf, Velfac