News and Home Improvement Blog | Cloudy2Clear Windows

Reduce Noise Pollution Outside Your Home With Double Glazing

Posted May 9, 2022 by Ian Greenhalgh

Noise pollution within the home can make everyday life increasingly uncomfortable. With many still working from home rather than heading to the office, noise pollution is a frequent complaint we’re finding from our clients.

It can also disrupt sleep, leaving you feeling groggy and unrested as you get up in the morning. These constant disturbances disrupt the peace and quiet you should have control over within your own home – a place where you’d usually find space to relax and unwind.

While noise pollution can have a significant impact on the environment in your home, there are plenty of effective ways to reduce it. Depending on your budget, you can opt for sound dampening furniture and soundproof double glazed windows and doors; or deal with it via complaints procedures and the use of noise-cancelling headphones.

Here’s our guide on how to combat noise pollution outside your home, and how we can help.

Install Double Glazing

When noise penetrates the home, it’s often through your windows and doors. Double glazing has been an adept solution to increasing noise pollution for years, with its two sealed panes of glass limiting the sound waves that can enter the home.

If you already have double glazing but you’re experiencing more external noise inside your home, it’s worth checking whether your windows and doors need resealing. Any tiny gaps in the sealing can result in a significant increase in noise without you noticing the source of the in the first place.

These gaps also allow cold external air to enter your home, invalidating the energy efficiency benefits of your double glazed windows – and leading to an increase in your heating bills.

If you don’t yet have double glazing, it’s the best option for keeping noise out of your home. It will also reduce your energy bills, as the insulating effect keeps warm air inside.

If you’re interested in installing or repairing your double glazing, our experts at Cloudy2Clear can help. Our double glazing professionals offer a variety of services from double glazing replacement and door repairs, to soundproofing and noise reduction. This specialist soundproofing service helps to keep your home free from outside noise, as our talented engineers get to work replacing any faulty double glazing and seals.

Dampen the Sound

There are furniture and fixtures that can help dampen the sound going on outside of your home. You probably already have most of what you need to dampen the sound a little – it’s just a case of rearranging things.

Soft furnishings are a great option that reduce the frequency with which sound waves can penetrate your room. Thick rugs are popular choices to enhance comfort in rooms you relax in, but they can also soften the noise. You can also fit sound insulating curtains for your windows and doors, ensuring any gaps in the frames don’t let so much noise through.

Placing large furnishings along a shared wall with neighbours that the noise is seeping in through can reduce the volume of the sound. Try rearranging your bedroom so the wardrobe fits along the attached wall, or organise your living room so the sofa works to dampen the sound from next door.

Make Your Voice Heard

Noisy neighbours can be the source of the distracting sounds you’re hearing within your own home. Barking dogs, DIY projects, and loud music are just a few of the constant sounds that can disrupt your home life. The first step is to discuss the noise levels with your neighbours. See if you can convince them to keep quieter during the hours you’re working or sleeping.

The government website can help you with what to do if you’d like to report a noise issue to your local council. Just enter your postcode and you’ll be redirected to your local city council website, where you can take further action to report noise nuisances. It’s helpful to record a diary of the noise occurrences, detailing the time, date, duration, and nature of the noise. This will help the council decide whether you have a case.

If they fail to adjust their disruptive behaviour and you have reasonable grounds to do so, you can eventually take disruptive neighbours to court. Doing this provides a formal complaint that demonstrates you’ve made a significant effort to communicate with them in reducing the level of noise they’re making.

Sometimes, the noise pollution you’re experiencing is beyond your control. If you live near congested city areas or lots of traffic, it’s near impossible to fix the issue by complaining. In these cases, try our other noise pollution reduction tips – such as installing double glazing.

Invest in Earplugs

Earplugs are a cheap yet effective way to block out external sound. Despite this, they’re not great for if you’d like to listen to your own music or watch TV without distractions. Another alternative is to purchase noise-cancelling headphones – yet again, these cancel out all the noise you’re surrounded by, not just the noise from outside your home.

The most effective way to reduce noise pollution in your home is to deal with the source of the problem. Earplugs, dampening the sound, and talking to your neighbours can help, but your ineffective windows and doors might be the best problem to fix.

Reduce Noise Pollution with Cloudy2Clear

At Cloudy2Clear, we’re the experts in optimizing your home environment with the use of double glazing solutions. If you’re experiencing noise pollution within the home, double glazing helps to insulate the home from sound with dual layered glass.

There are further options that can reduce noise, such as acoustic glass – specially engineered to block sound waves. Whichever option you choose, our double glazing installation services provide the perfect noise pollution reduction results at competitive prices.

To find out about how we can help soundproof your home, get in touch with our team on 0800 61 21 119. We’ll discuss your free quote and answer any questions you may have about our services. You can also fill out our online contact us form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Can I Replace My Double Glazing Myself?

Posted May 9, 2022 by Ian Greenhalgh

Many home improvement tasks can be carried out by the homeowner but with double glazing, while this is technically possible even a skilled DIYer should avoid it.

Double glazing is a popular energy saving option that 86.7% of UK homes were found to have installed in 2020, with rates continuing to rise as the cost of energy goes up. While successful double glazing can save you money on your bills, an unsuccessful attempt to repair or replace double glazing yourself can actually end up costing you money.

If your double glazed windows are failing, you might notice cloudy patches between the two panes of glass, leaking windows, and draughts coming through your window frames. Any gaps in the seals between your double glazed windows mean they’re no longer able to effectively insulate your home, so you’re likely to want to get them replaced as soon as possible.

While it can be tempting to ‘cut down’ on costs and try to replace your failing double glazing yourself, it’s rare that even skilled DIY regulars manage to do it correctly. We’d always recommend finding highly rated professionals to replace your double glazed windows to avoid further costs in the long run.

Here are just a few of the reasons you should seek a professional to replace your double glazing.

You won’t save time or money.

Upon realising their double glazing needs replacing, many homeowners’ initial idea is to try to save money and opt for a ‘do it yourself’ approach.

The reality is, however, that repairing and replacing double glazed windows yourself requires a great deal of effort. The reinstallation of double glazed windows involves specialist skills and insights, particularly when you consider that the replacement of each variety of window will require a different approach.

Understanding exactly how to carry out the replacement yourself means you’ll spend hours trawling tutorials and guides online, often with little success.

As well as all this effort, you’ll need to invest in the specialist tools required for a double glazing replacement. Tools such as glazing knives, glass lifters, power tools, soft-faced glazing hammers and glazing PPE mean you’ll likely be even more out of pocket than you would if you decided to go with a professional.

When doing it the first time, it will take a long time to work out what needs to be done. It’s a specialist skill that calls for different approaches for different windows. And you need specialist tools that it’s not economical to source for a single job. If you do cause damage or shoddy work that needs to be redone, you’ll have to bear the cost of that as well.

You’ll void the manufacturer’s warranty.

Window manufacturers offer a warranty with their products, sometimes providing lifetime warranty policies that can last for decades. The majority of window warranties cover all elements of the window, including hardware (handles, locks), the glass, frame, and finish of your window.

When considering whether you should replace your windows yourself, it’s important to remember that this warranty will be invalidated if the installation of your windows isn’t done by a professional. This is because they’re aware that most DIY replacements of double glazing by non-professionals is not done to a suitable standard. Even if you think your work seems satisfactory to begin with, any mistakes can quickly reveal themselves and render your efforts pointless.

Over time, windows can also be subject to wear and tear. Any defects in the materials can be costly to replace and repair. Defects can include things like cracked glass, leaks, loose hardware, and faulty frames – that can significantly reduce the performance of your double glazing. A valid manufacturer’s warranty will often cover 100% of the costs of any defects for you.

Keeping the warranty on your windows valid means that any defects, even in later years, are covered by the warranty and you won’t have to fork out more money to have your windows fixed. Replacing double glazing is also a dangerous task, so dealing with powerful equipment and glass is best left to the professionals.

You may lose out on the energy savings.

Professionally installed double glazing can save you hundreds each year in energy bills. When it’s done properly, double glazed windows are highly energy efficient as they reduce the amount of heat that is able to escape through your windows. This means you won’t need to spend so much on heating bills, a huge bonus when you take into account the rising cost of energy today.

Energy savings are often the biggest appeal when it comes to having double glazing installed. If your DIY double glazing replacement project goes wrong, however, you’ll lose the insulating benefit of double glazing.

Making sure the seal between the glass and your window frames is 100% airtight is a specialist task, and it’s difficult to get it right in the first place. You might wrongly think your project has gone perfectly, only to find later down the line that you’re spending hundreds more on energy bills as your DIY windows aren’t insulating your home.

Go to a professional.

You might have considered replacing your double glazing yourself to save money, though getting even a slight element of the replacement wrong can end up costing you more. You’ll also have to spend money on any specialist equipment needed for the job, as well as the even more expensive repairs that will be required if it does all go wrong.

On the plus side, there are plenty of professional double glazing specialists out there. This means the pricing for double glazing replacement services is highly competitive – and it might pleasantly surprise you.

Save yourself time, stress, and money, by requesting a free double glazing replacement quote from our team at Cloudy2Clear. With over 15 years of experience in industry, our highly rated window replacement specialists replace the glass in your failed double glazing for you.

You can also get in touch with us on 0800 61 21 119 if you have any questions about our services.

What are the different types of double glazing?

Posted April 10, 2022 by Ian Greenhalgh

Double glazing is an efficient way to keep heat energy in the home, reducing the amount you have to spend on your energy bills in the long run. Since it’s been around for a while now, there are a wide range of double glazing designs that can be used for windows.

Each of these types of double glazing has different properties that can work in varying situations. Here is our guide to the different types of double glazing, and the advantages you might find with each type.

Annealed (or Float) Glass

Annealed glass, also known as float glass, is ideal for the cost effective replacement of your double glazed windows. While annealed glass is lacks the stricter health and safety concerns that many other types of double glazing have taken into account as it shards into long strips of glass once broken, it is a cheaper alternative for many.

Annealed glass is glass that has been thermally treated and then gradually cooled down. This thermal treatment works to relieve the glass of any residual internal pressures from the manufacturing stage, improving the overall durability of the glass. Annealed glass is also referred to as ‘float glass’ as this thermal and cooling treatment is often applied at the manufacturer’s float plant. Annealed glass, despite its durability, is actually softer glass than many of the other types of double glazing available – such as tempered glass.

Annealed glass is best for:

Low-cost double glazing solutions
Places where health and safety isn’t so much of a concern
Situations where windows are highly unlikely to break

Tempered (or Toughened) Glass

Tempered double glazing is processed glass that’s been treated with chemicals or thermal treatments to result in a stronger, safer glass. Also referred to as toughened glass, tempered glass is ideal for situations where health and safety is of the utmost concern. Tempered glass, even when broken, is safer than the other types such as annealed glass – since it breaks down into many small, granulated shards that won’t cause as much significant injury as jagged pieces would.

Tempered glass is also four times stronger than annealed glass, meaning it’s also more likely to last longer. This heightened durability can make tempered glass well worth the price increase, as it becomes more cost effective due to less breakage in the long run. This makes toughened glass the go-to choice for those in areas with high rates of vandalism, or even where weather conditions can get severe enough to damage property.

Tempered glass is best for:

Places with severe weather conditions, such as hurricanes
Areas with high rates of vandalism or crime
Cost effective double glazing solutions
High traffic areas or situations
Longer lasting double glazing

Laminated Glass

Laminated glass is another type of double glazing designed to maximise safety. A thin polymer interlayer works to hold together the shards if the glass is broken, resulting in a ‘spider web’ appearance crack in the glass. Laminated glass is a popular choice for car windows, as the safety interlayer can help stop any damage to the windscreen actually piercing through into the car – while holding broken glass in place.

Laminated glass usually has the additional advantage of providing more sound insulation, absorbing sound inherently with many of the properties of the materials used to create the interlayer. It can also block out more UV rays, depending on the quality of the materials used.

Laminated glass is best for:

Spaces in need of extra security measures
Areas where glass is at higher risk of breakage, such as in cars
Skylights and roof windows

Low E Glass

Low E glass stands for ‘low emissivity glass,’ a highly energy efficient type of double glazing glass that prevents heat from escaping the home. Low E glass features a special coating that’s actually thinner than human hair, demonstrating just how efficient even a small layer of the coatings can be. Low E glass keeps the home insulated by deferring infrared and ultraviolet light from your windows, reflecting any interior warmth back into the home so it stays where you need it most.

Low E glass is best for:

Insulating the home or building
Reducing energy costs
Keeping a more environmentally friendly home
An additional level of UV protection

Self-Cleaning Glass

Self-cleaning glass is most commonly used in situations where windows will be hard to reach – such as in skyscrapers or top storey floors. Self-cleaning glass was once a seemingly impossible invention, and while the mechanisms do still have a long way to go, we now have access to technology that keeps our windows dirt-free for us.

There are two types of self-cleaning glass for double glazing. Hydrophobic self-cleaning glass will repel water, often designed so that static water can easily roll off its surface. This movement of water across the surface of glass – i.e. whenever it rains – will automatically ensure the glass is clean and dirt-free. Hydrophilic glass, on the other hand, works by breaking down any dirt that appears on the surface through the process of photocatalysis – where sunlight dissolves the grime. Self-cleaning windows can be chemically treated with special coatings or waxes that will repel or help dissolve any dirt, or they can be designed via certain processing techniques.

Self-cleaning glass is best for:

Areas with lots of traffic pollution
Skyscraper windows that can’t easily be cleaned
Those considering sustainable home solutions
Cost-saving purposes

Noise Control Glass

Noise control glass is favoured for homes and commercial buildings in areas with high levels of noise pollution. These might be in cities with a lot of traffic, near a main road, or in offices surrounded by construction sites. Whatever the compounding decision to use noise control glass is, it’s safe to say that it’s a great addition to many homes – a place we should feel relaxed and in control of our own environment, rather than being subject to external conditions that are beyond our control.

Noise control glass can be created in a number of ways, most commonly being by increasing the thickness of the glass in order to reduce the frequency with which sound can travel through your windows. Double glazing is a much better choice than single pane windows if you wish to reduce noise pollution, since the soundwaves must travel through not just one but two panes of glass in order to enter your home. Further levels of soundproofing can be achieved by increasing the space between the panes of glass, or adding additional layers of glass.

Noise control glass is best for:

Noisy areas such as cities, main roads, near construction sites
Keeping your home calm and stress-free
Getting a good nights’ sleep or rest – hotels, spas

Fire Protection Glass

Fire protection glass is a kind of double glazing that offers a much greater level of safety than its non-fire proof counterparts. Fire protective glass is also known as fire rated glass. The key advantage to using fire protection glass is that the integrity of your windows and doors still hold up despite the presence of fire or smoke.

Fire resistant glass is available to suit varying levels of fire protection, and fire protective qualities can be achieved through using a number of techniques. Wire can be used to maintain the structural integrity of your glass even despite the window shattering due to heat damage. Similar levels of integrity can be achieved through resin coatings, similar to how laminated glass is reinforced. Toughened, or tempered glass, is often already more fire resistant due to the thermal treatments it has been subject to – though these can be compounded with additional treatments to further improve the protective and resistant qualities of the glass.

Fire protection glass is best for:

Places where safety must be considered – hospitals, schools
Areas where fire is more likely, such as in restaurants
Protecting your home against potential fire damage

Double Glazing by Cloudy2Clear

At Cloudy2Clear, our specialities focus on repairing failed double glazed windows. Our exhaustive knowledge surrounding the different types of double glazing puts us in a well-placed position to advise you on exactly which type of double glazing you ,your business, or your home, will benefit from the most.

If you’re interested in our double glazing solutions, get in touch with our team today HERE. Our eco friendly technology makes insulating and protecting your home more environmentally friendly than ever, so you can keep your sustainability values in check while looking after your best interests.

How to Reduce Energy Bills

Posted April 8, 2022 by Ian Greenhalgh

With energy bills on the rise, plenty of people are looking for ways to reduce their monthly spend. Energy is one of the biggest annual costs for UK families, so it only makes sense that you wish to find new ways to cut down on these now highly inflated prices.

Here’s our quick guide on how to reduce your energy bills, even by making only small changes to your everyday habits.

Draught-Proof Windows and Doors

The majority of cold air in the home enters the house through even the tiniest of gaps that can allow draught into your living space. Investing in upgrading your windows and doors to draught-proof designs will save you a great deal of money in the long run.

At Cloudy2Clear, we offer a range of high-quality draught-proof windows and doors that are designed exactly for this purpose. To keep your home draught-free, eventually reducing the amount of money you’ll be spending on your energy bills by insulating the home and keeping any warm air where it belongs – inside.

Double-glazed windows are another way to insulate your home effectively. Installing A-rated double glazing – and making sure your double-glazed windows are well-maintained – can save you tons on energy bills each year. With Cloudy2Clear, our leading double-glazed window replacement and installation services go the extra mile in making sure your home remains fully insulated, saving you money each year.

Use Tumble Dryer Alternatives

Tumble dryers are a must for many households, but they’re not energy efficient for the most part. Tumble dryers require a lot of energy since they’re both heating up and spinning your laundry at the same time. The high demands of a tumble dryer mean your laundry can be costing you up to £1.00 per spin – and that’s with a relatively energy efficient model.

Instead of using a tumble dryer for each wash, consider whether the weather would be suitable for drying your clothes outdoors. Doing this can even help keep your clothes smelling fresh, especially in the summer months as the temperature begins to rise. Alternatively, make use of the heat you’re already using in your home and use your radiators to dry your clothing.

Fill Your Dishwasher

Dishwashers are an ideal time saver, but they’re not that great when it comes to considering your energy usage.
Make sure you’re not wasting energy by only filling half a dishwasher. Before you turn it on for a wash, your dishwasher should be full. This is because most dishwashers use the same amount of water no matter how full or empty it is – if it’s full when you turn it on, you’re not using all that water, and even dishwasher tablets, on just half a load.

If you don’t have a dishwasher, there are other ways you can save water on your washing up too. You can save money each month by washing your dishes in a bowl full of hot water and dish soap, rather than using a running tap.

Turn Off Standby Lights

Many of us don’t realise just how much we’re spending on energy wasted by keeping our appliances on standby, instead of turning them off altogether when they’re not in use.

Turning off all your appliances entirely can seem like a bit of extra effort, especially when it’s the last thing you want to be doing right before you go to bed at night. Luckily today, you can purchase plugs that you can turn off straight from your phone via a mobile app. Some of these apps even have self-timers, so after a certain period of not being used, the power will switch off automatically.

Other Tips and Tricks to Save Money on Energy Bills

While the above guide includes a useful checklist of ways you can reduce your energy bills, there are many other things you could consider that would reduce your monthly outgoings.

Invest in Energy Efficient Appliances

The majority of appliances on the market today are using energy efficient technology in order to provide customers with more for their money. The energy efficiency of an appliance is based on a rating of A – G, with A being the rating that will save you the most money – and stop you contributing so much to environmental concerns. The energy efficiency scale previously went by the A+++ to D rating method, though the newer version as of 2020 makes it much easier to assess how efficient your appliances are.

Get a Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat can drastically reduce the amount you’re spending on energy. Smart thermostats are exactly that – smart. They’ll learn exactly how long it takes to heat up your home, and can therefore be programmed to heat your house for just the right amount of time. No more forgetting to turn off your heating, and watching those bills stack up as a result. What’s more, smart thermostats can actually be controlled right from your phone. This means whether you’re home or not, you can adjust the settings to suit your exact preferences for when you expect to return.

Wash Your Laundry at Lower Temperatures

Doing our laundry is a necessity, but the costs involved do add up. Your washing machine requires more energy if you set it to wash clothes at a higher temperature, so it’s no wonder that when you do opt for those higher wash temps, your energy bills will rise too. Even just going from a 40 degree to a 30 degree wash can make a difference in your spending, and if you manage to cut out any washes and make your clothes last just that one extra wear before washing – it all helps reduce your energy bills.

Reduce Your Energy Bills with Cloudy2Clear

At Cloudy2Clear, our eco-friendly technology helps not only your wallet, but the environment too. Making that initial investment in your home, windows, and doors is well worth it when you consider just how much energy you may be wasting with inefficient fixtures that are letting cold air in.

Our double-glazed window and draught-proof solutions make saving money on your energy bills simple. Don’t waste any longer with a home that’s losing money on heat – just because your windows aren’t doing their job. Our forward-thinking window designs also make your home less prone to damp conditions and noise pollution.

Up to 20% of the heat lost in your home is lost through your windows. Get in touch with Cloudy2Clear today HERE to fix this.

6 household items that can easily clean your windows in a breeze

Posted November 30, 2021 by Ian Greenhalgh

Over time, grime can build up around your windows. We all want a streak-free finish, but cleaning your windows can be a real chore. Not to mention that specialist cleaning products can be costly and can be made with extremely harsh chemicals that are dangerous to inhale.

If your windows are starting to look dirty, our handy guide is here to help. From lemon juice to cornstarch, there are plenty of common household items that you can use easily to clean your dirty windows.

1. Distilled vinegar and hot water

A true tried and tested method, distilled vinegar and hot water has proven to be one of the most successful methods to clean your windows. Since vinegar has an acidic composition, it’s quick in breaking down the thin film of grime that collects on the glass’ surface. Not only is vinegar completely natural and brings no risks for allergic reactions, but it won’t cause any health problems if it’s accidentally ingested or inhaled.

For those who are cleaning their windows for the first time or haven’t washed them in a while, it’s best to use a slightly stronger solution. Mix 480ml of water with 60 ml of distilled vinegar and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the entire window with the vinegar mixture — but avoid getting the solution on any wood, vinyl or fibreglass frames as it may discolour its finish.

2. Baking soda

If you want your windows to be shiny and sparkling clean, baking soda is guaranteed to remove any tough scuffs or stains on your glass and panes. With the added bonus of being non-toxic and containing no harmful chemicals or fumes, baking soda is a great cleaning solution, and it’s relatively inexpensive.

First, sprinkle a small amount of baking soda onto a wet cloth and wash the window. As baking soda is soft enough to not scratch your windows, all the dirt should be removed. Take a clean paper towel or cloth and dampen it, applying it to the window to remove any excess baking soda that may be leftover. Fill a spray bottle with 75ml of baking soda and 75ml of vinegar, mix the solution well and spray onto the windows. Finish with a dry cloth to wipe over the window, giving it a fantastic shine.

Be sure to wash your windows on a cloudy day so the direct sun won’t cause any streaks on the glass. And remember, you should never use a baking soda cleaning solution on stained glass or antique windows as it could damage its surface.

3. Lemon juice

Tackling those grimy window panes needn’t be a challenge with a lemon juice cleaning solution. Due to its acidic base, lemon juice can be used on glass and plastic surfaces without the fear of damage. The acid in lemons acts as a natural bleach as it’s antibacterial and antiseptic. Similarly to vinegar, lemons are a terrific cleaning agent and provide a natural cleaning power.

If you’re sick of pesky greasy fingerprints, lemon juice also works great as a degreaser.

Shake one tablespoon of white vinegar with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into an empty spray bottle, pour in one cup of hot water and shake the mixture together.

4. Dishwasher soap

Perfect for a streak-free finish every time, dishwasher soap — and in particular the sodium lauryl sulfate within it — helps to easily remove grease from windows. Almost everyone will have dishwashing soap readily at hand, so simply add a few drops to a bucket of warm water and you’re ready to get those windows looking squeaky clean. Make sure to use a non-scratch scouring sponge too.

If the weather is a little bit warmer, you can use slighter cooler water to wash the windows. Or if you’re cleaning your windows in the winter, it’s best to apply a windshield cleaning solution to prevent the water from freezing over the window.

5. Cornstarch

Cornstarch can work wonders when it comes to cleaning your windows. Windows aren’t perfectly smooth — in fact, they have small pits across the glass that traps water and causes spots and streaks to run down your window.

Cornstarch can help break down water bonds, leaving your windows spotless, shiny and streak-free. Fill half a bucket with water and sprinkle in cornstarch, and then mix together until cloudy. Use a sponge if your windows need a deep clean.

6. Rubbing alcohol

To leave your windows glistening clear, rubbing alcohol can do just that. When combined with water and vinegar, rubbing alcohol evaporates fast — easily eliminating spots and streaks. Mix all three ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well.

The alcohol and vinegar combination will quickly cut through grease and leave your windows looking sparkling.

Have your windows seen better days? Our top engineers at Cloudy2Clear regularly repair and replace steamed up double glazing. Whether it’s damaged glass or faulty window seals, our double glazing replacement repairs will leave your windows looking as good as new. If you need double glazing repairs, contact your local branch of Cloudy2Clear today HERE for your free, no-obligation quote.

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