Glazing units for DIY windows

Lumen

So I've an idea to make a few windows.

The idea is to order the glass with exact dimensions and then make frames around the glass.

Putting aside the issue of whether this is a great idea or not, where's the best place to order the sealed glazed units?

Recommendations by PM, but generally speaking, should I be going to a glass supplier? Do they deal with the public?

Also, ideally I'd like a combination of toughened and laminated panes, for safety and sound performance.

I've an idea that triple glazing is about 20kg/sqm, and I'd be looking at approx 573mm W x 927mm H, which is only about 0.5 m3, so 10kg seems handy to deal with.

Will I make savings by finding some kind of standard glazing size? It can be a bit bigger if necessary.

Or maybe custom units are cheap enough.

Calahonda52

IIRC, there are only one or two folk in the country making the units, one north one south.

These chaps are serious players in the South
https://www.careyglass.com/contact/
I see their trucks on the road every Sunday night on the M7

Maybe call them: of course they are out the door with big projects...

JimmyMW

Lumen wrote: »

So I've an idea to make a few windows.

The idea is to order the glass with exact dimensions and then make frames around the glass.

Putting aside the issue of whether this is a great idea or not, where's the best place to order the sealed glazed units?

Recommendations by PM, but generally speaking, should I be going to a glass supplier? Do they deal with the public?

Also, ideally I'd like a combination of toughened and laminated panes, for safety and sound performance.

I've an idea that triple glazing is about 20kg/sqm, and I'd be looking at approx 573mm W x 927mm H, which is only about 0.5 m3, so 10kg seems handy to deal with.

Will I make savings by finding some kind of standard glazing size? It can be a bit bigger if necessary.

Or maybe custom units are cheap enough.

Triple glazing of that size @ 6/4/6 would be approx 21.25kgs, obviously this will be heaver with laminates, what glass combo was giving you 10kgs.

RE suppliers, where are you based?

Lumen

JimmyMW wrote: »

Triple glazing of that size @ 6/4/6 would be approx 21.25kgs, obviously this will be heaver with laminates, what glass combo was giving you 10kgs.

RE suppliers, where are you based?

Based in Wicklow.

No idea where I got the weights from. So I should stick to those pane sizes as I reckon anything over 20kg becomes too much hassle to handle.

For 25% glass to floor area I'd need about 4sqm, so that's 8 units. Tiny order!

JimmyMW

Lumen wrote: »

Based in Wicklow.

No idea where I got the weights from. So I should stick to those pane sizes as I reckon anything over 20kg becomes too much hassle to handle.

For 25% glass to floor area I'd need about 4sqm, so that's 8 units. Tiny order!

Smaller glass companies will do that order for you alright, I don't know of anyone specific to your area but the likes of PQG or NSG in Cork would certainly do that kinda thing.

However regarding weight you would need to identify your glass build up before clarifying the weights of the units.

Lumen

JimmyMW wrote: »

Smaller glass companies will do that order for you alright, I don't know of anyone specific to your area but the likes of PQG or NSG in Cork would certainly do that kinda thing.

However regarding weight you would need to identify your glass build up before clarifying the weights of the units.

Interesting. So presumably the smaller companies like PQG take large panes of sheet glass from the large glass manufacturers and assemble the IGUs?

But the large manufacturers like Carey also make IGUs, so they're competing with their own customers.

Metric Tensor

I know you said to put the issue aside but can I ask why you want to make them yourself?

It seems crazy considering the amount of time you would have to put into it to get a product that is nowhere near something that you could probably buy for cheaper than you will pay for the materials alone!

JimmyMW

Lumen wrote: »

Interesting. So presumably the smaller companies like PQG take large panes of sheet glass from the large glass manufacturers and assemble the IGUs?

But the large manufacturers like Carey also make IGUs, so they're competing with their own customers.

No Careys glass are just a bigger version of PQG and the likes, Careys buy their jumbo sheets from the likes of Saint-Gobain or Pilkington

listermint

What i would do personally is go here

https://www.adverts.ie/for-sale/q_Double+Glazed/

buy units that are similar in size, remove the glazing unit and build my frame around it.

Its a shed, You dont need to go to the expense of getting someone to construct what will be reasonable portion of the budget.

Second hand double Glazing would do fine. Double them up to create Quatruple if you wanted to.

Lumen

Metric Tensor wrote: »

I know you said to put the issue aside but can I ask why you want to make them yourself?

It seems crazy considering the amount of time you would have to put into it to get a product that is nowhere near something that you could probably buy for cheaper than you will pay for the materials alone!

It's for my posh shed. I don't want it to feel like a house, and I'm attempting to make it a plastics-free zone, as far as is reasonably possible (even stuff like wood insulation and OSB has oil-derived binding agents). That rules out any commercially made windows on both counts.

This isn't some kind of new-age woowoo, I'm just curious out how it will turn out.

Lumen

listermint wrote: »

You don't need to go to the expense of getting someone to construct what will be reasonable portion of the budget.

I only want some glazing units, I don't want the frames. I did watch Adverts for a while but the results were not inspiring.

listermint

Lumen wrote: »

I only want some glazing units, I don't want the frames. I did watch Adverts for a while but the results were not inspiring.

The units are in the frames though, You can take out a window unit from a frame in about 2 minutes flat. they are only held in with plastic tappers and the rubber seal.

Bargain value for money.

listermint

Lumen wrote: »

I only want some glazing units, I don't want the frames. I did watch Adverts for a while but the results were not inspiring.

The units are in the frames though, You can take out a window unit from a frame in about 2 minutes flat. they are only held in with plastic tappers and the rubber seal.

Bargain value for money.


Chop the PVC up then and bin it.

Lumen

listermint wrote: »

The units are in the frames though, You can take out a window unit from a frame in about 2 minutes flat. they are only held in with plastic tappers and the rubber seal.

Bargain value for money.

Chop the PVC up then and bin it.

Right, so the scruffiest looking ones would be better. Is there any way to tell the integrity of the units, e.g. whether they've degassed or whatever?

listermint

Lumen wrote: »

Right, so the scruffiest looking ones would be better. Is there any way to tell the integrity of the units, e.g. whether they've degassed or whatever?

You could examine the glass for condenstation or discolourisation inside the frames itself. Thats always the tell. its not super common tbh, On newer units older ones yes. But there is alot of white PVC that is being pulled for newer more modern slim frames that is perfectly fine for many uses. And prices are for nothing

JimmyMW

listermint wrote: »

What i would do personally is go here

https://www.adverts.ie/for-sale/q_Double+Glazed/

buy units that are similar in size, remove the glazing unit and build my frame around it.

Its a shed, You dont need to go to the expense of getting someone to construct what will be reasonable portion of the budget.

Second hand double Glazing would do fine. Double them up to create Quatruple if you wanted to.

That wont work as there is no seal and thermal break between pane 2&3, it would be pointless.

Lumen

JimmyMW wrote: »

That wont work as there is no seal and thermal break between pane 2&3, it would be pointless.

The loss of light would also be an issue. You'd end up having to put in more windows, and more layers, until eventually you sat inside a glass cube.

listermint

JimmyMW wrote: »

That wont work as there is no seal and thermal break between pane 2&3, it would be pointless.

That is fair. it would be an air break only. Which would be better than single double pane. But correct it wouldnt be 100%

Anyway double Glaze would be fine for this purpose.