Good wooden double glazing is become increasingly popular. For years manufacturers focused solely on PVC units but these were not to everyone’s taste, particularly those with older houses such as those dating back to Victorian times. Double glazing manufacturers soon realised that they could expand there markets by using quality wood instead of cheap looking plastics.

There are various types of wood that can be used but the most common are oak and redwood although it may be possible to use other types of wood if you need to match the style of your home. The rarer the wood you choose the more it will cost to buy the materials and for fitting itself as the installers are unlikely to have had any experience with the type of wood so will on a learning curve.

Cost is the main reason that people decide against using wooden double glazing. Although wood is a renewable energy source, the wood required for double glazing needs many years to grow to produces are able to command a premium for it. PVC double glazing has dropped in prices over the years and it is now thought that wooden double glazing can be up to 50% for expensive, a prohibitibe figure for a lot of home owners.

Other than style and cost there is very little difference between wooden glazing and more traditional PVC. Both are highly efficient at reduces energy loss and therefore have the ability to lower household bills and also benefit the environment. The problem is that because they both lead to the same savings with household bills but wooden glazing is that much more expensive, there are few that will be willing to pay the extra money. Double glazing grants may be a way around this but they are not applicable for everyone.

Those attempting DIY double glazing are more likely to use wood as there main material because it is far easier to work with than PVC or plastic. Far more people are comfortable with a saw and a sander in their hand then they are trying to melt plastic into the right shape!