Attendees of Thirsk Methodist Church, North Yorkshire, are to benefit from warmer surroundings thanks to secondary glazing supplied by Granada Glazing. The secondary glazing system has eliminated cold draughts and improved the 115-year-old building’s thermal efficiency, according to Granada representatives. The glazing system, alongside insulation in the roof space, was installed as part of The Yorkshire North and East District Circuit’s drive to improve its carbon footprint.
Situated in a conservation area, Thirsk Methodist Church was built in 1908 as a Sunday school and converted to a church in 1959. However, its original single-glazed stained glass and leaded lights provided little thermal insulation for people using the facility.
Following an energy assessment report, the team at the church engaged an architect, Tim Ord, to lead the project and liaise with Granada Glazing’s team. “As the church is in a conservation area, secondary glazing was the preferred option to preserve the original windows and leave the external appearance unchanged,” Tim said. “Granada’s website was good and showed that they do ecclesiastical buildings.”
The five-day installation involved some complexity due to the 7m height of the main room, which required a portable scaffold system, and shaping to the arched units. A total of 16 horizontal sliding units and lift-out units were installed, all with 6mm toughened low-E glass. A coating was applied to the glass that reflects heat back into the interior, to keep the building warmer.
Tim added: “The sloping bottom rail of the secondary glazing followed the string of the stair and looked very good. The handrail adjacent the window was removed to allow for the new secondary glazing.”
“It had been a while since I’d done a secondary glazing project and I was pleased when I found Granada Glazing, said Tim. “The original windows were very draughty and secondary glazing has stopped that. It’s a good-looking system and the units slide nicely, making them easy to open for cleaning purposes.”
Karen Collin, church steward and treasurer, said: “The secondary glazing looks excellent. You don’t really notice it. One person even remarked: ‘Where is it?’
“It’s early days, but I’m sure it will reduce our energy bills. As part of our EcoChurch ethos, this project is helping us to lower our carbon footprint and get us nearer to net zero.”
