Double Windows

By LESLIE ADRIAN

'Wits:bows are the Cin- derella of British homes,' says a pleading little book- let issued by the Insula- tion. Glazing Association. 'Nobody, just nobody pays much attention to them.' By which they mean no- body bothers to. make their windows either heat- or sound-proof. And, vested interest •or not, I reckon the 1GA is right.

Most of us, having done all we can to prevent costly heat escaping through the roof, the out- side walls and the more obvious cracks around the doors, sit back well satisfied with our efforts to cut the fuel bills, but without a thought to the one weak spot in our defences against the winter

windoW/s. More warmth is wasted through those single sheets of glass than could be thought possible. Take, for instance, a room where one- third of the -outside wall space is glazed (which is common enough in modern flats and houses). Something like 18' per cent of the heat that it costs us so much to engender is wasting its calories on the outside air.

However, because pukka double glazing of the hermetically-sealed type (that is, two pieces of glass separated by a couple of inches of dry air) is so notoriously expensive, few people in our (theoretically) temperate climate feel inclined to consider any Sort•of insulated windows. But it is not necessary to invest in a RollS-Royee in order to beCome a motorist. There are numerous cheap ways—or relatively cheap ways—of in- sulating the window panes, but until recently most of them have had very little publicity.

Many of these are described in a useful little paMphlet put out by Pilkington Brothers (the glass manufacturers) who list all the ways of put- ting a second transparent barrier to draught and noise between you and the outside world with- out actually going to the expense of purchasing the hermetically-sealed variety.

But before you even start considering the more or less permanent factory-made affair, it is worth considering the do-it-yourself types of window insulation, especially if you are not one of our property-owning democracy. Anyone who is pre- pared to forgo the traditional English pleasure of opening the windows during the winter months' (and is capable of wielding a pretty saw) can fix himself a seasonal installation by just add- ing the right fitting piece of glass to a frame made from wooden. moulding. (Any glass- monger will cut the glass for you and the frame

available from 'a do-it-yourself supplier at a few pence per foot.) There is also a plastic channelling called Quick-Fix (2s. 6d. a yard) which makes equally good .frames with the assistance of a few swivel clips and screws'(4d. each).- These are rather more satisfactory than the wooden type as they can be removed for cleaning, and for summer storage.

If you find permanently closed windows bring on claustrophobia there are several sliding ver-

sions on the market which give good insulation when closed. Of these Chamberlin's.. 'Insulate' slide window is efficient,.and information can be obtained from Chamberlin Weatherstrips Ltd., 34. Elm Road, Chessington, Surrey.

Crittals, on the other hand, make made-to- measure frames, supplied fully glazed with fit- tings all ready to be fixed--- a method which makes it possible to open and shut your windows as usual. Costs work out at about 6s; 8d. a square foot; they can be used on any wooden frame not more than 5 ft. high, and give a very reasonable degree of heat-saving.

The most exciting new development in the cheaper factory-made class are the Canadian Stott windows (being imported by Frederick Braby Ltd.) with 21 ins. of dead air-trapped be- tween the planes. These will be available for the first time in this country next week. They come complete with flyscreen for the summer in aluminium or baked enamel frames. Heat loss is almost completely conquered and costs w ork out at approximately 14s. a square foot.

Superior; but with the superior price of 30s. to 35s. a square' foot (still considerably less than the hermetically-sealed), are Stott's Thermo- coupled slide windows, which are draught, dust, sound and, in the summer, fly-proof, are 100 per cent reliable and can simply and easily be re- moved for cleaning.

It looks as if Cinderella might arrive at her Ball in a double-glazed coach even yet.

Far be it from me to put a blight on the Christmas spirit even at this distance, but . . .

The other day 1 had a letter from the Polio Research Fund. With the letter came a booklet of seals and labels to put on Christmas letters and parcels. The letter was signed by the Chair- man of the Fund, Field-Marshal the Lord Harding, and, in part, it read:. 'Will you please, this Christmas, put the Fund's seals on your mail—and ask your friends to dO so too? I am sure you'll like the booklet of Christmas seals and labels. . . . Will you send us a 10s. dona- tion for this booklet?' I assume that I am not the only person to have got this letter—you may have had a similar one from the Spastics Society or from the Chest and Heart Association, formerly the National Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis— so there are a fair number of people who find themselves in the same position as I do: feeling considerable sympathy with the admirable ob- jects of the Fund and, at the same time, some annoyance at the uncomfortable moral obliga- tion we have been put under by the letter.

Let's not be so small-minded as to call this a form of moral blackmail, but, equally, let it not pass unnoticed, as some people regard it as a rather unpleasant way of collecting money.

To be fair, I asked the Polio Research Fund what its own views Were. I was told that the seals and labels were relatively valueless; that many people were glad to have the. Fund brought to their attention in this way and did not feel that they had been imposed upon; and that the letter only asked for a donation.

I wonder. Certainly, I know that many people who work professionally or voluntarily for charities feel, as I do, that, though this method is perfectly legal, there are better and, I hope, more effective ways of persuading you and me to help those less fortunate than ourselves.