Granada praised in church re-furb

A North Yorkshire methodist church can offer an even warmer welcome to its community thanks to the installation of Granada Glazing’s secondary glazing system that is said to have eliminated cold draughts and improved the 115-year-old building’s thermal efficiency.

Secondary glazing, alongside insulation in the roof space, was fitted as part The Yorkshire North and East District Circuit’s drive to improve their carbon footprint and move towards a Net Zero Carbon District by 2040.

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 worshippers and groups using the facility.

Following an energy assessment report, the church engaged an architect, Tim Ord, to lead the project and liaise with Granada Glazing’s team. He said: “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. Granada’s website was good and showed that they do ecclesiastical buildings, which is what I was after.”

A total of 16 horizontal sliding units and lift out units were installed, all with 6mm toughened Low-E glass with a special coating to reflects heat back into the interior. The units fitted over the staircase window are said to have created a particular design feature.

“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,” said Tom.

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.

According to Granada Glazing, quality secondary glazing can reduce heat loss by up to 70% and is often the only option to improve thermal efficiency in historic or listed properties, including those in conservation areas.

Karen Collin, church steward and treasurer, commented: “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.”

Suitable for all property types, Granada’s slimline aluminium secondary glazing frames can be powder coated in over 200 RAL colours. The product range encompasses hinged, sliding, vertical sliders, including tilt back, and lift-out options.