If you’re in the process of making energy efficient upgrades to your windows, you may wondering ‘how much is secondary glazing?’. You’ll be pleased to hear secondary glazing offers a cost-effective alternative to double glazing.

So what is secondary glazing and is it worth it? Let’s start with the basics. Secondary glazing involves fitting an extra pane of glass or plastic to the inside of an existing window, creating a thermal barrier in the middle. The installation process removes the need to replace the entire window. When it comes to replacement windows, this is typically what makes double glazing cost more in the first place.

How much does secondary glazing cost?

As a rough guide, expect to budget a minimum of £5,000 to install secondary glazing throughout a three-bed home. Cheaper, DIY systems are available for less. But at the other end of the scale, high-quality metal frame setups could end up costing in the region of £10,000.

‘There is such a wide variety of secondary glazing options available, so the cost really does depend on numerous things,’ says Dave Mechem, director of inspection and assessment at RISA. ‘From the material and style of secondary glazing to the size of the property, there are a range of variables that can impact the cost.’

Image credit: Future plc/Colin Poole

On average, secondary glazing costs sit between £300 and £500 per pane. Of course, this varies depending in the number of windows you’re upgrading and the type of system you decide to install. Plus, some systems can be installed on a DIY basis, while others will require a specialist fitting team that you’ll need to factor into your budget.

When you’re shopping around, you’ll also need to decide on the level of functionality your secondary system should have. For instance, are you looking for a temporary solution to draught-proof existing windows during chilly winter months, which can be unclipped and lifted out in summer? Or are you looking for a permanent double-glazed layer that complements the aesthetic of a characterful period home?

‘Material costs are fluctuating a lot a the moment, too,’ says Dave Mechem. ‘To get an accurate quote, you should consider getting in touch with a FENSA approved installer.’

Another key question to ask is: does secondary glazing work? In short, yes; though its effectiveness depends on the type of system you install. Greenmatch estimates that you could save as much as £45 on utility bills per month in a medium-sized home.

Types of secondary glazing and what they cost

Image credit: Architectural Bronze Casements

Is secondary glazing worth it? We break down the types of glazing for your windows and the prices involved…

1. Removable magnetic secondary glazing

This system uses magnetic strips to fix the secondary pane onto the primary window. The magnetic seal prevents air from escaping. Magnetic removable screens could set you back less than £100 per m2, or between £1,500 and £2,000 for a whole medium-sized house.

2. Temporary (lift-out) secondary glazing

A single pane of glass or plastic that is installed on top of a fixed primary window in your home. On the plus side, being able to lift the frame out means you can clean it more easily, plus the primary window on the other side. Expect to pay between £3,500 and £4,000 for an entire medium-sized house.

3. Permanent secondary glazing

These solutions can be side hung (over a vertical pane or a sash window) or sliding (vertical or horizontal). Sliding solutions tend to be the most expensive, sitting at £5,000+ for an entire medium-sized house. Premium framing materials, such as wood or aluminium (or other types of metal), come with a higher starting price.

‘For a professionally installed system, we’d recommend budgeting between £5,000 and £10,000 to install secondary glazing in a three-bed house,’ says Andrew Smith, owner and director at City Sound Glazing. ‘This figure is based on our aluminium frame system, including supply and installation.’ Investing in higher quality materials, however, also means your system will offer a longer service life.

4. Draft-reducing windows vs soundproof windows

As with any type of window, the glass you choose for the pane will impact on the cost. Draft reducing secondary glazing could cost up to £900 per pane, whereas solutions that are also designed to reduce noise from the outside may cost £1,000+ per pane.

Secondary glazing installation costs

Many temporary secondary glazing products can be installed on a DIY basis, either by clipping or screwing in the panel. Meaning they come with no installation costs at all.

If you’re paying for a professional to come and fit secondary glazing, expect to pay a day rate between £120 and £160, according to Checkatrade. If you’re going with a supply and fit company, like City Sound Glazing, the cost of installation will be included in the price.

Maintenance costs

Image credit: Architectural Bronze Casements

Secondary windows with wood frames will cost more to maintain. You’ll need to re-paint and/or re-varnish the surrounds every several years. If you can do the job yourself, you’ll only need to factor in the cost of the varnish and/or paint. If this isn’t a job you fancy tackling, expect to pay upwards of £400 for the all the windows in your house to be re-painted. This depends on where you live and how many windows you have. Aluminium and UPVC are low-maintenance and will just require cleaning, which you can do yourself.

If you’re investing in a high-quality set of windows and having them installed professionally, check the quality of the guarantee before buying. Any serious issues regarding the installation of your windows should be covered by that, so you won’t have to pay extra to get them fixed.

The verdict – is secondary glazing worth it?

‘Secondary glazing is a cost-effective way to insulate and sound-proof windows,’ says Lisa Morton, director at Architectural Bronze Casements. ‘Plus, there is much less disruption and heat loss during installation. And there is no masonry, dust or making good after the windows have been fitted.’

Secondary windows are also an effective way to keep your home warm if you can’t install double glazed units because your home is listed or in a conservation area, for instance.

Installing double or triple-glazed windows does represent a bigger investment in the short-term. However, if you aren’t restricted by any planning guidelines, you stand to make bigger savings on your energy bills in the long-term.

The post How much is secondary glazing and is it worth it? appeared first on Ideal Home.

Looking for the best sofa beds available? We’re here to help with our round-up of the most stylish, practical, and affordable sleeper sofas for every budget.

Whether you’re searching for a sofa bed that’s comfortable enough for everyday use in the living room, an affordable sleeper sofa for occasional use in the home office, or a compact option for conjuring up extra sleeping space in a bedroom or children’s playroom; we’ve narrowed down the options to help you find the best of the bunch.

Whilst most sofa beds are going to feel a little firmer for sitting than one of the best sofas, the sleeper sofas on this list make great multifunctional options that will allow you to maximise the space in your home and add versatility to your room setup.

For more top tips and buying advice just scroll to the end of this guide, but if you want to jump straight to our top sofa bed recommendations, you’ll find the Ideal Home team’s selection below.

Best sofa beds

1. MADE Haru Small Sofa Bed

Best small sofa bed: a luxe-look sofa bed at an affordable price point

Seats: 1-2
Sleeps: 1-2
Sofa dimensions: H78 x W120 x D86cm
Extended dimensions: W120 x L182cm
Sleeping area dimensions: W120 x L182cm
Upholstery options: 11

Reasons to buy:
+ Affordable
+ Three widths available
+ Compact design is perfect for small homes
+ Great range of upholstery options

Reasons to avoid:
– Seating and sleeping is on the firm side, so we’d say this option is for occasional use only

We love the Haru sofa bed’s modern design, which is perfect for some small-footprint extra sleeping space, and, especially in the velvet upholstery options, this contemporary option looks far more luxe than its small price tag suggests.

Available in a range of sizes to make it easy to find the right fit for your needs, there’s a single chair bed, a small ‘double’ sofa bed (pictured) – which might be a bit of a tight squeeze for two – and a more spacious large sofa bed. All options are well under £500 and perfect for rooms where space is at a premium.

The click clack sofa bed design means that the backrest and seat unfold easily to create the sleeping surface, with extra legs popping out from hidden pockets behind the accent cushions. Simple yet effective, the design does mean the sleeping surface ends up pretty low to the ground, but, although it’s on the firmer side, we still found this a comfortable spot to bed down for a few nights.

The five great shades of velvet upholstery work particularly well for accent seating in the living room, bedroom or a guest room, and the six options of colourful, hardwearing cotton upholstery are ideal for kids’ bedrooms or playrooms; providing instant extra bedding for impromptu sleepovers.

BUY NOW: Haru Small Sofa Bed, from £329 at MADE

2. Swyft Model 04 3 Seater Sofa Bed

Best fast delivery sofa bed-in-a-box

Seats: 3
Sleeps: 2
Sofa dimensions: H86 x W208 x D89cm
Extended dimensions: W208 x D135cm
Sleeping area dimensions: L190 x W135
Upholstery options: 7

Reasons to buy:
+ Super quick delivery
+ Flatpack design is useful for homes with awkward access
+ Can be disassembled and reassembled easily if you move home
+ Hidden storage for the mattress topper that comes included
+ Good range of upholstery options

Reasons to avoid:
– More of an investment

If you’re looking for convenience, then opting for a sofa bed in a box could well be the way to go. Swyft’s Model 04 sofa bed arrives flat-packed in sections, making it far easier to get your new sofa bed into any room with awkward access, and it can be with you pronto, with delivery options of just 24 hours.

The flatpack design does mean some self-assembly once the sofa arrives, but with no tools required that’s a super simple process. Read our Swyft Model 04 sofa bed review to see how we put it to the test. This feature also means it’s simple to disassemble the sofa bed should you move house – a particularly useful feature for renters – and means the sofa arms can be detached if necessary, potentially a bonus if you’re short on space.

Although the low sofa back may not be for everyone, looks-wise the contemporary design wouldn’t look out of place in swish city apartment, and there are seven good, versatile upholstery shades to choose from with a mix of hardwearing stain-resistant linen mix fabrics and luxe-look velvets. Extra fabric protection, and comfort, is provided by the mattress topper that comes included with each purchase. There’s also a handy integrated storage compartment under the seat to keep it in when the bed isn’t in use.

In terms of comfort, the sofa seat and backrest are made up of foam with integrated pocket springs. We found both sitting and sleeping a firmish experience, but not overly so, and as long as you don’t mind sacrificing some sofa squish, then this option certainly looks good enough to use as your everyday seating in the living room.

BUY NOW: Swyft Model 04 Sofa Bed, £1995 at John Lewis

3. Dreams Gallway 3-Seater Sofa Bed

Best statement sofa bed: a stylish mid-Century modern design that won’t break the bank

Seats: 3
Sleeps: 2
Sofa dimensions: H89 x W218 x D87cm
Extended dimensions: L190 x W112
Sleeping area dimensions: L190 x W112
Upholstery options: 4

Reasons to buy:
+ Affordable price for a three-seater
+ Stylish mid-Century inspired design
+ Good range of upholstery options
+ Coordinating armchair and footstool

Reasons to avoid:
– Its statement styling won’t be for everyone

Rather than blend into your living room suite unnoticed, this stylish mid-Century modern inspired sofa bed isn’t afraid to create a bold focal point, and for a three-seater sofa – with the added bonus of being able to fold out the click-clack design and put up guests – the under £1000 price tag makes it a bit of a steal.

The pocket-sprung cushions deliver on the comfort front, offering comfortable seating in sofa form and an almost-a-mattress sleeping experience once the backrest is folded down to turn the click-clack design into a bed. Although, despite the generous seating width, you do only get a small double’s worth of sleeping space with this option.

If you’re planning on adding a sofa bed to the living room as your main seating, then the good news is that this option also comes with matching furniture to finish off the look, with a similarly stylish coordinating armchair and footstool available.

Buy now: Gallway sofa bed, £899, Dreams

4. Habitat Kota 3 Seater Sofa Bed

Most affordable three-seater sofa bed: spacious desing at an affordable price point

Seats: 3
Sleeps: 2
Sofa dimensions: H90 x W189 x D102cm
Extended dimensions: W123 x L189cm
Sleeping area dimensions: W123 x L189cm
Upholstery options: 6

Reasons to buy:
+ Affordable
+ Super spacious

Reasons to avoid:
– Upholstery options limited
– Design won’t be for everyone
– Side and rear profile not the most attractive

If you’re looking for a large sofa bed at a (very) reasonable price then it’s hard to beat the Kota sofa bed – as long as you’re happy with its somewhat Marmite contemporary design.

For well under £500 you get a generous three-seater sofa with a simple click-clack design where the backrest folds down to create a flat sleeping surface. At first, we weren’t sure how comfortable those oversized Chesterfield style pockets would be, but it’s perfectly acceptable for lounging on and creates a roughly small double-sized sleeping area once extended. You’ll probably want to add a mattress topper to add extra comfort and to protect the sofa upholstery, but that’s the case with most fold-out sofa beds.

Looks-wise the Kota comes in six colourways in total, including vibrant flame orange, two grey options and three velvet upholstery options in shades of green, teal or mid-grey. It is worth noting that the side profile of this model leaves something to be desired, with the base platform not very well disguised. The slanted backrest also pushes this model out quite far into the room, so it may not be the best option if you’re short on space. However, as occasional seating or sleeping in a home office, kids playroom, or teenager’s bedroom, this great value sofa bed has a lot to offer.

5. Heal’s Oswald 3 Seater Sofa Bed

Most comfortable sofa bed: a king-size sleeper sofa that’s comfortable enough for everyday use in the living room

Seats: 3
Sleeps: 2
Sofa dimensions: H98 x W222 x D103cm
Extended dimensions: W222 x D152cm
Sleeping area dimensions: W222 x D152cm
Upholstery options: 3

Reasons to buy:
+ Comfortable sitting and sleeping
+ Generous proportions and king-size sleeping space
+ Automatically unfolding legs

Reasons to avoid:
– Limited upholstery options
– An investment

Heal’s Oswald sofa bed fuses contemporary design with sit and sleep comfort – often a hard trio to find in the search for a multifunctional sleeper sofa.

The modern design hides some particularly well-considered construction, with the seat and backrest formed from what Heal’s describe as ‘high resilient foam and hyper soft foam layers’ and, the important bit: 10cm deep pocket-springs nestled in the foam’s midst. This makes for a seat with a good amount of give and bounce – not a soft and squishy sofa to snuggle up on perhaps, but definitely a sofa bed you could use as your everyday living room seating. And, as the seat and backrest fold out to become the sleeping surface, it offers a comfortable sleep experience too – in our opinion akin to a dedicated mattress.

The leather tab at the front of the sofa makes pulling the seat section up and out to transform the sofa into a bed fairly easy, and the legs fold out automatically creating a super generous king-size sleeping surface that’s a fairly good height from the floor. There’s also some hidden storage for stashing the sofa cushions.

The downside is that there are only three upholstery options – although the grey Dessin fabric is a nice weave and good mid-tone colour that will suit a lot of homes – and it is an investment. However, as long as your budget allows, and your home suits the contemporary design, this is one of the best sit sleep hybrids we’ve come across; satisfying all needs without too much of a compromise in any area.

BUY NOW: Oswald Sofa Bed, £2499 at Heal’s

6. Sofa.com Bluebell Sofa Bed

Best classic-style sofa bed: turned wooden feet and traditional rolled arms make this a good option for a period property

Seats: 1.5, 2, 2.5 or 3
Sleeps: 1 or 2 dependent on size
Sofa dimensions: dependent on size choice
Extended dimensions: W dependent on size choice x D233cm
Sleeping area dimensions: dependent on size choice
Upholstery options: 70+

Reasons to buy:
+ Classic style that’s great for a period home
+ Pull-out mattress makes for a higher sleeping surface
+ Good choice of widths
+ Excellent range of upholstery options
+ Lots of coordinating furniture available

Reasons to avoid:
– Seating very firm
– An investment

If you have a period home or just prefer a more classic sofa shape then the Bluebell sofa bed from Sofa.com is an option that delivers in the looks department and isn’t too much of a compromise on comfort, although the sitting experience is firm.

The sofas rolled arms, piped upholstery detailing, and turned wooden legs deliver a traditional look that works well in a period property, whilst the sofa bed is a pull-out construction, with a hidden metal bedframe and dedicated mattress folded up and stowed away underneath the seat cushions. This design – common to nearly all pull-out sofa beds – means the sofa seat cushions are resting on the back of the metal bed frame when the sofa is upright, which explains the firmness of the seat. The Bluebell’s feather-wrapped foam seat cushions improve the comfort levels a notch and we found the high backrest offered plenty of back support.

In terms of sleeping, the bed mechanism is fairly easy to unfold, although does require a bit of strength to lift out. And, if you opt for the 3-seater sofa bed (there is also a loveseat, 2-seater and 2.5-seater sofa bed available) it comes with a 10cm deep double-sized mattress.

This sofa bed also has a superb range of 70+ upholstery fabrics on offer which makes tailoring a look to suit your home easy work. Plus, there’s a good selection of matching furniture, including an armchair, traditional sofa, chaise and corner sofa, and a coordinating ottoman, so it’s easy to integrate this sofa bed into a wider living room suite if that’s your aim.

BUY NOW: Bluebell sofa bed, RRP from £1325 at Sofa.com

7. Brook + Wilde Brunel Sofa Bed

Best sofa bed from a mattress specialist: for the discerning overnight guest

Seats: 3
Sleeps: 2
Sofa dimensions: H65 x W190 x D83cm
Extended dimensions: W190 x L226cm
Mattress dimensions: L180 x W133 x D10cm
Upholstery options: 6

Reasons to buy:
+ A mattress crafted by sleep experts
+ Pull-out mattress makes for a higher sleeping surface
+ Good choice of widths

Reasons to avoid:
– Limited upholstery options
– An investment

Most sofa beds are created by sofa manufacturers, so it’s interesting to see a sofa bed crafted by experts in sleeping instead. Better known for its luxury mattresses – many of which have been put through their paces and scored highly in our best mattress guides – Brook + Wilde is at the luxury end of the bedding market, focusing on multi-layered mattress construction and super soft goose feather and down duvet covers and pillows.

The three-seater Brunel sofa bed aims to channel that sleep expertise into three sizes of sofa bed – a snuggler chair, a small two-seater sofa and a three-seater sofa bed – all available in six velvet colour options.

The focus of this sofa bed is definitely on the mattress itself; the Brunel features a 10cm deep version of the brand’s bestselling Lux mattress; combining a pocket-sprung base with memory foam upper designed to offer guests a ‘next-best-thing-to-your-own-bed’ sleeping experience.

BUY NOW: Brunel Sofa Bed, RRP £1999 at Brook +Wilde

8. Eve Sleep Away Mattress

The cheapest sofa bed alternative

Seats: n/a
Sleeps: 1
Mattress dimensions: L190 x W75cmm
Upholstery options: n/a

Reasons to buy:
+ Affordable
+ Perfect if you’re short on floor space
+ Doubles up as a camping mattress for nights away

Reasons to avoid:
– Only available in a single mattress size
– Guests will basically be sleeping on the floor

If space is super tight and you don’t want to sacrifice floor space to a permanent piece of furniture, then this nifty folding mattress from Eve could be a good solution for the occasional overnighter.

A cut above your regular blow-up mattress, the Sleep Away offers guests an 8cm layer of foam to bed down on and transforms into compact roll when not in use, with a handy zipper that ensures it doesn’t come unrolled, plus a carry handle if you want to take it out on location. Glamping anyone?

Once unfurled you just need to give it 30 minutes to plump up to full volume – far better than half an hour spent inflating a blow-up mattress with a foot pump in our opinion.

Of course, with this option, your guests will still pretty much be sleeping on the floor, but we think it’s a great option to have to hand for sleepovers and impromptu overnight stays. Plus there’s also a removable and washable top panel that can be freshened up at 40 degrees.

BUY NOW: Sleep Away Mattress, RRP £179 at Eve

What are the most comfortable sofa beds?

Let’s be upfront. It’s unlikely that you’re going to find a sofa bed that’s as comfortable to sit on as one of the best sofas, sorry to be the bearers of bad news.  But… there are most certainly sofa beds that are far, far more comfortable than others. We know because we’ve tried and tested a whole lot of sofa beds in compiling this guide, and in order to find the best options we’ve discovered it’s well worth understanding the difference between the two main types of sofa bed construction.

Fold-out or click-clack:

A click-clack sofa bed is one where the sofa’s backrest and seat fold flat to become the sleeping surface. If made of solid foam then quite often these designs can be the firmest for sitting and sleeping, the ‘bed’ also tends to be quite low to the ground once the sofa bed is unfolded, and your guests will be sleeping directly on the sofa surface – unless you add a mattress topper – which may or may not be something you’re happy with.

Click clack sofa beds are more often contemporary in appearance, and quite often the upholstery options will be a little more limited. However, they’re generally the most affordable option, have the shortest lead times, and are the most compact if floor space is a consideration.

That being said, two of the most comfortable sofa beds in this round-up are fold-out sofa beds. What sets these click-clack sofa beds apart is the addition of pocket springs nestled in amongst their foam cushioning, which give both seating and sleeping areas some welcome bounce – although it does also up the price.

Pull-out:

A pull-out sofa bed looks the most like a traditional sofa. In this design, the sofa seat cushions are removed and a folding bed frame pulled out from the sofa seat cavity, with a dedicated mattress on top. The backrest and arms of the sofa remain in place, which means the bed takes up (sometimes considerably more) floor space, but the sleeping surface tends to be higher from the ground and more like a standard bed. As they tend to be made by sofa specialists, there are usually a lot more upholstery options and matching furniture available if you want to blend a sofa bed in with a living room suite.

However, there can be a huge difference in specifications and comfort. As you are sitting ‘on’ the folded bed frame, thick seat cushions are a must to add comfort, and there can also be huge variation in mattress thicknesses and construction (which can often be fairly hard to find in the small print). Generally speaking, you want the thickest mattress you can afford – a 10-14cm depth is a good gauge – and a sprung or pocket sprung mattress rather than solid foam for some bounce.

Darlings of Chelsea Waverley sofa bed

What else to consider when looking for the best sofa bed?

Sofa size

It may sound obvious, but it’s important to consider how much seating space your sofa bed needs to offer. If it’s not going to be your main living room sofa then you can get away with a more compact version – maybe even one of the best chair beds if you only need to sleep a single guest at a time – but if the sofa bed needs to seat the entire household on a daily basis then investing in a chaise sleeper sofa, or one of the best corner sofa beds might be something worth considering.

It’s also vital to ensure your sofa bed is going to fit comfortably into the room where you want to use it. Find expert tips from Heal’s and Habitat in our guide to getting sofa measurements right.

Mattress size

It’s also important to check the mattress measurements. Many sofa beds are marketed as doubles, and although they will fit two people, they can sometimes be a snug sleeping experience. So if you regularly have more than one guest staying at a time – and they stay for a good length of time in one go – they will thank you for opting for the roomiest sofa bed your budget allows.

Related: Want more space-saving tricks? Check out our small living room ideas and handy storage solutions for smaller spaces.

The post Best sofa beds 2022: affordable sofa beds that are big on style appeared first on Ideal Home.