History of glazing bars

Glazing bars hark from the Georgian period, in the 18th and early 19th-century glass in large sizes or ‘panes’ was very difficult to make and also very expensive. In order to maximise the size of a window, glazing bars were invented. Glazing bars held smaller panes of glass in place, this allowed large sliding sash windows to be made out of small panes held together with glazing bars. Glazing bars were used extensively throughout the Georgian period and into the Victorian period.

Some examples of Victorian and Georgian sliding sash windows:

  

Manufacturing large panes of glass is no longer as difficult or as expensive as it was. In fact, today the opposite it true and it’s now more expensive to make sliding sash windows with smaller glazing units and glazing bars to separate the panes.

However, many customers still wish to maintain the original appearance of their Georgian or Victorian homes and maintaining the window design is an essential to this as window design is closely related to architectural styles.

An astragal glazing bar gives the attractive appearance of a Georgian or Victorian window, divided into multiple panes. But unlike traditional Georgian or Victorian glazing bars, which are integral to the window and set between the panes of glass, astragal glazing bars are fixed to the glass on the inside and out. This means you get the economy of one larger glazing unit and you also get the traditional, crafted look of multiple panes on a single piece of glazing.

Astragal glazing bars are available in a range of styles which can significantly enhance the look your windows and doors and give them the traditional Georgian or Victorian appearance of individual panes. The bars are securely fitted with clips and adhesive pads that have been specifically developed to stick to glass. Astragal glazing bars have an authentic feel, combined with the appearance of individual panes of glass created by back to back warm edge spacer bars. As a modern day replacement product, astragal glazing bars are indistinguishable from the original and are the perfect solution for anyone looking for a traditional Georgian or Victorian appearance without multiple window panes and without the high price that entails. Click here for a technical diagram of all our beading and astragal glazing bars.

All of our sliding sash windows, casement windows, French doors and entrance doors can be fitted with astragal glazing bars.

Of course, if you want to replicate original Georgian or Victorian glazing bars, we can offer this in our conservation range of sliding sash windows. Click here to see the technical profiles drawing of our range of conservation sliding sash windows, which include cross section drawings of original glazing bars.