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Yes—you can still open your windows with secondary glazing. Here's how each type works, plus ventilation, cleaning access and fire-escape considerations.
One worry stops many people before they start: "If I add a second window, will I still be able to open the original?" It is a sensible question—and the answer is a clear yes. Modern secondary glazing is designed specifically so you can open, ventilate, and clean your windows with ease.
Yes. Secondary glazing is made to match how your existing windows work. Whether you have sliding sashes or hinged casements, there is a secondary glazing style that opens in harmony with them.
Vertical sliding units mirror the movement of traditional sash windows. You slide the secondary panel up, then open the original sash behind it—natural and intuitive.
Horizontal sliders glide side to side, ideal for wide openings and easy everyday ventilation.
Hinged units swing open like a door, giving full access to casement windows behind—perfect where you want to throw the window wide open.
Lift-out units are removable entirely. Great for windows you open seasonally rather than daily.
Fixed panels do not open—so they are best reserved for windows you never need to open, where they offer the slimmest, most affordable solution.
You can ventilate normally. Simply open the secondary unit and then the primary window. Many clients on quieter sides of the home leave windows open as usual, and use the secondary glazing's noise benefit when closed. Trickle vents can also be incorporated where continuous background ventilation is required.
Because sliding, hinged, and lift-out units all open, you can easily reach the space between the two panes to clean both surfaces. We cover this in our maintenance guide.
This is important: if a window is a designated fire escape, the secondary glazing must allow rapid, tool-free opening. We specify easy-release units for escape windows so safety is never compromised. Always tell your surveyor which windows are escape routes.
Most homes use a mix—sliders on sash windows, hinged units on casements, and perhaps fixed panels on a landing window that never opens. A survey identifies the best style for each opening, balancing ease of use, ventilation, and performance. For a full overview, see our comparison of For expert secondary glazing advice and free consultations for listed buildings in London, contact Secondary Glazing Specialist on 020 7060 1572.
Marcus Webb
Installation Director
One worry stops many people before they start: "If I add a second window, will I still be able to open the original?" It is a sensible question—and the answer is a clear yes. Modern secondary glazing is designed specifically so you can open, ventilate, and clean your windows with ease.
Yes. Secondary glazing is made to match how your existing windows work. Whether you have sliding sashes or hinged casements, there is a secondary glazing style that opens in harmony with them.
Vertical sliding units mirror the movement of traditional sash windows. You slide the secondary panel up, then open the original sash behind it—natural and intuitive.
Horizontal sliders glide side to side, ideal for wide openings and easy everyday ventilation.
Hinged units swing open like a door, giving full access to casement windows behind—perfect where you want to throw the window wide open.
Lift-out units are removable entirely. Great for windows you open seasonally rather than daily.
Fixed panels do not open—so they are best reserved for windows you never need to open, where they offer the slimmest, most affordable solution.
You can ventilate normally. Simply open the secondary unit and then the primary window. Many clients on quieter sides of the home leave windows open as usual, and use the secondary glazing's noise benefit when closed. Trickle vents can also be incorporated where continuous background ventilation is required.
Because sliding, hinged, and lift-out units all open, you can easily reach the space between the two panes to clean both surfaces. We cover this in our maintenance guide.
This is important: if a window is a designated fire escape, the secondary glazing must allow rapid, tool-free opening. We specify easy-release units for escape windows so safety is never compromised. Always tell your surveyor which windows are escape routes.
Most homes use a mix—sliders on sash windows, hinged units on casements, and perhaps fixed panels on a landing window that never opens. A survey identifies the best style for each opening, balancing ease of use, ventilation, and performance. For a full overview, see our comparison of secondary vs double glazing.
The easiest way to picture it is a free survey, where we demonstrate how each option opens. Request your free survey or call 020 7060 1572 to find the right style for every window in your home.
London's leading secondary glazing specialists for Grade I, Grade II, and Conservation Area properties. Every project begins with a complimentary heritage survey.
