Glazing bead security upgrades in Berkshire: what will it cost?
Expect £54 to £114 including VAT (£45 to £95 plus VAT) per window for glazing bead security upgrades in Berkshire, with a minimum charge of £174 including VAT (£145 plus VAT) per visit. Several windows on one visit work out cheaper per window.
A glazing bead security upgrade makes the glass much harder to remove from the outside of a window or door. On frames with external beads, a burglar can sometimes prise off the beads and lift the whole unit out quietly, and bonding the glass with security tape or fitting bead clips makes that route much harder.
What the work covers
- Suitable for windows and glazed doors
- Concealed fixings for aluminium beads
- Checks for missing or loose beads and packers
- Double-sided security glazing tape between unit and frame
- Bead clips and bead locks for uPVC frames
- Can be combined with laminated units
Covering Berkshire
We can arrange glazing bead security upgrades anywhere in Berkshire, including Reading and Slough. Visit dates depend on installer availability. Choose your town below for local details.
Berkshire pairs the glass-fronted offices of Reading, Slough and Bracknell with Victorian and Edwardian housing and listed riverside buildings in Windsor and Eton.
Common situations:
- Ground-floor and back windows
- Older uPVC windows with beads on the outside
- Aluminium windows and doors with external beads
- Glazed doors with external beads
Towns in Berkshire
- BracknellRG12
- CrowthorneRG45
- MaidenheadSL6
- NewburyRG14
- ReadingRG1
- SandhurstGU47
- SloughSL1
- ThatchamRG18
- WindsorSL4
- WokinghamRG40
Getting the best result
Brittle beads
Old beads can crack when removed. We bring replacements so they can be renewed rather than refitted damaged.
Tape, clips or both
Tape stops the unit being lifted out; clips make the beads harder to remove. Both together give the best result.
What the rules say in England
Security rules for new homes
Approved Document Q has applied to new homes in England since 1 October 2015. Easily accessible doors and windows, meaning any part within 2 m vertically of the ground or another accessible surface, should meet PAS 24 or an equivalent, and glazing in doors and in windows within 400 mm of a door should be laminated to at least BS EN 356 P1A. It does not apply when you change the glass in an existing home, although it is a sensible benchmark.
Replacing glass in an existing frame
Replacing only the glass or sealed unit in an existing frame is generally treated as a repair in England rather than notifiable building work. Replacing a whole window or door is notifiable and is normally certified through a competent person scheme or approved by building control. Either way, new glass in a critical location should still be safety glass.
How it works
- Tell us how many windows
- Price confirmed before the visit
- Beads secured or replaced
- Windows checked and explained
Glazing bead security upgrades in Berkshire: questions
Which towns in Berkshire do you cover?
We can arrange work anywhere in Berkshire, including Reading, Slough, Bracknell, Maidenhead and Wokingham, and in other towns across the area.
Can burglars really remove the glass from outside?
On some externally beaded windows, yes. The beads can be eased off and the unit lifted out quietly. Security tape and clips make that much harder.
Will the upgrade change how my windows look?
No. The tape is hidden behind the beads and clips are discreet.
Can you do this on aluminium windows?
Often, depending on the bead design. We check the profile when we confirm the price.
Other glazing in Berkshire
- Anti-bandit glass
- Counter and reception security screens
- Blast-resistant glazing
- Anti-ram-raid glazing
- Kiosk and booth security glazing
- Security glass for home windows
Send a photo and we will come back with a price.