How much do glazing bead security upgrades cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Expect £54 to £114 including VAT (£45 to £95 plus VAT) per window for glazing bead security upgrades in Edinburgh and the Lothians, 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 we look at
- Suitable for windows and glazed doors
- No change to how the window looks
- Beads replaced where cracked or brittle
- Bead clips and bead locks for uPVC frames
- Double-sided security glazing tape between unit and frame
- Checks for missing or loose beads and packers
Covering Edinburgh and the Lothians
We can arrange glazing bead security upgrades anywhere in Edinburgh and the Lothians, including Edinburgh and Livingston. Visit dates depend on installer availability. Choose your town below for local details.
Windows and shopfronts in Edinburgh's World Heritage centre are closely controlled, while Livingston, Musselburgh and the other Lothian towns have newer estates, offices and retail parks.
Common situations:
- Ground-floor and back windows
- Aluminium windows and doors with external beads
- Rented homes where frames are staying
- Older uPVC windows with beads on the outside
Towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Getting the best result
Which windows
Ground-floor and hidden windows come first; upstairs windows that cannot be reached are a lower priority.
Glass at the same time
If units are misted or due for replacement, it is cheaper to fit laminated units and tape in one visit.
Rules that apply in Scotland
Security rules for new homes
Standard 4.13 asks for doors and windows in new homes that are vulnerable to unlawful entry to be secure. Glazing that would let someone reach a lock from outside should be laminated or similarly robust, and easily accessible openable windows need a keyed lock or a keyless lock with laminated glass. It applies through the building warrant for new homes and conversions.
Safety glass in critical locations
In Scotland, standard 4.8 of the Building Standards technical handbooks covers glazing at risk of human impact. Panes within 800 mm of floor level, in a door leaf, or within 300 mm of a door leaf and up to 1.5 m above the floor should resist impact in line with BS 6262-4, or be guarded. Laminated and toughened glass are the usual ways to meet it.
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 Edinburgh and the Lothians: questions
Which towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians do you cover?
We can arrange work anywhere in Edinburgh and the Lothians, including Edinburgh, Livingston, Musselburgh, Bathgate and Dalkeith, and in other towns across the area.
How do I know if my beads are on the outside?
Look at the glass from outside. If you can see a separate clip-in strip around the edge of the glass, and the frame inside is plain, the beads are external.
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.
Other glazing in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Patio and bifold door security glass
- Security window film
- Blast-resistant glazing
- Counter and reception security screens
- Security secondary glazing
- Commercial reglazing
Send a photo and we will come back with a price.