Glazing bead security upgrades in Chatham: what will it cost?
Expect £54 to £114 including VAT (£45 to £95 plus VAT) per window for glazing bead security upgrades in Chatham, 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.
Work we can carry out
- Beads replaced where cracked or brittle
- No change to how the window looks
- Suitable for windows and glazed doors
- Checks for missing or loose beads and packers
- Can be combined with laminated units
- Double-sided security glazing tape between unit and frame
Visits in Chatham and nearby
We can arrange glazing bead security upgrades anywhere in Chatham, and in nearby Gillingham, Rochester and Strood. Tell us your postcode and we will offer dates.
Kent ranges from Canterbury's listed city centre and the Regency fronts of Tunbridge Wells to the Medway towns, Ashford's growth estates and coastal Margate and Folkestone.
Typical reasons to book:
- Ground-floor and back windows
- Aluminium windows and doors with external beads
- Rented homes where frames are staying
- Glazed doors with external beads
Things to think about
Tape, clips or both
Tape stops the unit being lifted out; clips make the beads harder to remove. Both together give the best result.
Brittle beads
Old beads can crack when removed. We bring replacements so they can be renewed rather than refitted damaged.
What the rules say in England
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.
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.
How it works
- Send a photo of the bead side
- Visit price agreed
- Clips, tape or internal beads fitted
- Record of anything else we noticed
Glazing bead security upgrades in Chatham: questions
Do you cover Gillingham as well as Chatham?
We can arrange work in Chatham and in nearby Gillingham (1 mile), Rochester (1 mile) and Strood (2 miles). Dates depend on installer availability.
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.
Does the glass have to come out to fit security tape?
Yes. Each unit is removed, the tape is applied to the frame and the unit is refitted, so it is a good moment to swap in laminated glass if wanted.
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.
Glazing bead security upgrades in nearby towns
Other glazing in Chatham
- Toughened safety glass
- Security glass for doors
- Laminated security glass
- Display case security glass
- Security secondary glazing
- Patio and bifold door security glass
Use the form or call 0800 088 6248 to book.