Granada’s Solves Issues in Grade II Listed Apartments

Acoustic secondary glazing manufactured and supplied by Granada Glazing has created warmer and quieter apartments for residents in Murrays’ Mills, Ancoats, formerly the world’s oldest steam powered cotton mill.

Dating back to 1797, the seven-storey Grade II & II* listed buildings in once the beating heart of industrial Manchester have been sensitively restored for residential use. The 107 apartments retain many historic features, such as exposed brickwork walls and multi-pane, sash and bay heritage windows.

Due to the buildings’ city centre location and the retention of single-glazed windows, secondary glazing was specified to reduce outside noise intrusion and improve the thermal efficiency of some apartments.

Granada’s technical team worked in partnership with experienced soundproof experts City Insulation on the design of the high performing aluminium units with 6.4mm acoustic laminate glass to improve the acoustic performance of the original primary windows.

Acoustic laminated glass, with its acoustic Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) interlayer that absorbs the sound, offers enhanced sound insulation that can reduce noise levels by as much as 80% (54 decibels).

For heritage and listed buildings with single glazed primary windows, installing secondary glazing is often the preferred option for creating a warmer, quieter and more secure environment with the original windows intact. Slimline aluminium frames are virtually invisible, maintaining a building’s charm and character while bringing the glazing system firmly into the 21st century.

The project presented some challenges as Adam Turner, Director of City Insulation, explained: “As the building is so old, it came with a couple of quirks; namely the steel bars that run across the front of some of the windows requiring secondary glazing, which made for a tricky installation. We overcame this by disassembling the unit and reassembling it behind the bar before fitting it.”

Adam added: “Granada Glazing’s service and delivery is always excellent. The secondary glazing not only performs and looks discreet; it solves our customers’ problems.”

‘The draughts have disappeared’

Commenting on the difference secondary glazing has made to ‘three old and draughty windows’, one Murrays’ Mills resident said: “The noise from cars below has been drastically reduced and the draughts have disappeared, leaving us with a warmer and more peaceful flat.”

Another praised Adam and his team for overcoming ‘tricky building quirks’ and still delivering a ‘superb finish’, adding: “We cannot believe the difference in noise reduction and are very grateful for the decent night’s sleep we now get. 10/10!”

For more information about adding the Granada Secondary Glazing range to your business, please call 01909 499899.