Georgian Bar Matching: Keeping Your Home's Character When Replacing Glass

If your home has traditional-style windows, the chances are some of them have Georgian bars: the strips that divide the glass into a grid of smaller panes. They give a house real character, which is why one of the questions we hear most often is what happens to them when the glass needs replacing. The good news is that your home does not have to lose its look just because a sealed unit has failed.

What are Georgian bars, exactly?

Georgian bars are the white or woodgrain strips you see inside a double glazed unit, splitting it into that classic pane pattern. The important thing to know is that on modern windows the bars sit inside the sealed unit itself, bonded between the two panes of glass. They are not part of the frame and they do not hold anything up. So when a unit fails, usually by going misty between the panes, the bars are simply part of the unit that gets made again.

Can you replace the glass and keep the Georgian look?

Yes, and that is exactly what we do. Because The Glass Doctor manufactures its own sealed units in our North Wales factory, a replacement unit can be made with bars that match your existing windows. Same colour, whether that is white, a woodgrain finish or something else. Same bar width, same profile, same pane pattern. Once fitted, the new unit is indistinguishable from the ones around it, and your home keeps the character you bought it for. It works the same way whatever your frames are made of, uPVC, aluminium or timber.

Do I need FENSA or permission for a Georgian bar glass replacement?

No. Because we are replacing the glass only and leaving the frame untouched, no FENSA certificate is required. It is a like-for-like swap, usually completed within a few days. If your home is listed or in a conservation area, it is always worth a quick check with your local council first, but for the vast majority of homes there is nothing to apply for.

What do I get with the new unit?

Every replacement unit we make is A+ rated for energy efficiency, which means it will perform better than the failed unit it replaces. All our work comes with a 10-year guarantee, free fitting is included on every job, and your old glass is recycled rather than sent to landfill. With over 20 years of experience behind us and our Price Match Promise on any written quote, you get the character of your home kept intact without paying over the odds.

For a free, no-obligation quote, visit theglassdoctor.org or call us on 0800 7747684.