What are window glazing bars?

The history of window glazing bars is a long one. They were once an inseparable structural part of windows, but today they are most often used as a decorative element. They are strips dividing the pane into smaller fields. At present they are used to give windows a stylish and elegant appearance. Glazing bars look best in timber windows, with which they form a coherent whole. You can read about what window glazing bars are, what kinds there are and when it is worth deciding on them in today’s post.

A short history of window glazing bars

Window glazing bars were used in earlier construction because of the fairly severely limited technological possibilities. At that time it was not possible to produce uniform, large sheets of glass that could be set into a window frame in one piece. By dividing the glazing into smaller fields it was possible to make large windows. Historic glazing bars therefore served a structural function, strengthening windows and making them more rigid.

What kinds of window glazing bar do we distinguish?

Window glazing bars can take various forms. We distinguish several basic kinds of these dividers:

• solid glazing bars – their appearance harks back to the history of glazing bars, they are made of the same material as the frame and are the same thickness as it, they strengthen the construction of the window and enrich its appearance,
• internal Georgian bars – bars of this kind are placed inside the glazing unit, they can be of various widths (from 8 to 45 mm), they are made of aluminium and come in many colours (including a timber-effect version),
• stick-on bars – also known as “Wiener Sprossen”, they imitate the division of a window, as they are stuck to the outer side of the pane on both sides, while inside the glazing unit there is only a “blind bar”,
• removable glazing bar frames (as a frame or a cross) – bars of this kind are used only in timber windows, they are fitted from the outer side of the window on small hinges or catches, thanks to which they can be opened or replaced without difficulty when needed.

Which buildings do windows with glazing bars suit?

Timber windows with glazing bars are an excellent addition to buildings in a rustic, English or manor-house style. Windows decorated with glazing bars are also a great proposal for owners of historic houses who would like to refresh their appearance without giving up their old-world character. Glazing bars give windows elegance, making a house look as though it came from earlier eras. They are an excellent complement to timber windows installed in houses whose style harks back to country estates of former years or is inspired by manor-house architecture. It should be remembered that window glazing bars do not suit modern, minimalist buildings whose form is simple and whose ornamentation is very restrained. Nor will they be a good addition to windows intended for installation in blocks of flats, as they will create unnecessary stylistic confusion there.