How to fit Secondary Glazing Panels with Magnetic Tape

A quick guide on how to fit secondary glazing panels with magnetic tape:

Before going through the steps below we would recommend you look at our instructional video on how to survey a window that you are looking to fit your secondary glazing to.

1. Usually the steel tape (thin) is fitted on the window frame and the magnetic tape (thick) to the secondary glazing panel.
2. Do not use a glazing panel thicker than 4mm plate polycarbonate or 4mm acrylic - it will be too heavy for the magnetic tape.
3. Be careful how and what you clean the window frame surfaces with before applying the steel tape. Use a lint free cloth to wipe the surface and wipe in only one direction to ensure any contaminants get wiped off the frame. If you need to use a cleaning fluid only use a pure IPA cleaner (packs of 10 IPA wipes available from Omega). Do NOT use white spirit as it will leave a greasy residue.
4. Only apply the steel tape to a very smooth, high gloss, well cured surface. If the paint is not really hard the weight of the sheet with the adhesive may remove the paint and you will not have a good seal.
5. If there is condensation around the window try and get the area as dry as possible using a heater or hairdryer if needed. This is to ensure there is no moisture on the window frame.
6. It best to fit at ambient temperatures to avoid condensation problems and to  speed up the adhesive hardening process
7. After applying the tapes to both the window frame and the glazing panel it is a good idea to remove the 2mm glazing panels and give the tapes adhesive up to 24 hours to properly bond.
8. If you need to cut the glazing sheet use a fine toothed jigsaw or handsaw. If you need to drill a hole in the glazing sheet ensure you put some tape on the sheet before drilling

Glossary

Acrylic Sheet:  This is available in various thicknesses- 2mm and 4mm are most commonly used for magnetic  secondary glazing because of their weight. It is half the weight of glass and approx. 8 times stronger. However it will still break like glass if dropped on its corner or drilled

UV Plate Polycarbonate Sheet: This is available in various thicknesses- 2mm and 4mm are most commonly used for magnetic  secondary glazing because of their weight. It is half the weight of glass and approx. 250 times stronger. It can be drilled without cracking. It must be UV protected to be safely used for secondary glazing.

Magnetic Tape: This is a brown tape, 13mm deep, with either a clear or white adhesive backing. It comes in rolls and can be cut with strong scissors

Steel Tape: This is a white coated steel tape with a clear adhesive backing. If using in damp conditions it is worth sealing the edges with varnish to reduce the chance of rust. It comes in rolls. Lower quality steel will be more malleable and will not adhere as well to your window frame.

IPA wipes: It is important to stick the tape to a clean, dry surface. 70% or 100% IPA wipes are ideal. They leave no fluff or residue and the alcohol will evaporate off in seconds.

If you have any questions about your own fitting requirements, please get in touch and we will be happy to help. Remember that we also have a range of affordable secondary glazing solutions and fittings to ensure your project goes smoothly.

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