September 28, 2012

Glass and Insurance

Written by Rebecca Clayton

Glass and Insurance


"Minimal Windows and Frameless Structural Glass are an attractive addition to any design"

Minimal Windows and Frameless Structural Glass are an attractive addition to any design. Whether a house is large or small, glass installations can ensure that more light gets into the house and that the external view is uncluttered by door frames and other obstructions.

If clients decide to make these sorts of improvements to your home, they need to note that installing minimalistic glass will affect your home insurance.  However, that need not present problems. You can make the changes you want and still get the insurance cover needed.

Why have Minimal Windows or Frameless Structural Glass installed?


"More glass and less surround means windows and doors let in more light"

If the house doesn’t get as much light as wanted, installing Minimal  Windows can help.  The visible framework is much smaller. Sliding doors can be made of large pieces of sliding glass with minimal frames. More glass and less surround means windows and doors let in more light. This will make the interior of the home brighter.

Also if there is an excellent view from the home, you can achieve an uninterrupted vista, rather than through glass panes separated by window frames and possibly obstructed by doors.  Minimal Windows and Frameless Structural Glass help you to see more of the outside world in an uncluttered way. For this reason it’s an attractive option when you come to think about refurbishing a property.

Minimal Windows brings a different perspective to home insurance


"The locking mechanisms will be hidden away and out of sight"

Minimal Windows secure a home differently from conventional sliding doors and windows.  The Minimal Windows Sliding System will generally lock at the top and bottom, not in the centre or into a wall. The locking mechanisms will be hidden away and out of sight. A marvel really, that these seemingly frameless windows will also have such unobtrusive locking mechanisms.

Attractive as these features are, they may present problems when coming to thinking about insurance requirements.

The home insurance company for the property will need to be informed of the installation of Minimal Windows. The new doors or windows are elements of the home’s security system and the changes made will affect the insurance.

Some insurers will be unfamiliar with the ways in which Minimal Windows and Structural Glass installations protect the property. Many insurers expect there to be five-lever mortice locks on external doors and they may be unaware that this type of installation addresses security issues effectively, but differently.

Minimal Windows installations are often fitted with anti-theft devices and the flat surfaces presented to the outside world are almost impossible to breach with a crowbar or jemmy. In fact, as far as insurance is concerned, such features have higher level safety certificates than do traditional mortice locks.

Obtaining Minimal Windows insurance


"it’s a good idea to work with an insurer who understands how secure this type of glass can be"

When deciding to install Frameless Structural Glass or Minimal Windows in a property, it’s a good idea to work with an insurer who understands how secure this type of glass can be.

According to Chrissie Jenkins of Country Life Insurance: www.countrylifeinsurance.co.uk

“Specialist insurers, like us, know the sort of objections that can be raised when home owners install Minimal Windows and Frameless Glass features.  We also know how to deal with them. If you want to make use of minimal framed glass in your refurbishment or renovation, don’t worry. Getting tailor-made insurance on homes fitted with Minimal Windows is easy, if you have that important specialist knowledge behind you.”

When you have agreed on the way you want your design to look, and you’ve decided that you intend to utilise the features that Minimal Windows or Frameless Structural Glass has to offer, talk to the specialists. Make sure you get the home insurance you need with a minimum of fuss.

Contact Country Life Insurance on 01753 880001 or email them at enquiries@countrylifeinsurance.co.uk