HR++ insulating glass installation in Den Bosch & Noord-Brabant

Many Dutch houses built before the 1980s still have single glass in at least some windows, and plenty of 1990s homes have early double glazing that has lost most of its insulating value. The symptoms are familiar to anyone who has spent a winter in one: a cold draught near the window, condensation running down the pane, street noise, and a thermostat that never seems to catch up.

HR++ glass is a sealed unit of two panes with an argon-filled cavity and an invisible low-emissivity coating that reflects heat back into the room. It insulates several times better than single glass and noticeably better than old double glazing, cuts noise and all but eliminates condensation on the inside of the pane. Triple glass goes a step further but is heavier and needs a deeper frame; for most existing homes HR++ is the sensible choice.

Kivits Vastgoedonderhoud is a registered Dutch painting and property maintenance company (KVK 94153965) based in 's-Hertogenbosch. Founder Leroy Kivits and his team communicate comfortably in English, so expats and international homeowners get the same clear advice, written quote and 5-year warranty as our Dutch clients.

In most cases new glass goes into the frames you already have. During the free inspection we measure every pane, check that the rebate is deep and sound enough for a thicker unit, and probe the timber for wood rot. If we find soft spots, they are repaired with an epoxy system first; see our wood rot repair page for how that works. Only badly damaged or unusually narrow frames need replacing.

The old glass is removed carefully, new glazing beads and rubber gaskets are fitted, the unit is set on the correct spacer blocks and the joint is sealed with an elastic sealant on both sides. Where glass sits in a door, a low window or a stairwell, we install safety glass to the relevant Dutch NEN standards, so the result is compliant as well as comfortable. Because we are painters as well as glaziers, the frames can be repainted in the same visit.

Better glazing makes a house more airtight, which is good for your energy bill and bad for indoor air if nothing else changes. Dutch building practice solves this with ventilation grilles, or ventilatieroosters, fitted in or above the window frame. We install new grilles or replace worn ones at the same time as the glass, so moisture from cooking, showering and breathing has a controlled way out.

The Dutch government supports homeowners who insulate their property through the ISDE scheme, and replacing old glass with HR++ or better can qualify. The rules cover a minimum glass area, the insulation value of the new glass, professional installation and the documents you need when you apply after the work is done. The conditions and figures change from year to year, so we do not publish amounts here.

What we do offer is free advice: at the inspection we tell you whether your project is likely to meet the requirements, and after installation you receive an invoice and specification that contain the details the application asks for. The application itself is in Dutch and we are happy to walk you through it.

A double-glazed unit that has gone cloudy between the panes has lost its seal and its insulation. A cracked pane is a security and weather problem. In both cases we replace the unit, not the frame, usually within days. We serve the whole of Noord-Brabant without a travel surcharge, from Den Bosch and Eindhoven to Tilburg and Breda.

Every job starts with a free inspection and measuring visit and an itemised written quote within 48 hours, in English on request. Request a free quote or read the Dutch version of this page: Glaszetten.