There’s a glass that cleans itself. No ladder, no squeegee, no monthly window-cleaner bill. It uses two things the UK has in abundance — daylight and rain — to keep your windows, doors, and conservatory roof spotless, month after month, year after year. It’s called Active Blue self-cleaning glass, and at Durajoin, we fit it across our entire range of windows, doors, and conservatories.
If that sounds too good to be true, it isn’t. Self-cleaning glass has been commercially available since 2001, when Pilkington launched the Activ™ range — the world’s first dual-action self-cleaning glass. Twenty-plus years on, the technology is proven, refined, and more affordable than ever. Durajoin uses it as standard or optional across every glazing product we manufacture and install.
Here’s exactly how it works — in two beautifully simple steps.
Step 1 — Sun Daylight Breaks Down the Dirt
The outer surface of Active Blue glass carries an ultra-thin coating of titanium dioxide — a naturally occurring mineral that’s completely transparent and lasts the lifetime of the glass. When UV light from the sun (or even just ordinary daylight on a cloudy British afternoon) hits that coating, it triggers a process called photocatalysis. In plain English: the coating uses light energy to break down organic dirt — bird droppings, tree sap, pollen, algae — into tiny fragments that sit loosely on the surface.
Pilkington confirms that the Active Blue coating works even on cloudy days and continues working at night, because the photocatalytic reaction carries on after the initial UV activation. So yes — it works in Manchester and Glasgow just as well as in Brighton.
Step 2 — Rain Water Sheets Off and Takes the Dirt With It
Here’s the clever second part. Ordinary glass is hydrophobic — water forms droplets that roll down unevenly, leaving streaks and water marks. Active Blue glass is hydrophilic — water spreads out into a thin, even sheet across the entire surface. That sheet picks up the loosened dirt fragments from Step 1, carries them off the edge of the glass, and dries quickly without leaving spots or streaks.
The result? Glass that stays visibly cleaner, longer, with nature doing the heavy lifting. And during a dry spell? Just hose the glass down for a few seconds — no detergent needed — and the hydrophilic coating does the rest. Duration Windows notes that specialist self-cleaning glass costs “marginally more than normal toughened glass” — making it one of the most cost-effective upgrades you can specify.
The science in 30 seconds: An ultra-thin titanium dioxide coating on the outer surface of the glass uses UV light to break down organic dirt (photocatalysis) and makes the glass surface hydrophilic so rainwater sheets off evenly, carrying loosened dirt away. The coating is applied during manufacturing and lasts the lifetime of the glass — there’s nothing to reapply, replace, or maintain.
Why “Blue”?
Active Blue glass has an attractive blue body tint — not a coating you can scratch off, but colour within the glass itself. That tint serves a practical purpose beyond aesthetics: it provides medium-level solar control, reducing solar heat gain while maintaining good light transmittance. Pilkington’s technical data shows Active Blue achieves approximately 42 per cent light transmission and 33 per cent solar heat transmission in a double-glazed unit — meaning it cuts heat gain substantially while letting plenty of daylight through.
That makes Active Blue especially valuable for conservatory roofs, skylights, south-facing windows, and any large expanse of glass that catches the sun. Durajoin regularly specifies Active Blue for conservatory roofs — whether aluminium lean-to, Edwardian, or Victorian styles — where the combination of self-cleaning and solar control solves two of the biggest conservatory headaches in one Durajoin glass unit.
If you prefer a completely clear glass with self-cleaning properties (no blue tint), Durajoin also offers Active Clear and Active Neutral options from the same proven Durajoin product range — so whatever your aesthetic preference, Durajoin has a self-cleaning solution that fits.
Where Durajoin Fits Active Blue Glass
Durajoin supplies and fits Active Blue self-cleaning glass across our entire product range. That includes:
- Replacement windows — Any frame type: aluminium, uPVC, or timber. Whether you need a single window glass replacement, a window screen replacement, or a full replace windows programme, Durajoin can specify Active Blue as an upgrade. These are among the best replacement windows for hard-to-reach upper floors where cleaning access is difficult.
- Bifold doors and sliding patio doors — Large glass panels are the most visible and the hardest to keep clean. Durajoin’s Active Blue keeps them spotless without effort.
- French patio doors and French double front doors — Self-cleaning glass in French doors means the garden view is always clear.
- Conservatory roofs and side panels — The original and still the best application for self-cleaning glass. Conservatory roofs are virtually impossible to clean without scaffolding or specialist equipment; Active Blue eliminates the need entirely.
- Skylights and rooflights — Out of reach by definition, so Durajoin’s self-cleaning glass is the only practical option for keeping them clear.
- Front doors with glazed panels — Composite entrance doors, modern double front doors, wood front entry doors, steel double front doors, and entry doors with decorative glass can all incorporate Active Blue panels for a perpetually clean entrance.
Durajoin sources profiles from premium systems including SMART, Cortizo, and Schüco, manufactures glazing units in-house at our Hitchin and London facilities, and provides FENSA or CERTASS certification on every installation.
The Money Angle: What Does It Cost?
Self-cleaning glass typically adds a modest premium over standard toughened glass — usually 10–20 per cent per glazing unit. On a typical window replacement cost of £400–£800 per window, that’s an extra £40–£160. But consider what you save: the average UK homeowner spends £100–£200 per year on professional window cleaning. Over a 25-year window lifespan, Active Blue glass from Durajoin can save you £2,500–£5,000 in cleaning costs alone — and that’s before you factor in the convenience and safety of never climbing a ladder again.
For homeowners researching the cost to replace windows, replacement windows cost, cost of window replacement, or average cost to replace windows, Durajoin provides fully itemised quotes that show the Active Blue upgrade as a clear line item. No surprises, no bundled extras — just transparent pricing from a company that manufactures, delivers, and installs everything under one roof.
Durajoin also offers finance options to spread the investment, and bundling glazing with doors, ironwork, gates, or conservatories through a single Durajoin project cuts overall labour and coordination costs.
Kerb Appeal: The Shine That Sells
Clean windows sound like a small thing — until you’re selling. Estate agents will tell you that sparkling glass is one of the quickest kerb appeal wins a vendor can achieve, and Active Blue glass from Durajoin keeps that sparkle permanent rather than temporary. Zoopla emphasises that front-of-house presentation — including clean, clear windows — is critical to first impressions.
And the front door framed by those windows matters just as much. The London Door Company reports that blue doors add roughly £4,000 to a property’s perceived value, red about £1,800, black around £1,000, and green approximately £500. Drivers & Norris found that red-doored properties sold at 36 per cent above the national mean. Pair a colour-optimised front door with permanently clean Durajoin Active Blue windows through a single Durajoin project, and you’ve maximised kerb appeal with minimal ongoing effort.
Why UK Homeowners Search the Way They Do
If you’ve been typing “window replacement near me,” “replacement windows near me,” “windows replacement near me,” “window glass replacement near me,” “energy efficient windows near me,” “front doors near me,” or “garage doors near me” — you’re asking the same questions every homeowner asks before a major upgrade. People care about cost (window replacement cost, replacement windows cost, cost of window replacement, average cost to replace windows), local service (window replacement service, window installation, garage door installation, garage door repairs), materials (vinyl replacement windows, composite entrance doors, best replacement windows), energy efficiency (ENERGY STAR rated windows, low-e glazing, triple-pane insulating glass, energy efficient windows near me), and style (sliding patio door, French patio door, entry door with decorative glass, black doors interior design, modern double front doors, wood front entry doors, steel double front doors). Durajoin covers every one of those needs — and Active Blue self-cleaning glass is the upgrade that keeps the whole property looking its best with zero ongoing effort.
Your Next Step
The sun and rain are free. The glass that turns them into a cleaning crew is surprisingly affordable. Tell Durajoin which windows, doors, or conservatory panels need upgrading, and we’ll show you exactly what Active Blue self-cleaning glass costs for your home — itemised, transparent, and with finance options if you need them. One conversation, one Durajoin quote, and a lifetime of clean glass.
See How Active Blue Glass Fits Your Home
Durajoin manufactures, delivers, and installs Active Blue self-cleaning glass alongside our full range of doors, windows, gates, ironwork, roller shutters, and conservatories across the UK. Book a free consultation — no pressure, no obligation.
