Triple glazing vs double glazing
When it comes to choosing the right type of windows for your home or building, one of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make is whether to opt for triple glazing or double glazing.
What is triple glazing?
Triple glazing is an advanced window technology that consists of three panes of glass, as opposed to the traditional two found in double glazing. The extra pane of glass provides superior insulation, resulting in enhanced thermal efficiency and noise reduction, making it an attractive option for homeowners and builders alike.
With triple glazing, heat loss is minimized, meaning less energy is required to heat your home or building, resulting in lower energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint. However, the increased number of glass panes also means that triple glazing can be more expensive to install compared to double glazing, raising the question of whether the cost of upgrading is worth it in the short and long term.
What advantages do triple glazed windows have over double glazed?
A window’s energy efficiency is measured in a U Value with the lower the value, the more thermal efficient it is. Older single glazed windows could have a U value as high as 5 and even an old double-glazed window could be as high as 3.
Modern double-glazed windows generally have a u value of around 1.5 which is achieved through improved manufacturing methods, including optimisation of the window cavity, low emissivity coatings using inert gas to fill the gap, and using aluminium spacers or ‘cold bridges’.
A modern triple-glazed window has a U Value around 0.8 which is a significant improvement on double glazed windows, however, the upfront costs are also higher. Whilst the pay-back time period is shorter than double-glazing, it is still a long-term investment.
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Triple glazed windows pros and cons
Triple Glazing Pros
✔ Can reduce heat loss in your house which can lower your energy bills
✔ More efficient at heat retention than double glazing, making your home feel warmer
✔ Less prone to condensation build-up between the panes than double glazing
✔ It is harder to break, making your house more secure
✔ The extra pane of glass blocks out more noise from outside than double glazing
Triple Glazing Cons
✘ High upfront costs, making it more expensive than double glazing
✘ May reduce light penetration, allowing less light into the room
✘ The extra pane of glass can make the windows very heavy and potentially damage your walls
✘ Condensation can appear on the outer layer of glass
✘ Long return on investment due to high initial costs
So, now we know our triple glazed windows pros and cons, are triple glazed windows worth it?
Well that ultimately depends on what you require and the type of property you own. Triple glazing certainly has its uses and distinct benefits, although many people would argue that you can achieve the same results with A++ quality double-glazed windows instead. This will come without all of the associated problems that triple glazed windows can sometimes supply.
Summary of double glazing vs triple glazing
Both double glazing and triple glazing can offer significant benefits in terms of energy efficiency and noise reduction. While triple glazing provides an extra layer of insulation and may be a better choice for those with a focus on reduced noise, security and strength, double glazing remains a popular and cost-effective option for many homeowners and builders.
Ultimately, the decision between double glazing and triple glazing should be based on individual needs and priorities, taking into account factors such as climate, orientation, and budget. By weighing these factors carefully, you can make an informed decision about which type of window technology will best suit your needs and provide the most benefits for your home or building.
You can upgrade to triple glazing on the following:
- triple glazed wooden windows
- triple glazed timber windows
- triple glazed aluminium windows
- triple glazed composite windows
See our range of triple glazed aluminium windows.
