In order to enjoy energy efficiency and comfort at home, as well as make decent cost savings, you need to select an appropriate glass type for your windows, whether it’s double or triple glazing that you’ve decided to buy.
Take any stress out of choosing glazing by reading over our blog that tells you the distinctions between both, what their respective conveniences are, and areas in which they underperform.
What is the Difference Between Double and Triple Glazing?
To unravel the conversation about double glazing vs triple glazing, one needs to understand the difference between the two solutions.
The most obvious dissimilarity is the number of glass panes each has, with a double glazed unit containing two of them as opposed to three in a triple glazed unit.
That third glass pane commands a further air gap, heralding an enhanced level of solar gain and reduced heat loss, and makes a triple glazed unit harder to break.
Prior to making a decision on the two, we ought to advise that the extra depth of a triple glazed unit and its window weight may not be suitable for your current openings.
What is Double Glazing?
In the 1980’s and 90’s, double glazing took off in the UK, and several decades on it remains a big seller.
A window unit of this form features two glass panes and tends to be constructed from one of three materials – UPVC, aluminium or timber.
These two panes are separated by a spacer bar, which creates an air gap, one that is filled with an insulating gas.
The thermal insulation offered is its foremost advantage, suppressing heat generated by a boiler and repelling cold air from outside to fashion an energy efficient living environment.
What is Triple Glazing?
‘Triple’ is the giveaway and represents the presence of three panes of glass in this form of window unit. What it doesn’t help you realise is that there’s also one more spacer bar than a two-paned window to keep the panes separated, adding extra insulation.
Selling of triple glazing was largely exclusive to Scandinavian countries until recent times and its inclusion in the product collections of the majority of UK window installers.
Their popularity in extremely cold countries like Norway is due to how successfully they retain heat in winter and Britons are cottoning on to the coolness they deliver in summer too, edging them towards the former in the continuing argument about triple glazing vs double glazing.
Double vs Triple Glazing: Key Technical Aspects Explained
We sympathise with anyone who is undecided as to what window glazing to choose and are happy to hopefully bring some clarity with an evaluation of the key aspects to ponder.
Insulation is amongst the biggest and how much you wish to magnify comfort and alleviate usage of your heating once colder weather comes around.
Security ranks highly too as no-one wants to endure the horror situation of their house being broken into.
Just think of the value of new windows too, which will almost certainly give your property lots of buyer appeal when the time comes to sell.
Benefits of Double Glazing
Overview of the main advantages of double glazing
It’s become customary for replacement windows in the UK to be double glazed and over time, they have gotten more sophisticated due to the pioneering production methods of companies like Hazlemere.
Described simply, they contain two glass panels and get typically filled with argon gas, and these components are why the benefits they bring about are so extensive.
Energy efficiency
Keeping more of the heat produced by your boiler in your house and allowing less cool air from outside to infiltrate it creates an energy efficient environment, ushering comfort and cheaper heating bills.
Single glazed windows let out an immense quantity of warmth and a switch to double or triple glazed windows will curb that occurrence whilst also minimising carbon emissions, aiding the planet’s health.
Cost effectiveness
If you were to upgrade to A-rated double glazing from single glazing and live in a detached property, government research estimates that you could save £120-155 per year in a typical gas heated home. This gives a good example of the savings that can be accrued.
Uplift these possible savings with the installation of thick curtains in winter to reduce heat loss that bit more and enjoy the windows feeding your rooms with heat in summer.
Noise reduction
Single glazing is similarly inferior for noise reduction, a pain point when your home is located in a built-up area and heavy populated neighbourhood.
You won’t hear as much external noise when you make the leap up to double glazed windows as there’s another layer of glass and gas for any noise to travel through.
Claims that it is soundproofing should be taken with a pinch of salt, but there’s no doubt that an element of noise reduction will transpire.
Security
Your family’s safety comes first and we’re committed to safeguarding everyone who purchases our window products.
It’ll be a thankless task for a burglar to try and force their way past a Hazlemere window as it is with extreme difficulty they will manage to break the glass, and the locking systems affixed to the designs ensure that once locked they remain locked.
Disadvantages of Double Glazing
Along with reeling off the many benefits of double glazing, we should alert you to a few, albeit not many, disadvantages of the solution so that you know exactly what you can expect from them.
They’re pricier than your normal run-of-the-mill windows, but they cost more because of the improved performance, durability, and aesthetic difference.
A breakage of one of the two panes will necessitate a full replacement of the unit and if the sealing isn’t done to a high quality, condensation can get in.
Certain house types don’t suit the integration of UPVC double glazed designs, however Hazlemere has UPVC styles to suit a plethora of properties, new and vintage.
Benefits of Triple Glazing
Overview of the main advantages of triple glazing
Three panes instead of the standard two is a considerable advantage, as is the presence of two air gaps instead of just the one in a double glazed window.
Householders are waking up to this and stipulating triple glazing in increasing numbers. We’ll now go into what the various upsides happen to be.
Superior insulation
A top selling-point of a triple glazed window is the outstanding thermal insulation that it’s built to supply to homes – the low ug value confirms this, lower even than some of the best-performing double glazed windows.
It wouldn’t achieve such impressive levels if it weren’t for that extra pane of glass and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility for you to benefit from 60% greater energy efficiency than a window with just two panes included.
Building regulations specify that windows have to reach a minimum u-value of 1.4 W/m2K and that is comfortably attained.
Noise reduction
We all hope to live in a near noiseless home, but few do and it’s the windows you have that let external sound creep through and disturb.
Triple glazing has the potential to induce a quieter living environment. We say ‘potential’ because in order for it to have that kind of effect it has to be configured to include panes and cavities of varied thicknesses, otherwise noise reduction will be practically non-existent.
Security
An intruder will have an extremely difficult job breaking a window with three panes than one with less, assuring you of a more secure property.
The panes are also internally beaded, so it prevents the removal of the glazed units from the outside, another frustration for thieves who dare to try and get the better of the windows.
All replacement windows sold by Hazlemere have a multi-point locking mechanism within them too.
Long-term savings
When conversation turns to double or triple glazing, the topic of energy inevitably comes up and having three panes in a window promotes insulation to the highest heights, so is regarded as the superior choice in this regard.
Heightened indoor comfort is supplemented by a cheapening of energy costs and the savings can mount up during the lifecycle of these windows, with it far from inconceivable that you earn your money back on them and more.
Take a long-term view when securing replacement windows, not thinking about the initial cost, but the eventual and significant gains.
Disadvantages of Triple Glazing
In any discussion about triple glazing vs double glazing it is only right that we speak about some of the limitations and potential drawbacks of the former so that you can make an informed choice.
The installation cost will be one of them for certain window buyers as not everyone’s budget will stretch to their purchase, making double glazed windows more financially attractive.
Understandably, there’s added weight to triple glazed windows due to the extra glass and the frame has to be able to support the weight, which in some instances can complicate things, chiefly the installation.
The depth of frames could also mean that the window openings have to be adjusted and noise reduction is only possible if the thicknesses of the panes and cavities aren’t the same.
Triple vs Double Glazing the Cost Differences
There’s no denying that buying a brand-new set of windows involves a decent outlay of money and there is a price difference between double and triple glazed windows, with three-paned designs coming in at a higher cost than two-paned equivalents.
The cost differential certainly isn’t vast though and it’s important to know that you can anticipate larger energy savings with a trio of glass panes due to the high-end insulation and outstanding heat retention. These savings could well eventually cover and exceed the cost of the windows, helping you get your money back or indeed make a profit on them.
Spending on new windows and doors in the UK proves that the vast majority of property owners end up opting for double glazed windows and doors instead of triple glazing, so their actions are a strong indication that they believe double glazing offers the best value for money and less that can go wrong in the future.
Can You Install Triple Glazing in Double Glazing Frames?
Can you put triple glazing in double glazing frames may cross your mind if you want to upgrade your present window openings without any major upheaval.
There’s a chance that we might be able to do that for you, but we’d need to assess your existing windows first. Are they up to supporting the added weight of triple glazed windows and do your openings have the thickness to accommodate them? These are factors we need to determine. A full replacement will be advocated if the frames are too narrow or aren’t strong enough.
Precise fitting is imperative, otherwise it can leave air gaps and initiate excessive condensation.
If we feel satisfied that the frames are suitable for the swapping out of double glazing for triple glazing, retrofitting won’t be a problem.