Double glazed windows are comprised of two panes of glass whereas triple glazed windows have an extra pane, thus there are three panes in total. The panes of glass sit within a sealed frame and the cavity between each pane is filled with air or an inert gas, such as argon.
Triple glazed windows are said to perform better than double glazed as regards:
- Energy efficiency
- Noise reduction
- Security
Energy Efficiency
U-values are the standard measurements used in the industry to assess energy performance. The lower the u-value, the higher the energy efficiency.
Walls have a u-value of around 0.3. Single glazed windows have been found to have a u-value of around 5.6, double glazed around 1.4 and triple glazed as low as 0.6. As such, windows are not yet as efficient as walls and the larger the disparity between the u-value of the walls and the windows, the more likely that there will be cold patches. Nevertheless, u-values of glazing have lowered dramatically over the years and there are both double and triple glazing options available which offer low u-values and A+ energy efficiency ratings.
Lower u-value glazing results in your home losing less heat but also letting in less heat. This is great during cold winters when you will want to retain heat however during the summer, triple glazed windows will let in less natural warmth than double glazing. You may prefer this if you would like your home to be cooler during the summer (what little summer we have here in the North West!) The glazing that will suit you best is down to your personal preferences. Some people say that triple glazing is not necessary in our country. It has become increasingly popular in countries with colder climates, such as Scandinavia however the benefit may not be substantial in our relatively mild climate.
Noise Reduction
One factor that may influence your decision is noise. Perhaps you live near a main road with heavy traffic or in a busy city and you would like to lessen noise pollution. Triple glazing offers the greatest sound insulation however the noise reduction offered by good quality double glazing may be enough for you.
Security
Both double and triple glazing offer greater safety benefits over single glazing. The more panes of glass, the more difficult it is for an intruder to break into your property through your window and so if safety is your top priority, triple glazing may be the best choice to offer you extra peace of mind.
Weight
As mentioned above, triple glazed windows contain an additional pane of glass. As a result of this, triple glazed windows weigh more than double glazed. This factor may affect you if your property is old, as it may not be strong enough to accommodate the additional weight of a third pane of glass.
Cost
Of the two options, triple glazed windows are more expensive due to the extra materials and more complex manufacturing process involved.
Overview
Triple glazed windows are growing in popularity, with many new build properties now featuring triple glazing. Despite this, double glazing is still the most popular glazing chosen in England. Whilst triple glazing does offer slightly better performance than double glazing, triple glazing may not be worth it for you.
If you have double glazing installed at present and you do not feel that you are benefitting from it as much as you would like to, then triple glazing could be for you. One possibility is to have double glazing installed throughout the majority of your property but to have triple glazing installed on problematic windows, for example if you have particular windows that are very draughty, let in too much noise or are burglary weak spots.
If you are still unsure as to which of the two options is best for you, you can contact our friendly team here for more advice.