We’re often asked about the difference between double-glazing and triple-glazing, and whether one is better than the other or more suitable for certain homes.
Despite sounding like a simple question, there is certainly no one-size fits all answer! Whether you should opt for double or triple glazing is entirely dependent on the type of home you are living in and your own requirements.
What is Double Glazing?
Double glazing was invented by the Scottish in the 1930s and refers to windows which are made up of two equivalent-sized glass panels divided by pockets of air or gas. They’re known for providing extra insulation, security and draught protection during winter compared to their single-panel equivalents.
Double glazing really took off here in the 1980s and is now installed in most homes across the UK, with nearly 95% of homes now featuring some form of double-glazed windows. Over the last decade, double glazing has further evolved to be even better at retaining heat, reducing condensation and preventing damp and draughts.
What is Triple Glazing?
Triple glazing, in a similar fashion to double glazing, refers to windows which are made up of three glass panels separated by air or gas and was first introduced in the 1980s. Its growth compared to double glazing has been slow and steady, due to its additional costs and being more of a luxury option. However, it has many benefits over double glazing in certain situations and there are many reasons why many peoples’ homes may benefit from triple glazing.
Reasons Why You May Benefit from Triple Glazing
Triple glazing has the potential to significantly enhance the desirability of many homes such as those that would otherwise be particularly expensive to heat or are located next to a busy or loud road.
Some of the main reasons you may benefit from triple glazing windows over double glazed include:
#1 Living near a noisy road
If you live near a noisy road and traffic can usually be heard from within your home, triple glazing windows can solve this problem as they are particularly good at soundproofing.
#2 Living somewhere with extreme weather
If you live somewhere that is particularly hot or cold, triple glazing can be of real benefit, keeping your house warmer in the winter and keeping it cooler in the summer.
#3 If you live in a large house with high energy bills in winter
If you have a large home to heat, retaining it in the winter can be rather difficult without extremely high energy bills. Triple glazing is far superior compared with double glazing at retaining heat so energy use will be highly reduced. For this reason, triple glazing is very popular in Scandinavian countries due to their extremely cold winter climates.
#4 Already have double glazing
If you already have double glazing and want to further reduce your energy bills or noise pollution in your home, then triple glazing might be an ideal solution for you.
Benefits of Triple Glazing Windows over double-glazing windows
The benefits of triple glazing windows compared with double glazing windows include:
- Better insulating and even more energy-efficient, even compared with newer double-glazed models. Energy bills both in the winter and summer will be reduced drastically and your home’s energy efficiency rating will be improved, which can also enhance saleability.
- Better at soundproofing, though double glazed windows can have enhanced soundproofing qualities when thicker panels of glass are used, typically triple glazing windows perform better in this area. This is because with three panels of glass, soundwaves have more obstacles to travel through and hence are weakened and noise is drastically reduced
- With lower energy use and energy bills, your carbon footprint will be reduced even more so than double glazing
Downsides of Triple Glazing: Are There Any?
The only potential downside of triple glazing is the initial cost. Triple glazing is more expensive to install and though energy bills will typically be much lower than previously and the investment will pay off, the extra initial costs can be off-putting if there isn’t a significant need for it.
Reasons Why You May Benefit from Double Glazing Equally
In some situations, you may find that you benefit from double glazing almost equally to how you would from triple glazed options. These include
- Living in a quiet countryside location that suffers from minimal or no noise pollution.
- Having a smaller house that retains heat well in the winter.
- If you’re upgrading from single glazing, you may not feel you need the additional benefits of triple glazing.
Which Types of Windows are Available with Triple Glazing?
Much like double glazing, triple glazing windows (and doors) are available in a full range of materials including aluminium and uPVC, in a range of popular styles, from French windows to casement and sash. If you’re looking for doors too, triple glazing sliding doors, French doors as well as other popular options are also available.
Still Unsure if You Need Double or Triple Glazing?
Get in touch with our friendly team of window and doors experts and we’ll be happy to help and advise you on the most suitable windows for your home and requirements. At Facelift Home Improvements, we offer a full range of beautiful double glazed and triple glazed windows in all different options to suit your home.
We’re based in Crawley and also cover Horsham, East and West Sussex and Surrey. We also offer a vast array of home improvements across the South East, from kitchens, bathrooms, windows, doors and conservatories.