Welcome to the latest blog by Massimosky. We are often asked about Triple Glazing and is it worth upgrading when pricing for aluminium windows and doors. We have compiled all the info we can to help you make the decision; is it worth it?
What is Triple Glazing?
Triple glazing is made up of 3 panes of glass, instead of 2 you find in double glazing. Between each pane of glass is a small gap which is filled with air or an insulating gas, like argon. Because of this extra pane of glass, triple glazing is better at reducing heat loss and keeping your home warmer. It also helps to insulate your home from outside noises and improves your property’s security.
Triple glazing is most popular in cold climate countries such as Sweden and Norway, but it’s becoming more popular in the UK as homeowners begin to realise its additional benefits to single or double glazing.
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Triple Glazing?
Advantages
✔ Reduces heat loss, making your home feel warmer
✔ More efficient, lowering your energy bills
✔ Harder to break, improving your home’s security
✔ Better at blocking out noise from outside
Disadvantages
✘ More expensive than double glazing
✘ Longer return on investment than double glazing
✘ Allows in less light
✘ Heavier and can cause logistical issues for installation.
Triple Glazing vs Double Glazing
Thermal Performance
The energy efficiency of a window is measured using the U-value, which measures how well a window prevents heat from escaping from your home. The lower the U-value, the better a window is at retaining heat.
New double glazing has a U-value of around 1.2, whereas new triple glazing has a slightly better U-value of about 0.8. But what does this mean? Put simply, triple glazing will make your home that little bit more comfortable than double glazing by keeping the air temperature in your home just a few degrees warmer. This means you’ll be able to save a little more money on your energy bills with triple glazing than with new double glazing.
Sound Insulation
Triple glazed windows are a bit better than new double glazed windows at insulating your home from external sounds, because of their extra pane of glass. So if you live in a noisy area, such as on a busy road or below an airport flight path, the amount of noise that can enter your home from outside will be slightly more reduced. However, this level of sound insulation can be achieved with laminated glass using double glazing.
Home Security
The extra pane of glass that comes with triple glazing means that your windows are stronger and harder to break than double glazed windows. Combined with security features such as multipoint locking systems and toughened glass, triple glazing can give you more peace of mind over the safety of your home.
Light Penetration
Because triple glazed windows are made up of more glass, they actually let in less light than double glazed windows. This means your home’s interior will feel a bit dimmer so we wouldn’t recommend installing triple glazing on north-facing windows that get little sunlight.
In summary, triple glazing can provide benefits with thermal and sound insulation but you must consider the cost of not only the product itself but the cost to get the products installed. Triple glazing is much heavier and can sometimes need mechanical lifting equipment to install. Check with our sales team and we will happily provide costs for both Double and Triple glazing and the weights involved.