Double Glazing Or Triple Glazing?
Until the development and mainstream release of double glazing in the 1970’s, the only glazing option you had when purchasing replacement windows and doors was single glazing. Then four or five years ago double glazing faced a new challenger of its own when triple glazing began to be supplied by many UK home improvement specialists.
Double glazing still manages to attract the lion’s share of sales, but triple glazing is fast gaining in popularity and who knows? There may eventually come a time when triple glazing sales surpass double glazing.
Pennine provides both options which throws up the following question – which is better, double glazing or triple glazing? It’s very difficult to answer. All we can do is analyse and present the most important facts:
Thermal efficiency
Double and triple glazed products carry a U-Value which signifies the level of thermal efficiency provided – the lower the U-Value, the better the thermal efficiency.
The average UPVC triple glazed window has a U-Value of only 1.0 W/m²k, making it 40% more thermally efficiency than a standard “A” rated double glazed window and 60% more thermally efficient than a standard “C” rated double glazed window.
So, triple glazing trumps double glazing in the energy efficiency stakes.
Noise-reducing qualities
The biggest difference between triple glazing and double glazing is that extra pane of glass. Some claim that the addition of a third glazed pane makes it a greater sound reducer than double glazing. That’s not necessarily true.
A triple glazed window / door would have to contain glass panes and cavities of different thicknesses for this to be the case as sound passes through a solid with greater ease than it does through the air, but it doesn’t.
The window / door unit must also be properly sealed to offer sufficient noise-reducing qualities.
Price
It all comes down to cost for most people buying new windows and doors. Surprisingly, there isn’t much of a price gap between double glazing and triple glazing.
You should factor this in when opting for one or the other and remember how much money they will save you on future fuel bills – you will easily recoup the money spent on them during their lifespan.
Security
The main purpose of your windows and doors should be to protect your home against the outside world. Thieves will have no problem forcing their way past loosely fitted windows and doors with insecure locks.
Any good double or triple glazing solution will have a sophisticated multi-point locking mechanism and be internally glazed to prevent the removal of the glass from the outside. Again, the three glazed panes may win out as thieves will be forced to break through an extra piece of glass.
Settle the debate at Pennine
Pennine is the North East’s most trusted provider of double glazing and triple glazing. We would be happy to help you pick the right option for your circumstances.
Book an appointment to have a chat with a Pennine consultant.