Triple Glazing. Does it make sense?

What is triple glazing?

Triple glazing is the use of 3 panes of glass rather than 2 (Double glazing). The belief is that by having an extra pane, you will increase power efficiency and reduce noise. We definitely know that double glazing makes a significant improvement over single glazing. A question we often get asked is, does installing triple glazing rather than double make that much of a difference?

Improvements of Double Glazing

For those of you who don’t know, the energy efficiency of windows is measured with a ‘U-value’. The lower the U-value is, the better.

Single glazing on average has a U-value of 5, older double glazing about 3 and new modern double glazing of 1.6, which is due to improved methods of double glazing. These improvements have been made through optimisation of the window cavity and the material used.

Therefore does that make triple glazing worth while, especially if double glazing is now so much better? Well considering walls have a u value of around 0.3, it seems we still have a way to go with windows as the aim is to get as low as we can.

Does triple glazing pay?

In Northern Europe, triple glazing is now pretty much standard, with modern triple glazing taking the U-value of the windows down to around 0.8. Lots of new homes are now being built with triple glazing and are generally acknowledged as being better. However compared to top double glazing, the payback period is very similar. Therefore one can assume changing from single glazing to triple glazing, in terms of energy efficiency payback, is very similar to double glazing payback. Therefore it makes more sense to go from single glazing to triple rather than double to triple. Being in Australia with varying climates it will be beneficial to talk to your installer before making any decisions.

Are there other things you can do to reduce your U-value?

Yes. If you are going to have triple glazing, you will need well insulated frames, as this is one of the major heat loss areas in a window. Adding thick curtains, and keeping them closed at night will help reduce your bills also.

Other reasons for getting triple glazing

So triple glazing is more expansive than double glazing and doesn’t have the same payback period however there other reasons for getting it above double glazing. Reason are:

Triple glazing can help reduce condensation on your windows

Triple glazing offers a significant reduction in noise pollution making it ideal for those living in noisy areas.

Double glazing can create cold patches in the house, due to the higher u value of windows compared to walls and doors. This problem is exacerbated by modern insulation, as better wall insulation means windows become much colder compared to the rest of the house. Triple glazing is an excellent solution to this problem, as it reduces the difference in U-value between the windows and the rest of the building.

So triple glazing or double glazing?

The debate over triple or double-glazing is still ongoing, here are a few points to hopefully help you decide:

• If you’ve already got good double glazing, don’t bother with triple.
• Triple glazing is usually more expensive.
• If you want to get rid of cold spots in an otherwise well heated house, or you have lots of noise outside, triple glazing is an option.

Still not sure?

If you’re not sure which solution is right for you get in touch with Prestige Plus, Australia’s window and door production and installation expert. It makes sense to talk to us first before going anywhere else. Contact us for a no obligation chat.