Why you should be considering triple-glazed windows
Very few people would consider installing single glazing these days – and in fact, today’s Building Regulations don’t allow it, with the exception of listed properties.
But is there going to be a time when even double glazing is considered inadequate, and triple glazing becomes the norm?
With energy efficiency high on the agenda for many homeowners and some other persuasive arguments in triple glazing’s favour, is it worth investing in this high-performance alternative?
What’s the difference between double and triple glazing, and why is it needed?
New builds often feature large swathes of glazing – picture windows, sliding doors, rooflights – but all that glass has implications for energy efficiency, because heat passes through it a lot more readily than it does an insulated wall.
In the face of more stringent Building Regulations, glazing companies have had to rise to the challenge of creating better-performing products. With the improved insulation that comes from having two pockets of air instead of one, triple glazing is one solution.
A low-energy home
Triple glazing is standard in colder climes of northern Europe. It’s also considered an essential ingredient in modern, ultra-low-energy new-build houses, which use a combination of features to be as efficient as possible, from high levels of insulation to eliminating every micro-gap in the fabric to ensure airtightness.
Triple glazing comes in well above Building Regulations standards for energy efficiency, assuming that products have been installed correctly – there’s no point having super-insulated windows if there are gaps around them for the air to leak out.
Expect to pay around 20 per cent more for a like-for-like triple unit – but very high-spec, Passivhaus-standard windows can be much more.
Added extras
It’s not just the three panes of glass that make a unit more efficient. Other features (available in both double- or triple-glazed products) that boost performance include an inert gas such as argon inserted between the glass, which is less conductive (and therefore more insulating) than air.
Low E glass can also improve insulation: this product features an invisible metal oxide coating on one of the inward-facing panes, which reflects heat back into the room.
Finally, look for products with “warm edge” spacer bars sitting between the panes: made from plastic composite, they conduct less heat than the aluminium traditionally used for this component.
Security and noise benefits
Triple glazing can act as a security deterrent, because it’s incredibly hard to break.
There’s a minor benefit when it comes to noise reduction – but if acoustics are your main priority, then other options are far more efficient in this area, such as secondary glazing or units with a larger air gap between the panes and laminated glass.
Is it worth it?
There are certain circumstances that make a definite “yes” to triple glazing more likely: if you live in a cold climate, it will make a more substantial difference to your comfort than if your home is in a milder area.
Getting optimum benefits from triple glazing relies on energy efficiency elsewhere in your home, so it’s especially recommended in a new home where insulation levels and airtightness are also very good.
You could opt to mix and match according to need, perhaps just using triple in north-facing rooms where heat retention is more important.
The eco benefits of triple glazing are hard to call if you think of sustainability in terms of the energy it takes to build a house (known as “embodied energy”) rather than just what it takes to run it.
Glass has one of the most energy-intense manufacturing methods there is, so it’s also about weighing up whether that extra pane is worth it for the additional comfort level it will bring, rather than thinking about it strictly from the perspective of saving the planet and lowering your bills.
Shape your space
Everest has teamed up with Telegraph Spark to show how simple improving your home is, from made-to-measure windows to spacious conservatories.
Providing a bespoke service, Everest works with you every step of the way, from the initial design consultation to manufacturing and installation.