Is Triple Glazing Worth the Investment?

The Benefits of Triple Glazing

It’s almost impossible to weigh up whether triple glazing is worth the cost without knowing the benefits.

The key benefits:

• Energy efficiency: Triple glazing is generally better than double glazing at reducing heat loss. So, you may be able to keep your home warmer and lower your energy bills.
• Sustainability: The more efficient your windows are the lower your home’s carbon footprint will be. So, triple glazing can boost your eco-friendliness.
• Soundproofing: Triple glazing is usually better at reducing the noise from outside. So, if you live in a town or city, it can help to improve your living conditions.
• Reduced condensation: The superior insulation of triple glazing means the inside surfaces of windows are warmer. So, condensation shouldn’t cling to the panes. This saves you needing to get the window vac out every morning.
• Temperature control: Triple glazing can bounce more of the sun’s heat back outside. So, it’s easier to keep rooms cool in summer.

Is Triple Glazing Worth the Extra Spend?

When you’re trying to determine whether triple glazing is worth the investment, it’s also important to understand exactly what that spend is likely to be.

In fact, the difference between the cost of double glazing and triple glazing isn’t as big as you might think. For standard-sized uPVC units, you’re typically looking at a price difference between £60 and £100 per window.

Therefore, if you don’t have that many windows to replace, the extra cost won’t be all that significant.

If your home is otherwise well insulated, it’s going to be noticeable if your windows aren’t as thermally efficient as possible. Triple glazing is around 40% to 50% more energy efficient than double glazing.

While you could save around £130 a year by switching from single to double glazing, going a step further with triple glazing could save you an extra £30 per year on top of that.

Taking these factors into consideration, triple glazing can be worth the extra spend.

Things to Consider

There are some reasons why you wouldn’t opt to spend a bit more and install triple glazing. If your budget is particularly tight and your windows desperately need replacing, then double glazing might be the only financially viable option. Especially when there’s no time to shop around for deals.

The other thing to consider is whether you will notice the difference between having double and triple glazing.

For instance, if you live in a relatively warm climate and your home is sheltered from harsh winds, you may not see much difference in terms of room comfort. Likewise, a small flat that already has low running costs, may not see much difference in terms of energy bill savings.

If you’re looking at new windows purely from an investment point-of-view, it’s worth considering whether triple glazing will add any more to your home’s value than new double glazing will. In many cases, you won’t see a bigger return on your investment. This means that if you’re planning to sell your property after your new windows are fitted, you might be happy saving your money and opting for double glazing.

Is Triple Glazing Always Better Than Double?

So, is triple glazing better than double? Well, the answer is not always.

Some double glazing comes with the top energy rating of A++. Meaning it should perform equally well in terms of heat loss, solar gain and air leakage as A++ triple glazing. So the quality of the product, along with the fitting, plays an important role in the performance of windows. It’s not just down to the number of panes.

What to Look for When Buying New Windows

Much of the benefits of triple glazing lie in their thermal qualities. But if you don’t do your research, you could end up with poor quality windows or a poor installation – meaning that you won’t see an improvement in the energy efficiency of your home.

Whether we’re looking to invest in double or triple glazing, these are the things we should be looking for, to make sure we’re buying a good-quality product and are spending our money wisely:

• A good energy efficiency rating: To ensure you get a high-performance product, look for British Fenestration Rating Council (BFRC) labelled products carrying an A++ rating.
• Low U-values: Along with a window energy rating, your glazing should come with a U-value. The lower this number is, the better. Ideally, this value should be around 1.2W/m²K for double glazing and 0.80W/m²K or lower for triple glazing.
• Gas filling: Argon is the most common gas that’s used between the panes but if you want to boost insulation and soundproofing, go for krypton or xenon gas.
• Low-emissivity (Low-E) glass: Low-E glass is coated to help bounce heat back into the room, improving efficiency.
• Thicker outer panes on triple glazing: If you’re worried about home security or road noise, this should make your windows stronger and add extra soundproofing.
• Wide pane spacing: The wider the gap between the panes of double and triple glazing, the more insulation they’ll offer. Gaps of 16mm are considered to be best.
• Non-metallic spacers: Aluminium spacer bars are conductive, so it’s better to have non-metallic spacers to minimise heat loss.
• FENSA-approved installer: Using a FENSA-approved installer will ensure your windows are installed properly. You will also be issued with a certificate to confirm your windows comply with building regulations and are energy efficient.

Final Thoughts

If you’re wondering whether triple glazing is worth the investment, it’s important to weigh up the benefits alongside the costs. It’s also crucial to make sure you’re choosing good quality windows and to get them fitted correctly. This will ensure your investment is worthwhile.