Is triple glazing worth it? Choosing and installing the correct type of glazing in your home can be a significant investment. And with triple glazing becoming an increasingly popular choice with homeowners, it seems to offer plenty of benefits. But alongside that list of benefits, there will inevitably be a list of concerns that can make the decision that bit harder, including an increase in cost compared with other glazing types.

It can be difficult for home builders and renovators when specifying the right and preferred finish for their home. In this expert guide, we’re sharing some things worth considering to help you answer the real question: is triple glazing worth it?

What is triple glazing?

Much as double glazing contains two panes of glass, triple glazing compromises three separate panes of glass within a sealed casement. The gaps between each pane are filled with air, or more usually gas, such as argon, xenon, or krypton. Gas-filled glazing is more common as gases have heavier properties than air and provide superior insulation against heat loss and outside noise.

The third glass pane is positioned in the middle between the inner and outer panes, creating two airlocks rather than just one seen in double glazing. So with that better-performing insulation and a reduction in drafts and maintaining interior heat levels, triple glazing can significantly improve your home’s energy performance.

Most triple glazing window units can also be improved by adding spacer bars to reduce thermal bridging and using a special coating on the glass to reflect heat back into the room.

The costs of triple glazing

As you’d imagine, triple glazing costs more than standard double glazing. But costs will also depend on the size of your property, the size of the windows, and the number of windows you’ll need to have tripled glazed, all of which can impact your overall home renovation budget.

Average costs for triple glazing will be around £500 per window, so for an average home with 8 windows, you can expect to pay around £4,000. However, a bulk discount may be available from your chosen supplier. Of course, prices can also increase if you have sliding or patio doors out to your garden.

But what about energy performance and savings? Upgrading from single to double glazing provides a sharp increase in energy savings. But upgrading from double to triple glazing wouldn’t necessarily yield similar results, perhaps only providing a 5% improvement on your home’s overall energy performance and saving you around £40 on your heating bills annually.

Triple glazing vs double glazing

Both triple and double glazing are good for different reasons. But as every property is different and everyone’s needs are different, decisions will need to be made on which is best for you.

As we said, upgrading from single to double glazing would immediately reduce energy costs. But investing in moving from double to triple glazing might not be worth it practically or financially, costing you more to install than it would save you in energy bills.

The biggest difference between double and triple glazing is the noise reduction qualities. Double offers good sound insulation, but triple glazing is second to none with that extra layer. So if you struggle with outside noise of any kind, triple glazing will be useful.

Benefits of triple glazing

As touched on above, the key benefits of triple glazing are mainly to do with comfort, with insulation being a top priority. An otherwise highly insulated house, including walls, roof, and floors, is let down by inferior glazing, resulting in drafts and heat being sucked out of your home with the potential for condensation to appear on each window.

So all your glazing should meet or exceed the standards set by the insulation everywhere else so you can achieve a consistent level of energy and insulation performance. But the addition of triple glazing into your home can help in three key areas:

Thermal comfort

The additional pane of glass in triple glazing will retain heat better and help make your home feel warmer. The surface temperature of standard double-glazed windows is 16°C in a room heated to 21°C, but with triple glazing, it can be as high as 18°C. Triple glazing also helps prevent heat from entering through closed windows, keeping your home cooler in hot summers.

Noise reduction

All glazing has an Rw rating, indicating the number of decibels a window can reduce noise. Double glazing can achieve an Rw32 rating, but triple glazing can reach Rw41. A definite improvement if your home is on a busy road or under a flight path.

Reduced condensation

Do triple-glazed windows get condensation? Yes – this can happen in the right (or wrong) circumstances, but only due to exceptionally high humidity levels inside (such as using a tumble dryer or a shower room without the right ventilation). Otherwise, their superior insulation will reduce the level of moisture that can build up around the glass.

Pros and cons of triple glazing

Although triple glazing has many benefits working in its favour, there are some downsides. Here’s a simple checklist showing both the pros and the cons of triple glazing:

Pros

✔︎ Improved thermal qualities
✔︎ Greater noise reduction
✔︎ Reduced condensation
✔︎ Higher energy-efficiency
✔︎ Increased security
✔︎ Can increase the value of your home

Cons

✘ More expensive the double glazing
✘ Long return on investment
✘ Heavier frames may cause structural damage
✘ Thicker frames unsuitable for some properties
✘ Higher environmental impact on manufacturing

Is triple glazing worth it?

While triple glazing is certainly the most energy-efficient option, will it be cost-effective in relation to the savings you make on your energy bills? Certainly, if you move up from single glazing, but probably not if you’re upgrading from double glazing. But the noise-reducing benefits will certainly tick all the right boxes if you’re a light sleeper or live in a particularly busy or noisy neighbourhood.

But overall, whether triple glazing is worth it to you depends entirely on your circumstances, your property, and your finances.

Structural, solar-controlled glass from GlasSpace

This guide should give you a solid overview of triple glazing and how it works, as well as help in answering the question of ‘is triple-glazing worth it?’. But, as designers and suppliers of frameless glass box extensions, GlasSpace incorporates specialist structural, solar-controlled glass that features many of the benefits of triple glazing. Giving your home a stunning modern and contemporary finish, these state-of-the-art structures can fill your home with thermally-controlled light.

As certified professionals, our team has expertise in every detail of glass roof structures and glass box extensions and is available to help you with expert consultations and any design and installation details. So contact us today for more information and your no-obligation, free quote.