Is It Time To Consider Triple Glazing?

As the name suggests, triple glazing secures three panes of glass within a sealed frame. It works the same way as double glazing, by filling each gap with air or a gas called Argon which reduces the amount of heat that can escape. This third pane of glass helps to trap heat and further reduce energy bills and noise pollution.

Double glazing is still the most popular choice for many homeowners in the UK but in places like Scandinavia where winters are very cold, triple glazing tends to be installed as standard.

For homeowners looking to upgrade their windows, this extra insulation gained by installing triple glazing might seem like a no-brainer, but is this the time to switch?

Is triple glazing right for me?

The decision to invest in triple glazing should be weighed against upfront cost, the efficiency of your current windows, the benefit to your home and the savings to your energy bills.

If you live in a well-insulated home which has single glazing or very old double glazing and you are losing a lot of heat over the winter, the difference triple glazing will make will be substantial. Triple glazing also reduces condensation and cold spots where double glazing sometimes does not.

The same can be said for those that live in a noisy area and need the extra insulation to reduce sound. The extra pane of glass enhances the reduction of escaped heat and external noise pollution.

However, if you already have effective double glazed windows, replacing them with triple glazing is generally not worth the cost as the difference will be minimal. If you live in a period home or a listed building, triple glazing may not suit your home and in the case of listed properties, it would be illegal to install without permission. In this case, you should be looking into secondary glazing instead.

If you currently have good double glazing but would like to further insulate your home, there are alternatives to triple glazing that are financially viable such as secondary glazing or thick curtains.

How much will it cost?

Triple glazing is generally more expensive than double glazing and the exact price could only be named after an assessment had been made on your home. As a rough guideline, average sized, uPVC, casement style double glazed window costing £350 may cost around £490 for exactly the same style in triple glazing.

If you are replacing all your windows, this extra cost could add up to be a pretty expensive project and if upgrading from good double glazing, you may not see a return from your energy bills.

The savings you make are based on your home’s individual circumstances but renovating all the windows in your house from single glazing to triple glazing could save you 50% off your energy bills. The difference to your bills from double glazing to triple glazing will be far less and arguably not worth the price.

So is it time to switch?

Triple glazing only makes sense as a financial investment if you are replacing single glazing or old double glazing. If you already have good quality double glazing then there is no reason to switch to triple glazing. You will see minimal benefits and never regain your investment money.