Double Glazed vs Triple Glazed Conservatory

It has long been the question; what are the advantages and disadvantages of installing double glazing as opposed to triple glazing? This article aims to clear up this debate and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of triple vs double-glazing when used in your conservatory or orangery side frames. Householders are increasingly encouraged to install triple glazing as a modern alternative to double glazing, citing the benefits of triple glazed windows in terms of energy saving and noise reduction.

Triple glazing can be a significant investment to install in your home, and it is important to understand the costs and benefits discussed in this article before making your decision. Though double glazing remains a viable option for your home, triple glazing now offers extra benefits, which may tip the balance in its favour. Some of the differences often referenced are detailed below.

Heat Saving Efficiency

The measurement of heat loss in window units is calculated in terms of a U-value, with high levels of insulation indicated by a low U-value.

Double glazed units normally offer a U-value of up to 1.0, while triple glazed units have a U-value of 1.0 or better, achieving as low as 0.7, compared to traditional, single-pane windows with a U-value of 5.0 or more.

Energy Cost Reductions

It follows that the more efficient your windows are regarding heat insulation, the more savings you can achieve in fuel bills. One thing often overlooked is if you feel your energy bills are at a reasonable level, you can keep the heating at the same level and simply enjoy higher comfort levels.

Investing in triple glazed windows can keep your home warmer and lead to savings in utility bills, proven by the prevalence of triple glazing among our European neighbours in colder regions, such as Scandinavia. In Norway, new legislation is coming into effect calling for triple glazing in all new-build properties.

Keep Conservatory Temperature Stable

Triple glazing can also help keep your conseratory temperature steady, both in winter and summer. A study by Germany's Passivhaus Institute showed although double-glazing retained room temperature efficiently, triple glazing was nine percent more effective at keeping an even temperature, whatever the weather.

Noise Reduction

It is often the topic of hot debate that triple glazing can lead to significant noise reduction, making it particularly beneficial for houses near major roads. This may not be the case as we look at the different properties of the glass that reduce sound in the home.

Triple glazing does have an additional layer of glass, leading people to believe that this may be more soundproof; however, the true noise reduction element of any window, double or triple, is the laminate. Laminate is a thin layer of PB plastic placed between the glass when formed. This layer is far more effective than glass at dispersing sound waves and, therefore, means adding laminate to any window type will be a much more effective sound reduction technique

Enhanced Security

As we mentioned above, laminate is a great way to reduce sound in the home, but it is also a great way to enhance the security of the glass in your windows. Both double and triple glazing can be enhanced in this way and will, therefore, see increased security in your glazed extensions. In both circumstances, it is only one pane of the glass that will contain the laminate, and therefore, neither double nor triple glazing offers a significant advantage.

So, Should I Choose Double or Triple Glazing for my Glazed Extension?

Double glazing can be extremely effective if you choose the right product, but it's hard to deny that triple glazing is more effective - who wouldn’t want to purchase a product that was nine times more efficient at maintaining internal temperatures?

Does this mean you should exclude double glazing from your plans when designing your conservatory, orangery or extension? Not at all. It will still deliver superb performance across a range of performance areas – including acoustics, security and heating.

Ask Your Nearest Ultra Installer for Advice

If you’re still struggling to decide whether double or triple glazing is best for your glazed extensions, conservatory or orangery, use our free search tool to locate an Ultra Installer in your immediate area. They will be able to advise on all aspects of glazing and will help you choose a product that’s within your budget and which will deliver the performance levels you need.

The Ultraframe team is also on hand to answer your double-glazing questions. You can submit a question about any of our products during the search process, in which case we’ll be happy to help. We can also provide guideline quotations upon request, so please let us know if you’d like help pricing up your glazed extension project.