Double or triple glazing – which is best for my Gloucestershire home?

Double glazing became the latest ‘must-have’ home improvement in Gloucestershire and the wider UK in the 1970s and 80s.

New homes built in the 1980s had double glazing as standard and since 2002 it has been mandatory for replacement windows to comply with building regulations to make sure that safety, thermal and ventilation standards are met.

Installing double-glazed windows is one of the most important actions you can take to retain as much heat as possible in a home.

This article looks at how double and triple glazing works and explains the difference between them to help you decide which to use when you replace or upgrade your windows.

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What is double glazing?

As the name suggests, double glazing is created using two panes of glass within a window frame. The gap between these two layers is filled with dehydrated air or an inert gas such as xenon or krypton gas.

Argon gas (the industry standard gas) is a poor heat conductor which helps to keep the warm air inside your home trapped inside, improving energy efficiency. And because we pay to heat our homes this means that double glazing helps to reduce the cost of keeping our homes warm, which is something we all appreciate with rising energy costs.

Double glazed windows will not only keep heat in during colder weather but will also help to keep external heat out during warmer weather too, with argon gas also working to reduce the ingress of solar heat. You will also notice less condensation on the inside of your windows in cold weather because the inner pane of glass is kept at room temperature.

In addition, double glazed windows provide better sound insulation than single glazing. A further benefit of double glazing is that the extra pane of glass improves home security by strengthening the window.

What is triple glazing?

There are no prizes for guessing that triple glazing involves three panes of glass within a window frame!

Triple glazing offers enhanced levels of energy efficiency, with two spaces between the three panes, both filled with argon gas. The second layer of argon gas adds a modest increase in energy efficiency and added strength, making triple glazed windows more secure than double glazed windows.

Triple glazing does cost more than double. Homeowners will need to decide if they can justify the extra cost against the energy efficiency benefits, which in real terms are actually quite small.

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Secondary glazing improvements to existing windows

Secondary glazing is the final option available to improve the energy and thermal efficiency of windows in homes.

Secondary glazing provides a solution for homes that are unable to install double or triple glazing, either due to budget restraints or issues such as planning restrictions, which may apply to many properties in and around Cheltenham and the wider county of Gloucestershire.

Secondary glazing improves the energy efficiency of existing windows by adding second pane of glass which fits over the existing window and slides so that the original windows can be opened and closed.

This simple and subtle method is a cheaper way to improve heat retention and sound insulation, however the benefits are not as noticeable as with sealed double or triple glazed units as there is no permanent seal between the panes of glass and therefore no trapped inert gas.

If you still have any additional questions about double, triple or secondary glazing or would like more information about our products and prices, contact Cheltenham Glass and Glazing today.