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What to consider when choosing window glazing
Glass varieties
Single, double or triple glazing?
How to choose the right double-glazing for you
Is triple-glazing worth it?
Why glazing matters
Your windows are potentially the most vulnerable aspect of your home’s construction. Poor design or fitting might let heat out while giving intruders an easy route in.
The good news is that modern glazing has answers to both of these challenges and more. By choosing the right glass style and glazing type for your situation, you can achieve a safe, quiet and energy efficient and environmentally friendly home all year round – all while keeping your energy bills down.
There are two main considerations when choosing glazing: appearance and performance. We’ll break each one down to see how these factors affect your home.
To find out how thermal performance affects your energy bills and the environment, check out our guide to energy-efficient windows.
The most basic and widely used type of glass is called float glass. Most windows use float glass but with extra features to increase energy performance, boost safety & security, or alter the appearance.
Here are some of the most popular glass varieties used in home windows.
Single-glazed windows are less secure, waste more energy and cost more over the long run than double- or triple-glazed windows.
So unless you’re forced to keep single-glazed windows, you’ll want to consider modern double- or triple-glazing for your new windows. (In fact, since 2006, building regulations have required that all windows in new homes and any that are replaced in older dwellings are doubled-glazed.)
The latest government research shows that at least 85% of homes in England have full double-glazing. However, not all double-glazing is equally energy-efficient. Depending on the gap (typically 12mm to 16mm) and the gas used between the panes (usually air or argon), the window can have higher or lower thermal insulation.
You’ll also want to consider the window frame material. Timber window frames have natural thermal insulation to support your double-glazing and last around twice as long as uPVC frames. They’re also much more sustainable and eco-friendly than plastic or metal-framed windows. Read more in our article on timber vs plastic windows.
Triple-glazing can be a significant step up from double-glazing, with better energy performance thanks to the extra pane of glass. However, that’s not to say that high-quality double-glazing isn’t entirely sufficient, especially if the window has an energy rating of A or B.
To decide if triple-glazing is worth it, consider the following:
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Would you benefit from extra noise reduction?
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Would you like the peace of mind of added security?
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Do you have north-facing windows or windows exposed to extreme weather, such as on the coast?
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Could you use triple-glazed windows as a selling point when putting your house on the market?
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Are your walls and roof sufficiently insulated to benefit from the increased thermal performance of triple- vs double-glazing?
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Can you afford to pay 20%-50% more for triple-glazing to enjoy the benefits above?
Our windows use double- or triple-glazed glass to achieve superb thermal insulation. Find out more about our most energy-efficient window, Stormsure Energy+.
For a free custom quote for your new windows, including double- or triple-glazing with optional obscured and laminated glass, check out our online window quote tool.