Double glazing vs triple glazing vs self-cleaning glass

tallac

I'm going to be replacing all the windows in the house with new double glazing. It's been about 30 years since I last had to do this so I'm sure technology has moved on. Is triple glazing and self-cleaning glass something worth considering? What's the percentage premium to pay for each of these over standard double glazing?

The appeal for triple glazing is the extra sound insulation and the extra thermal insulation. Anyway, if the premium is an extra 5% then it's definitely worth stretching for. If the extra is 50% then I'll probably leave it. Anything in between and I'll need to weigh it up.

EssexExile

Triple glazing added about 5% to ours. It's difficult to tell if it's worth it, it's not really noticeable but all our panes are the same thickness so not the best for sound.
https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/glazing-double-or-triple/

RelievedSheff

Our new build has come with Argon filled double glazing which is another option to explore.

Martin_the_Unjust

I always thought double glazing was better for preventing heat loss whereas triple is better at sound insulation. I think it was all to do with double having bigger air gaps.

No idea about self cleaning glass though.

TELLIT01

We recently had a roof unit in our conservatory replaced following storm damage.  Although it's spec'd with self-cleaning glass, and has been supplied with it, the installer was of the opinion that self cleaning glass is a waste of time and money.  From my experience over the years with our conservatory I would tend to agree. 

Mutton_Geoff

Martin_the_Unjust said:

I always thought double glazing was better for preventing heat loss whereas triple is better at sound insulation. I think it was all to do with double having bigger air gaps.

You are correct which is why secondary double glazing works well as there is a larger gap than normally used in sealed units.

edgex

You need to look at the whole window u-value. Also, not all triple-glazing is the same, it can be made with different spaces & glass thicknesses.

ytfcmad

RelievedSheff said:

Our new build has come with Argon filled double glazing which is another option to explore.

99% of all DGU's have been Argon filled for the best part of the last twenty years, some are Krypton filled.

ytfcmad

tallac said:

I'm going to be replacing all the windows in the house with new double glazing. It's been about 30 years since I last had to do this so I'm sure technology has moved on. Is triple glazing and self-cleaning glass something worth considering? What's the percentage premium to pay for each of these over standard double glazing?

The appeal for triple glazing is the extra sound insulation and the extra thermal insulation. Anyway, if the premium is an extra 5% then it's definitely worth stretching for. If the extra is 50% then I'll probably leave it. Anything in between and I'll need to weigh it up.

Dont bother with triple glazing you WILL NOT notice the difference from a thermal point of view versus standard double glazing and you will never get the extra you pay for it back in saving's on your heating.
From an accustic point of view it makes a difference but strictly speaking if sound is an issue you would be better off getting the DGU's made with proper accustic laminated, two bits of 6mm make a difference too, two bits of 4mm is standard in nearly all DGU's.
Self cleaning glass is a waste of money. It needs to be at an angle realy so windows are pointless. It works with the sun's UV rays and the rain (i wont bore you with all the techy stuff) The other thing with it is it doesnt like the chemicals in cleaning products so it's very easy to end up with spotty patchy glass if you get the wrong thing on it. 

RelievedSheff

ytfcmad said:

RelievedSheff said:

Our new build has come with Argon filled double glazing which is another option to explore.

99% of all DGU's have been Argon filled for the best part of the last twenty years, some are Krypton filled.

You are right, they are in fact Krypton not Argon filled!

tallac

Are triple glazed window frames the same as double glazing? Could a person who has modern double glazing windows upgrade to triple by simply changing the glass units?