External sliding doors are a great way to open up your home to your patio or garden area and create the illusion of more space inside. Additionally, the large glazing panels offer almost uninterrupted views of the outdoors, drenching your home with natural light year-round. Although the appearance of your sliding patio door is a high priority, the type of glass selected is key for energy efficiency and security.
Choosing the right type of glass helps enhance the your patio door performance regardless of whether you install a Bi-fold door or French Door, but there are various factors to consider such as cost, noise reduction, practicality and thermal performance. This guide helps homeowners make an informed decision between double glazed and triple glazed sliding doors.
In this guide:
Learn more about the key differences between double and triple glazing.
Explore the complete picture when it comes to choosing the type of glass for your new build or period property.
Deciding between double and triple glazing for your sliding doors depends on several factors.
What is the Difference Between Double and Triple Glazing?
Triple glazing has three layers of glass compared to double-glazing’s two – the more layers there are, the better the thermal performance. However, this adds considerable thickness which can be harder to accommodate when installing large sliding door panels. You can identify the physical difference between double and triple glazing by looking at the number of glass panes that they have. Although it won’t be visible once your sliding door is installed, if you look up close at an angle, you can see the glass layers.
Origin’s selection of Patio Sliders do not come as bonded systems, so you’re able to work with your installer to choose the type of glass that best suits your needs, whether that’s double or triple glazing. You can also specify the type of security glass, such as, laminated glass or solar reflective glass.
Energy efficiency
One of the biggest differences between the two types of glazing is their energy efficiency. Triple glazed doors can be up to 50% more energy efficient than double glazed doors and will help to keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. The heat loss from your home is conveyed in U-Values, the lower the U-Value, the more energy efficient the glazing is.
Origin’s range of Patio Sliders can achieve superior U-Value ratings of up to 0.78 W/m²K when triple glazing is selected which far exceeds the current building regulations for new build properties.
Noise reduction
Another key difference between double and triple glazing options is the amount of noise reduction that they provide. The thicker the glass or the more sheets of glazing, the better the sound proofing. For this reason, triple glazing is generally superior for maintaining the serenity of your home - this can be particularly useful if you live in a busy urban area, near a main road or a railway.
Cost
There are so many advantages to triple-glazing, but it costs more to have than double-glazing. The actual costs of your project will vary depending on sliding door configuration, size, material and customisations. However, you may expect to spend 10-20% more for triple glazing compared to double glazing, so it’s important to consider your budget.
Lifetime cost analysis of triple glazed sliding doors
Triple glazing costs more than double glazing, but it’s also up twice as energy efficient. After-all, you’ll likely get a return on investment, simply in terms of energy savings by levelling up on your glazing. However, the amount of energy saved will depend on the size of the door and other factors.
Secondly, adding a high-quality triple-glazed sliding door from Origin will not only enhance your living experience, but will also add value when it’s time to sell. Origin’s triple-glazed sliding doors have excellent thermal performance with huge advantages such as stunning visual appeal, exceptional durability and outstanding security. This makes our Sliding Doors a smart investment.
Evaluating the Pros and Cons of Double vs Triple Glazing
If your home is located away from loud areas and/ or is a new build that already has fairly decent energy efficient, double glazed sliding doors is likely to be suitable.
For homes that need a little extra protection, such as homes in exposed locations, cold climates or noisy areas, triple glazing is the best option. Although sliding doors with triple glazing may be more expensive, they offer numerous benefits that make the extra money worth it. Compare the pros and cons of the two types of glass.
Triple glazing is a must for low-carbon Passivhaus projects where energy-saving is a top priority.
| Double Glazing | Triple Glazing | |
|---|---|---|
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The durable aluminium door frames from Origin are designed to support both double and triple glazing, even while maintaining ultra-slim sightlines and a seamless operation. The decision ultimately comes down to cost, energy efficiency, noise reduction and ease of operation.
If you’d like to know more about whether you should choose double glazing or triple glazing for your new Origin Sliding Doors, speak to your local installer today.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Triple and Double Glazing
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| Double glazing | Triple glazing | |
|---|---|---|
Cost | More affordable to manufacture, deliver and install | More expensive to manufacture, deliver and install. You could expect to pay 20% more for the glass |
Sound insulation | Adequate for homes in quiet areas | Triple glazing has superior sound insulation and works better for noisy areas |
Energy efficiency | Adequate for the temperate UK climate | Superior to double glazing with lower U-Values |
Which Type of Glass Do Origin’s Aluminium Sliding Doors Accommodate?
Origin manufactures all external patio doors using premium-grade aluminium which is much more durable than timber or uPVC. This also allows the frames to support large panes of glass whilst offering ultra-slim sightlines, even when using triple-glazing units.
You can choose between three sightline widths, including the OS-29+, OS-44 and OS-77. For the most uninterrupted views of the outdoors, select the OS-29+ with the slimmest sightline of just 29 millimetres.
.jpg) OS-44 | .jpg) OS-77 |
Custom sizing options for double or triple glazed sliding doors
Origin Sliding Doors are completely bespoke, so you can find the perfect fit for your home, whether you have a wide or narrow brickwork opening or unusual height measurements. You can configure the sliding doors to have as many as six sashes, which can be up to 2.2m wide and over 2.6m tall individually. Read about sliding door panel configurations.
The strong aluminium frame allows for large glazing panels and slim sightlines, so you can create an entire wall of glass in your home.
Accessory options – Choosing the right glass for patio door security
Origin’s non-bonded system means that the sliding doors can be specified with any type of glass that is compatible with the frames . Origin Sliding Doors can accommodate double or triple glazing options, and from there, you can work with your installer to choose the right type of glass for you, whether that’s laminated, security, reflective, acoustic etc.
External patio doors must be fitted with toughened security glass, which is not only much harder to break, but shatters into small, blunt pieces rather than sharp, dangerous shards. However, for even more peace of mind, you could select laminated glass. A layer of plastic can help prevent the glass from shattering. Solar reflective glass is also a smart choice for added privacy and security.
Adding security film or blinds is also another way to enhance the security of your sliding patio door if you haven’t selected privacy glass from your installer.
As well as glazing customisations, you can choose from a wide range of RAL colours including, Anthracite Grey (7016M), Jet Black (9005M) and Patio White (9910G).
You can find out more about Origin Sliding Doors for your home by contacting your local installer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a triple pane sliding door cost?
It’s difficult to provide an answer, since the price depends on panel size, glass type, the supplier and the manufacturer. For an accurate cost, contact your local installer with details of your project.
Are triple glazed doors worth it?
Ultimately, triple glazing is worth it for the added thermal efficiency and energy savings long-term. However, if you live in a new build, you may be able to get away with double glazing without too much heat loss.
Are triple-glazed doors secure?
Triple glazing is thicker than double glazing, so it’s much heavier. However, Origin’s aluminium frames are designed to support the weight of triple glazed security glass. For additional peace of mind, select laminated or solar reflective glass.
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