Having external sliding doors installed is a great way to open up your home to your patio or garden and create the illusion of more space inside your home. Although the look and fit of the doors are important factors to consider, you should also consider which type of glazing you would like your sliding patio door to have. This also applies when you’re thinking about installing any type of glass door including Bi-fold and French Doors. At Origin, our range of Sliding Doors are available with either double glazing or triple glazing options.
Both options have their pros and cons, and choosing between the two can seem to be a hard decision. To make sure you choose the right option for your home, this guide will provide an overview to help you choose between double glazed and triple glazed sliding doors.
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Learn more about the key differences between double and triple glazing, including the pros and cons of each option.
Find out more about the factors you should consider to decide whether double or triple glazing is right for your sliding doors.
Learn more about Origin’s range of Sliding Doors and the glazing options available to you.
What is the difference between double and triple glazing?
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Sliding doors can be used in a number of locations in your home including your kitchen, conservatory, an extension or as a . Whichever option you choose, you will need to choose the appropriate glazing option for both the location of your doors and the needs of your home.
You can see the physical difference between double and triple glazing by looking at the number of glass panes that they have. A double glazed sliding door has two panes of glass whereas a triple glazed door will have three. This won’t be visible when the door is installed.
Origin’s range of Patio Sliders (OS-29, OS-44, OS-77), do not come as bonded systems, so you’re able to choose the glass that best suits your needs, whether that’s double or triple glazing, and from there, choosing the type of glass such as laminated, toughened safety glass or reflective glass. At Origin, we know that each home has different needs which is when you opt for an Origin Patio Slider, you can choose the best option for your home and needs.
There are also a couple of key differences between the two that should be considered when choosing the best option or your home.
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 measures in U-Values, and the lower the U-Value, the more energy efficient the glazing is.
The Origin Artisan Slider (OS-20) can be specified with three different glass options: toughened glass, laminated glass and solar reflective glass. These Sliding Doors have a U-Value of 1.4 which exceeds British Building Regulation requirements.
Origin’s range of patio sliders (OS-29, OS-44 and OS-77) can achieve superior U-Value ratings of up to 1.3 when triple glazing is selected.
Noise reduction
Another key difference between double and triple glazing is the amount of noise reduction that they provide. The thicker the glass, the greater the noise reduction will be. For this reason, triple glazing is generally superior to double glazing for reducing outside noise and helping to keep your home quiet. This is particularly useful if you live in a busy urban area or near a main road.
What are the pros of double glazing?
If your home is located away from loud noise and is already fairly energy efficient, double glazed sliding doors are the perfect choice. Double glazing offers a variety of benefits that should be considered when making your choice.
- Lower cost than triple glazing
- Double glazing weighs much less, so does not put as much pressure on the frames
- Energy efficiency is adequate for the UK climate
- Provides good sound insulation
- A popular choice with many UK homeowners
What are the cons of double glazing?
Whilst double glazed sliding doors can offer a wide range of benefits, there are also a few cons that should be considered when choosing the right type of glazing for your sliding doors:
- Less energy efficient than triple glazing
- Double glazing can be not as long lasting as triple glazing
Triple glazing
Triple glazing is beneficial for any home, but there are a number of applications that it is even more suited to, including:
- Homes in exposed locations
- Homes in noisy areas
- Passivhaus projects
What are the pros of triple glazing?
For homes that need a little extra protection, triple glazing is the best option. Although sliding doors with triple glazing may be more expensive, they offer a list of benefits that make the extra money worth it. The benefits of triple glazing include:
- More thermally efficient than double glazing, so less heat will escape from your home
- Triple glazing provides superior noise reduction and acoustics
- Triple glazing has a lower U-Value than double glazing
What are the cons of triple glazing?
Whilst triple glazing does offer many benefits, double glazed doors are still the most popular option across the UK. The cons of triple glazing include:
- Triple glazed doors cost more at the outset and delivery and installation costs are higher
- The extra weight of triple glazed sliding doors can place more weight on the aluminium frame and hinges or make operation heavier. However, aluminium sliding door frames provide the best support due to their strength and longevity whilst still offering slim sightlines and allowing maximum levels of natural light into your home
- Sliding doors with triple glazing can be heavier to open and close
If you’d like to know more about whether you require 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
| Double glazing | Triple glazing | |
|---|---|---|
Cost, installation and delivery | Price depends on size | Price depends on size, but expect to pay more as there is an additional sheet. There may potentially be more expensive transport fees and machinery may need to be included to help manoeuvre and install |
Sound insulation | Good for homes in quiet areas | Triple glazing has superior sound insulation and works well in noisy areas |
Energy efficiency | Adequate for UK climate | Superior to double glazing with low U-Values |
Origin Sliding Doors
OS-20 Artisan Slider
Our OS-20 Sliding Doors provide ultra-slim sightlines and a structurally bonded system made from premium grade aluminium. This means that the glass and frame are delivered as one unit and available. We work alongside internationally celebrated glass suppliers to create a sliding door that is incredibly secure, thermally efficient and aesthetically stunning. Our Aluminium Sliding Doors are able to accommodate large panel sizes without impacting on quality or security to provide you with the perfect way to bring the outside in. The OS-20 Sliding Doors are made using energy-efficient low-emissivity glass.
OS-29/OS-44/OS-77 Patio Sliding Door
The OS-29/OS-44/OS-77 Patio Sliding Doors are completely bespoke with three sightline options available, so you can find the perfect fit for your home. The doors have a warm, elegant finish that is designed to maximise light and allow you to enjoy the views outside.
This range is available as a dry glazed system (OS-77) which means that the glass is installed into the frame with gaskets or a semi-dry glazed system (OS-29 and OS-44). Both can accommodate double or triple glazing, and are easier for your tradesperson to install than a fully bonded system, which can help to keep your project timelines moving. In addition, if the glass breaks in the future, it can be replaced without having to replace the whole system.
With our Patio Slider, you can configure a Patio Door to suit your needs as well as match the style of your home with a range of popular colour options 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.
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