Fed up with draughty rooms or motorway noise?
This straight-talking guide shows exactly when triple glazing pays off and when high-spec double glazing already does the job for homes in Hertfordshire, Essex and south Cambridgeshire.
TL;DR (Key Takeaways)
- Double glazing (A-rated) beats current Building Regs and pays back in ≈ 10 years.
- Triple glazing knocks off an extra 10 dB of noise—gold for properties near Stansted or the M11.
- Up-front cost difference: +£160 per window; triple usually needs 12–18 years to repay unless it’s a new build.
- Mixing works: triple on the noisy street façade, double at the quieter rear.
- Book a free local survey to see which rooms benefit most.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Modern Double | Triple |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-window U-value (lower = warmer) | 1.2 W/m²K | 0.8 W/m²K |
| Extra noise cut (vs single pane) | –31 dB | –41 dB |
| Average installed cost* | £325 | £485 |
| Typical pay-back | 8–12 yrs | 12–18 yrs |
* South-East England casement pricing, summer 2025.
1 — Building-Reg Basics (Made Simple)
- Part L 2022 caps replacement‐window U-value at 1.4 W/m²K.
- Good A-rated double glazing already scores around 1.2 W/m²K.
- The draft Future Homes Standard 2025 sets a notional 0.8 W/m²K for new builds—hence triple glazing future-proofs extensions you’ll keep for 20+ years.
2 — Does Our Local Climate Justify Triple?
Hertfordshire & Essex sit in the UK’s Central SAP zone—cool winters but not Scottish cold snaps.
Many period homes (Victorian terraces in Bishop’s Stortford, timber frames in Much Hadham) leak more heat through walls and lofts than through decent double glazing.
Air-tightness upgrades + A-rated double often deliver a bigger £-for-£ saving than jumping straight to triple panes.
3 — Noise Hotspots & When Triple Wins
| Location example | Dominant noise | Best glazing spec |
|---|---|---|
| Sawbridgeworth, CM21 (M11) | Constant motorway hum | 6.8/4/6.8 mm laminated double |
| Stansted / Takeley | Airbus A321 take-off | 10.8/16/6.8 mm triple acoustic |
| Ware town centre | Late-night pub noise | Secondary glazing + 6.8 mm laminate |
A laminated mid-pane in a triple unit can slice ≈ 10 dB extra, which the ear hears as half as loud.
4 — Real-World Cost Scenarios
👪 1930s Semi, St Albans
- Upgrade: C-rated PVC → A-rated double
- Capital uplift: £5,600 (12 windows)
- Annual gas saved: 820 kWh • Pay-back ≈ 10 yrs
🏠 Eco Self-build, Saffron Walden
- Upgrade: A-rated double → triple
- Capital uplift: £4,800 (16 windows)
- Annual gas saved: 1,400 kWh • Pay-back ≈ 15 yrs
5 — FAQs (click to expand)
Will triple glazing over-heat south-facing rooms?
No. We specify low-g solar-control coatings on the sunny elevations to stop “hot-box” feel in July.Can I mix double & triple glazing in the same house?
Absolutely. We often fit triple units on the noisy front and match-sightline double units at the rear—nobody sees the difference from the kerb.Is triple glazing heavier—do I need new hinges?
Yes, frames and hardware must be rated for the extra weight; our PAS 24 hinges and reinforced profiles cover it.Will I need new trickle vents?
Since 2022, yes. We integrate high-performance vents that meet Part F while minimising draughts.6 — Client Snapshot
“We’re right under the Stansted flight path and slept through every night once the triple units went in.”
— Sarah F., Sawbridgeworth
(See more photos in our Project Gallery.)
7 — Next Steps
Ready to find out which rooms in your house deserve triple glazing—and which ones don’t?
All installations are FENSA-certified and carry our 10-year workmanship guarantee.
Published by Andrews Glass Ltd – serving Hertfordshire, Essex & South Cambs since 1974.
