Prior to committing to purchase and have triple glazed units installed one of the things that the owner of the property must do is to consider whether planning approval will be required in respect of having the work carried out. Many rules have been relaxed over the past couple of years, but there are still many regulations relating to the replacement of windows and doors that planning authorities insist on. The glazing company that has been chosen to carry out the installation will most likely already know how the regulations will affect your property, but if not,  they generally find out  on your behalf. Remember, their reputation is at stake which means that they will want to get it right too.

However, as a general rule, in most instances, it is unlikely that planning approval will be required to install triple glazing. For instance, if the windows and doors are of a similar appearance to those that are being replaced, are unlikely to involve any significant alteration to the property or affect the neighbours then planning permission is unlikely to be needed. As your homes insulation levels will be improved by installing triple glazing, in the majority of cases your new doors and windows compliments the government’s latest round of home improvement initiatives. If triple glazing is being fitted to existing window and door frames then it is unlikely that planning approval will be required.

There are certain occasions when the installation of triple glazing will require planning permission. For instance, if the property is located in a conservation area, the planning authority will wish to ensure that the replacement windows and doors are in keeping with the locality. If the windows and doors are seen as an improvement or are not visible to members of the public then planning permission may be granted. Also, if the property is a listed building then listed building consent must be sought. Again, any good triple glazing company will be able to advise and indeed help you meet regulations by dealing with the council on your behalf. If triple glazing is to be installed in a commercial property such as an industrial unit, hotel or a flat then planning approval is normally required. If the council had issued an Article 4 Direction that withdrew permitted development rights planning approval will be required.

There is certain documentation that you should get once the job is done.

1- a written personal guarantee
2- a written invoice and receipt of payment
3- a FENSA, BM TRADA or Certass Certificate after work has been completed!
(It’s your guarantee that they local authority has been informed & it's required when selling your home.)
4- an insurance backed guarantee.

For more on Glazing regulations see Conservatories and Regulations

Quite simply, triple glazing is better than double-glazing because three panes of glass are used in the construction of the sealed window frame or door. In view of this, there will be two air gaps rather than just one that you would find in double glazing. The optimal gap between your triple glazing panes should be 16mm but does depends on the specific glazing unit you are looking at. Older triple glazing units were very thick and heavy, but newer triple glazing uses thinner glass, better glazing coatings and window frames too. As a result, a triple glazed unit provides better insulation against heat being lost by anything up to a third when compared with double-glazing. Triple Glazing also has far better sound insulation properties, stopping more outside noise like traffic, rain and wind.

Here is an interesting fact for homeowners: Did you know that modern double-glazing has a U value (standard measure used for insulation properties of a material) of around 1.6 whereas triple glazing has a much better U value of about 0.8. However, walls have a superior U value of about 0.3. When double-glazing is used, this leads to cold patches in a home because of the difference in U values between the glazing and the walls. However, because triple glazing has a much lower U value than double-glazing, a benefit is that the number of cold patches will be reduced.

Triple glazing will also add greater value to the home than double-glazing. Homeowners should consider the airflow options prior to installing new windows. Discuss this with your installer to make sure you reduce condensation on your windows as much as possible without loosing too much heat in the process.

New homes are now being built using triple glazing and not double glazing as regulations are constantly being updated forcing UK builders to improve the British housing stocks thermal values. This is already the case for many other European countries and is a direct result of Governments drives towards building carbon neutral homes by the year 2016.

One of the most difficult decisions that a consumer has to make is in deciding which triple glazing firm is the right installer! You either need an installer who can design, manufacture and install the new windows and doors or one who can source the bespoke glazing products at great prices for you. After all, it is likely to be a significant capital outlay on the part of the consumer so the decision needs to be the correct one. Whilst there are many thousands of double glazing installers there are fewer companies that manufacture and fit triple glazing units so that narrows down any search. We suggest that you get several tradesmen to quote you. Consider asking a few companies who are able to source the doors and windows on your behalf as they often get great trade price deals which you, as a homeowner, would not be able to get. Going direct isn’t always the cheapest option in this case.

One of the tried and tested ways of choosing a good tradesman is by word of mouth. There is a great deal to be said for obtaining recommendations from family, friends and work colleagues who have already experienced using the services of a particular triple glazing installer. The Internet is worth using as it provides a useful source of review sites where customers can provide a review of tradespeople. The company should be able to provide verifiable written testaments from customers that they have done work for over the years. The company should also be able to provide written insured guarantees and should be registered with either FENSA, Certass or BM TRADA.

When choosing the design of a conservatory, orangery, windows, doors or even skylights it is important that you take your personal preferences and requirements into account from the beginning. How would you ideally like the finished item to look like? What colours should be used, what materials are best suited for your home and would you prefer stained glass, rippled, opaque or clear glass to be used? Do you need a dog flap, cat flap or letterbox fitted and does the design you are keen on allow for this? Other considerations to consider are its final use, its appearance, its practicality, whether or not planning permission may be required and, of course, the cost as the finished product must come within a preset budget.

When making these sorts of decisions there is a lot to be said for seeking advice from reputable companies as “two heads are often better than one”. Most professional installers have experienced designers who can guide customers through the various styles available including the choice of materials and colours that the item can be manufactured with such as wood, uPVC, aluminium and the type of glass to use. They will also be able to point out any practical issues as well as advice on any planning and building regulation matters.

Conservatories and orangeries are similar in design but, although both are often used to create additional living space for larger families, there are some small differences. The orangery tends to appear more luxurious as it is a little more intricately designed with greater use being made of brickwork and timber whereas uPVC is seen more frequently in the design of a conservatory. Less use is made of glazing in the design of an orangery when compared with a conservatory. Both types of building come in a variety of design styles incorporating varying shapes and sizes, types of glass and different roof styles and pitches. Included within the design of either type will be the likes of power points, lighting, floor covering and heating.

The outside appearance of a home can be altered dramatically by the design of the windows and doors which come in a huge variety of styles, sizes and types of material used to manufacture them including different types of glass such as double or triple glazed units. For instance, the use of small Georgian panes in a window can create a very different look to a window without these small panes. A solid wooden door can create a different visual impact to a fully glazed door. It is, for instance, possible to have “tilt and turn” windows that enable both the inside and outside of the windows to be easily cleaned. The choice feels almost limitless and will no doubt evolve over time.

We hope this short guide has helped you and would like to remind you to use the FairTrades/HomePro “Find a Tradesman” search facility.