Amidst rising energy costs, installing traditional single-panel windows has become a thing of the past. Double-glazed windows have exploded in popularity due to their strong insulation and robust design. Homeowners are also exploring the possibilities of laminated glass, one of the strongest windows for protecting your property. Although double-glazed and laminated glass windows share a lot of similarities, understanding their differences can help you make the right choice. In our guide, we’ll compare these two popular options and explore their key differences to find out which is better suited for you.
What is Double Glazing?
Double-glazed windows use two separate glass panels, which are separated by an air gap of at least 12mm. This gap is sealed and filled with a gas such as argon between the glass pieces. This sealed barrier acts as an insulating layer between your inner and outer glass, reducing cold air and sunlight from passing through, which can help keep your home at a comfortable temperature year-round. Unlike your typical single-panel of glass, double glazing also provides an extra layer of strength with extra panels, reducing the risk of breakage.
What is Laminated Glass?
Laminated glass, also known as “safety glass,” is similar to double-glazing in that it’s composed of multiple glass panels. However, what makes laminated glass unique is that the glass panels are bonded together by a strong, transparent interlayer, usually of polyvinyl butyral (PVB). This interlayer keeps the two panels connected even when broken, which helps to prevent the glass from breaking up into little pieces. Because of the added protection of the interlayer this helps to protect against sound pollution with an extra barrier.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Double Glazing Vs Laminated Glass
Both double-glazing and laminated glass offer unique benefits when compared to each other. To help you make the right choice for your home, we have compiled the following list of advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages of Double Glazing
- Energy-efficient
Because of the gas-filled gap that separates the two panels in double glazing, it provides superior insulation. Double-glazed windows can retain 30% more heat and cool air than single-glazed windows, which means it takes less energy to warm or chill your home. Double glazing can improve your home’s energy efficiency rating by around 30%, helping you save on your annual energy bills. - Reduces outdoor noise
Both laminated and double-glazed windows are great for reducing outside noise. Double glazing can help reduce noise by up to 40 dB, which can help make any outdoor sounds barely audible. The barriers of double-glazed windows perform particularly well against medium to high frequency noises, such as human voices or dogs barking. - Increases the value of your home
Installing double-glazed windows is a great way to increase the value of your home. This is because of their energy efficiency, which can make a property more attractive to potential buyers looking to properly insulate their home. - Less condensation on your windows
The extra thermal barrier in double-glazed windows helps to reduce the amount of heat loss. Since condensation is formed when warm air comes into contact with a cooler surface, the heat trapped in your inner glass panels helps to minimise condensation. - Sustainable and environmentally friendly
As a result of their high energy efficiency, double glazing stops you from using your heating and cooling appliances. This helps to decrease your energy footprint, reducing your reliance on electricity and harmful fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas. Therefore, by installing double glazing, you’re taking an active step towards sustainability.
Disadvantages of Double Glazing
- Higher Upfront Cost
Cost will always be a significant factor when discussing double glazing. Not only is it more expensive than your typical single-glazed windows, but it will likely cost more than laminated glass. When calculating your exact cost, it’s important to consider factors such as the size of your windows, your location and your choice of installer. On average, you should expect a double-glazed window to cost anywhere from $300 to $1,500 per square metre. - Managing condensation can be difficult
Although condensation is reduced with double glazing, it can be harder to manage when it occurs. When condensation forms on a single panel, it’s relatively easy to wipe down and manage. However, when this occurs in the middle of two panels, this can prove more difficult. Typically, this is the result of a seal in your window failing, which allows moisture to get trapped between the panels. This can block your view and reduce the insulation of your windows. - Costly repairs
Another issue with double-glazed windows is their lack of repair options. Although minor cracks or chips that don’t harm the window’s structure can be professionally repaired, any larger issues will often require a complete replacement. This makes choosing a high-quality installer essential to ensuring your glass is properly sealed and fitted to avoid any future replacement. - Heavy weight
Double glazing is heavier than single-glazing because you are adding an extra panel of glass. This can put strain on your surrounding window frames and hinges, which may require additional structural support. Importantly, this will be an issue for laminated glass, too, which also incorporates multiple panels.
Advantages of Laminated Glass
- Ensure safety
Unlike regular windows or double-glazing, laminated glass won’t break into tiny pieces when damaged, and can hold together. This is due to the interlayer between the two glass panels, which holds the fragments together. As a result, laminated glass offers superior safety by preventing the glass from shattering into sharp, dangerous pieces that could cause injury. - Provides security
Because of the interlayer holding both panels together, laminated glass offers great protection against any break-in attempts by stopping burglars from easily smashing a hole for entry. Laminated glass is so secure that it’s often used within correctional facilities and prisons, and can withstand bullet and bomb blasts. - UV protection
Laminated glass also provides significant protection against the sun’s UV rays. This is because of the plastic interlayer that sits between the glass panels. This acts as a barrier that absorbs up to 99% of UV rays from passing through, thus reducing the risk of fading, dislocation and other damage to your home interiors. - Noise reduction
The two panels, in addition to the added interlayer barrier, can dampen the amount of sound from entering your home. Because of the interlayer’s polyvinyl butyral (PVB) material, it’s especially effective against any low-frequency sounds such as road traffic or aeroplanes. Although it’s great at blocking out low frequencies, if you’re looking at stopping medium to high-frequency noises, such as human voices or dog barking, then you should consider double glazing.
Disadvantages of Laminated Glass
- Still an expensive option
Although laminated glass typically costs less than double-glazing, it’s still a more expensive option than a more traditional single-glazed panel. On average, you should expect to pay between $300 and $400 per square metre. - Lower energy efficiency
While laminated glass can provide some insulation, it won’t be as strong as double-glazing. This is due to its design, which prioritises strength and impact resistance, but lacks the gas-filled space between panels in double glazing that provides insulation. - Appearance
Due to the PVB interlayer sandwiched between your panels, there is a possibility that your glass’s appearance may be negatively affected. The interlayer can create visual distortion, which affects the overall clarity and aesthetics of your glass. Therefore, laminated glass may not be the ideal choice for shopfront windows or situations where precise visibility is essential.
Why Choose Double Glazing
Choosing between double-glazing and laminated glass will ultimately depend upon what you’re looking for in a window panel.
If energy efficiency is a big concern, and you want glass that provides the best insulation, we recommend choosing double-glazing. When compared to laminated glass, double-glazing does a much better job at keeping your home warmer in the winter and colder during the summer.
Although it does typically cost more than laminated, because of its insulation capabilities, you won’t have to use heating or cooling appliances as frequently. Therefore, in the long run, because of your savings on energy bills, double-glazing can still be a cost-effective option. Also, it’s a great money decision if you’re looking for a way to increase the value of your home. Although it doesn’t have the same level of robustness as laminated glass, its double panels are still strong enough to withstand hard knocks.
If you’re looking for the most energy-efficient glass that can drive your energy bills down, we recommend double-glazing for your home.
Why Choose Laminated Glass?
If your primary concern is around safety and security, then choosing laminated glass is certainly your best bet. This is primarily due to its design, with the central interlayer guaranteeing that it can hold together, even when your glass is shattered. This is ideal for people who are living in an area prone to extreme weather or natural disasters, such as storms or cyclones.
Furthermore, if you’re worried about burglaries or break-ins, then we recommend choosing laminated glass. Because of how the interlayer binds the two panels together, this makes it difficult for tools such as crowbars to pry it open. Like double-glazing, laminated glass is also super effective at blocking out noise, making it great for properties near busy intersections or traffic.
Laminated glass is also usually the cheaper option. So if you’re concerned about budget, but don’t want to skip out on the added security and noise protection, laminated glass may be the stronger choice.
Combining Double Glazed and Laminated Glass
If you are looking for the strongest glass option, many manufacturers are able to combine both technologies. This is a great way to unlock the benefits of both options. You can ensure your energy efficiency is optimised and your home is kept at a comfortable temperature with double-glazing. Then by adding laminated glass, you can enhance your glass’s strength and security with an extra layer of protection. This also helps to maximise the soundproofing of your home from noise pollution. Additionally, the UV protection associated with laminated glass can be added for further protection to your interior furnishings. Although joining both glass types will be more expensive than either option by itself, when combined, you can unlock the best of both worlds.
Both double-glazed and laminated glass windows offer different benefits. Although both provide great protection against noisy environments, double glazing is the superior choice for insulation, while laminated glass excels when protecting your home. If you want to find out more about double glazing compared to laminated glass, please contact the expert team at Windows for Life.
