Sunroom (Double or Triple Glazing?)

paddylambe

Hi all,
Im in the middle of having a Sunroom added to my 1976 bungalow at the back. The sunroom will face South and will have double door + window panles to the right (East facing toward the rest of the house, 2 windows to the West facing the house boundary and large windows to the South side approx 10 foot high and 4m wide.

My question is, should I be getting triple glazing in or double. I want to have good insulation properties but also want to harness some of the heat from the sun coming in the windows and fear that triple glazed windows will reduce this heating affect. We had single glazed windows where the sunroom is going (and a double glazed patio door) before now and the heat (even in a winters day) coming in was substantial.

Any advice is appreciated.

mike_2009

Hi,
I'd be looking at the most cost effective option but add over hanging shades to protect against the worst of the summer sun, and blinds you can draw to keep out some of the heat build up - window openings as always is a must as I've experienced the heat at peak times in conservatories and it's melting! Low-e glass might help a bit but the price premium for triple glazing wouldn't be worth it in my opinion, good quality frames that can deal with the UV issue though and UV protection on the outer glass would protect the investment better. uPVC is cheaper but going to break down faster than wood or aluclad.
I'm sure there will be further advice along the way from others....

paddylambe

mike_2009 wrote: »

Hi,
I'd be looking at the most cost effective option but add over hanging shades to protect against the worst of the summer sun, and blinds you can draw to keep out some of the heat build up - window openings as always is a must as I've experienced the heat at peak times in conservatories and it's melting! Low-e glass might help a bit but the price premium for triple glazing wouldn't be worth it in my opinion, good quality frames that can deal with the UV issue though and UV protection on the outer glass would protect the investment better. uPVC is cheaper but going to break down faster than wood or aluclad.
I'm sure there will be further advice along the way from others....

Thanks Mike. I'm not too concerned about too much heat in Summer as the room is a sunroom not a conservatory, it is with trying to harness and retain ant heat that may come in from the winter sun. If I put triple on am i limiting the heat that can come in and if I have double only am I allowing too much heat out?

mike_2009

In that case fire ahead and do triple glazing, keeps the heat in and let's the solar gain work it's magic too. Just make sure you can take the weight or go double glazed with insulated frames?