Glazing recommendations (e-glass, normal, laminated, double)

Afternoon all,

We are in the process of finalising our selection for an upper storey addition, and am interested in making sure we get the right glazing for our application to have an energy efficient home. There seems to be a few choices. We lived in Marrickville under the flightpath for a while in a double glazed house which reduced the noise considerably. Now in Gladesville, Sydney and have a mix of requirements for noise reduction (front windows) and then also energy efficiency.

I've attached our current window schedule with some comments. All windows currently are U-v 7.63 and SHGC 0.75.

Any input as to what I should be requesting would be most appreciated.

Cheers,

TomAttachment 130538

It might be better to talk to the window manufacturer and clearly set out your requirements.

I like thermally broken frames for maximum energy efficiency so I have some double glazed uPVC windows & doors with argon gas and a special thermal glass coating too - as well as some older wooden legacy windows.

However, my builder friend swears by thermally improved aluminium double glazed windows, by Eco Eco in Vic, for the cost savings

Do you have a budget in mind?

For glass, must be double glazed these days.

For the minimal increase, I’d get low-e coating to reflect heat.

For noise, laminated is similar to double glazed but doesn’t have the thermal efficiency.

So double glazed over laminated for me.

I believe you can get laminated double glazed, but not sure if any window supplier can supply or fit standard window frames.

Window frame is also important for thermal efficiency.

Personally have uPVC for thermal efficiency and sound proofing.

My windows have double seals, as would most uPVC. It’s very airtight.


S

In Sydney where you are, extreme thermal control has less significant effect than what the recommendations from the south are. If your main focus is noise than a normal window with a large gap to a secondary window both with different thickness of laminated glass, otherwise 6.5mm laminated smart glass with noise resilient seals is a good choice too. A lot depends on how close the noise is and type that you want reduce. Keep in mind, the measures you take can be defeated by the structure of the building.

Thanks, appreciate the replies. I'll check with the window company - the laminated option might be ok - looking at it you can get different thicknesses in the laminated glass as well.

The way windows face has a significant bearing on the cost benefit of different designs. Any window that gets sun in summer whatever way it is facing, will benefit from e-glass. Aluminium window frames will destroy the benefits of double glazing unless they have thermal breaks - make sure they do have thermal breaks!