Are triple glazed sliding doors right for homes in Devon?
Most homeowners choosing triple glazed sliding doors want the same things: more light, a clear view and a door that is easy to live with.
Wherever you are in Devon, ask at survey whether triple glazing will limit the panel sizes on the system you prefer for your Devon home.
Is your Devon property beside a main road, railway or flight path? Ask about an acoustic laminated pane within the triple glazed unit.
- Triple glazed doors typically come in well under the 1.4 W/m²K limit that Approved Document L sets in England for a new or replacement door in an existing home with more than 60% glazing.
- In homes heated by a heat pump or underfloor heating, which run at lower temperatures, reducing heat loss through a large door helps the system keep the room comfortable.
- Laminated safety glass can be used as the inner or outer pane of a triple glazed unit, adding security and sound reduction without changing the look of the door.
Guide prices for triple glazed sliding doors in Devon
The table shows guide prices for common sizes, supplied and fitted, including VAT. Your exact price is fixed in a written quote once the opening in your home has been measured.
| Overall width | Typical panels | Guide price (fitted, inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 1.8 m | 2 panels | £4,095–£4,995 |
| 2.4 m | 2 panels | £4,795–£5,895 |
| 3.6 m | 3 panels | £6,295–£7,695 |
| 6.0 m | 4 panels | £9,295–£11,295 |
Every size is on the triple glazed sliding doors page.
Daylight and glass in Devon
Daylight in Devon runs from about 7 h 58 min in December to 16 h 29 min in June, with the noon sun at roughly 16° and 63° respectively. Use that to choose your glass: standard low-E double glazing for north and east elevations, and consider solar-control or triple glazing for sunny south and west walls.
Where we fit in Devon
We cover Plymouth, Exeter, Paignton, Torquay, Newton Abbot, Exmouth and the rest of Devon.
Approvals in England
English Building Regulations treat a new or replacement external door in an existing home as a controlled fitting: it needs a U-value of 1.4 W/m²K or better (or Doorset Energy Rating band C) if more than 60% of it is glazed (Approved Document L), and safety glass in a critical location (Approved Document K). Compliance is arranged through a competent person scheme installer or a Building Control notification, so you get a certificate for your records.
Questions about triple glazed sliding doors in Devon
Is the price different in Devon?
No. Guide prices for triple glazed sliding doors are the same across mainland Britain, including Devon. The fitted price depends on size, system, glass and finish, and any structural work, all fixed in your written quote after survey.
Does triple glazing make sliding doors harder to open?
A well-designed triple glazed sliding door should still open smoothly, because the panel runs on rollers that carry the weight, but it takes slightly more effort to start a heavier panel moving. On very large panels, a lift and slide mechanism is often used instead, which raises the panel off its seals before it slides.
Does triple glazing let in less light?
Triple glazing lets in slightly less light than double glazing because the extra pane absorbs and reflects a little more, and the coatings used to reduce heat loss add a faint tint. Most people find the difference hard to see day to day. A low-iron outer pane can make the glass look clearer if that matters to you.
Is triple glazing worth it on a sliding door?
Triple glazing is usually worth it where heat loss matters most: north- or east-facing doors, exposed sites, very large glass areas, low-energy homes and houses with heat pumps. It adds around 12% to a guide price. On a sheltered south-facing elevation the benefit is smaller, because double glazing lets in slightly more free winter sun.