Plastic windows made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are a popular, time-tested and effective solution for heat and sound insulation of a room. How to achieve a long service life? How to keep extra maintenance to a minimum? How to choose the best quality and the best price among the variety available on the market? Here are 5 points that have a fundamental impact on selection of plastic windows, tips that should be kept in mind when choosing a plastic euro-window.
5. Window profile
First of all, you should pay attention to the width of the window profile. The heat and sound insulating properties, the number of chambers, setting the type of glass unit and its thickness depend on this important parameter. In harsh climatic conditions, the profile should be at least 58 and up to 120 mm wide. In such profiles there are from 3 to 5 chambers, they can be filled with inert gas (SF6 or argon) or simply air. Seven-chamber windows should not be used - they give a slight increase in heat savings and sound insulation, but the price will increase much.
The thickness of the profile walls must be at least 3 mm. You should not buy windows where the profile thickness is 2-2.5 mm - the plastic will have to withstand heavy loads, especially in the harsh climate in some Russian regions.
4. Glass unit
Which glass unit to choose - single-chamber, two-chamber or three-chamber - depends on the characteristics of the room and climatic conditions. For premises that do not require heating, it is worth choosing a single, for premises for offices, apartments and private houses - at least double. If the climatic conditions are characterized by increased severity or the windows face a noisy highway, a triple glazing is recommended.
The type of glass is also important. Usually, standard float glass is used, but IR glass is becoming more and more popular among buyers, it is also energy saving. A special coating on the surface of the glass reflects heat, so it will not be hot in summer even in rooms located in the southeast.
It is also worth deciding on the number of sashes (for example, the more blind sashes, the lower the cost - you can save on fittings) and the method of opening them: rotating, "accordion", swing-out and sliding.
3. Fittings and additional options
Handles, blockers, hinges, seals and much more - all of this applies to fittings. The main rule here is that the better the quality, the better, since it is the fittings that account for most of the load during window operation. Poor quality fittings can lead to blowing out, jamming and, as a result, to window replacement. Particular attention should be paid to fittings in the case of installing a triple glass unit due to the large weight of the sashes.
It is also worth taking care of drainage systems, slopes, mosquito nets and seals. For economical options, rubber gaskets are used, and for more expensive window systems, elastomeric seals are used. Despite the very long service life (when compared to rubber), elastomeric seals are also much more expensive.
2. Price
The miser pays twice, and the vain one - three times. Products of well-known brands often cost more than less promoted, but similar in quality products from other companies.If money is not enough, then when buying a cheap window it is worthwhile to carefully study the certificates and the history of the company's existence - it is hardly worth trusting one-day companies. In general, in Russia, a turnkey installation of a double-leaf plastic window will cost approximately 12,000 - 17,000 rubles.
1. Installation
Top-5 tips for choosing plastic windows are headed by the most noisy and "dirty" stage, after which a blessed silence will come in your house. Joints and joints are the weakest point of all structures, so the installation should be entrusted to professionals. It is necessary require installation in accordance with GOST 30971-2002 "Seams of assembly units for joining window blocks to wall openings". During work, vapor-permeable self-expanding foam and waterproofing tape should be used. And then the window will stand for many years and do not require additional maintenance.
Good advice! I worked as a manager in a window company for a long time. When the choice of installing windows arose, I chose KBE. Since the products of this German brand have proven themselves from the best side. Noise insulation is good, they keep heat well. I'm glad!