Instruction

PVC plastic windows account for 70% of the volume of windows in Europe. PVC plastic is non-flammable, environmentally friendly, resistant to aggressive environments, has excellent thermal protection (0.53 m2 °C / W), has good sound insulation (26 dBa), frost-resistant (up to -60 °C), easy to maintain, has low gas and air permeability (17 m3/h m2), high strength of corner joints (1000 N), long service life (up to 50 years) and relatively low cost. For the climatic conditions of Russia, the world level of PVC profile quality can be achieved, for example, by such a design: box width - at least 70 mm; number of hermetic chambers - at least 5; number of sealing circuits - at least 3; 36-40 mm wide (usually 24-32 mm); PVC profile wall thickness - 3 mm (usually max 2.3-2.7 mm) plus its reinforcement with a galvanized square with a wall thickness of 2 mm - this increases the durability of products up to 50 years.

Certified double-glazed windows of European quality are single-chamber - 24 mm thick, mainly for industrial premises; two-chamber - with a thickness of 28 and 32 mm for industrial and 36 mm - for residential premises, and three-four-chamber - with a thickness of more than 40 mm - for modern elite residential premises, in which only PVC with a box width of 100 mm or more provide the maximum resistance of the window to heat transfer and complete isolation from street noise, dust and moisture. Seals serve the same purpose - elastic gaskets along the perimeter of the window between the frame and the sash. In PVC of the highest quality, not ordinary rubber seals of domestic production should be used, but certified elastomeric seals designed specifically for the climatic conditions of Russia.

Fittings are an important element of the window design for fixing it to the frame, opening, locking and ventilating. In high-end PVC windows, you need to use German “safe” tilt-and-turn fittings, which allows you to open the window in 4 ways: rotary, tilt-and-turn, folding (fanlight) and slotted (winter). Such fittings are one of the best in the world, they are extremely reliable, durable and easy to operate and maintain.

An important element is also the installation of PVC windows. The quality of installation is determined by the following factors.
Correct measurement of window openings (measurement from inside and outside, while a quarter should not be less, and the window should be larger than the outer dimensions of the opening by 30-40 mm in width and 15-20 mm in height). Proper installation and fastening of frames to the wall (the new frame is started from the side of the room by 2-3 cm in a quarter: 3-4 cm in panel and 10-15 cm in brick houses, strictly according to the level, without distortions of the box, the frames are fastened with an anchor bolt or climber, the voids around the perimeter are filled mounting foam). Correct installation of window sills (under the frame with a depth of entry of no more than 1 cm and into the wall 1.5-3 cm) and slopes - in panel houses 100-300 mm wide and 20 mm thick, in brick houses - 300- 800mm and 20mm thick; PVC window sills up to 800 mm wide and 20 mm thick with an electron beam hardened acrylate resin ELESGO surface are the optimal solution. ), fittings (all hooks should work smoothly). After that, the remnants of the protective film on the inside should be removed, and the gaps in the sealant at the corners of the glazing beads should be sealed with a colorless silicone sealant.

A plastic profile, a double-glazed window, fittings, a sealant - how important are these elements of a plastic window, which of them can be saved on, how to choose them correctly and arrange them into a single whole? How to choose a window manufacturer? We will try to answer these and other relevant questions in this article.

So, you have decided to install plastic windows in your home. How not to make a mistake with the choice of good window systems that will serve for a long time and with high quality, because the market is overflowing with supply? Hundreds of firms present their products, competing with each other in the size of discounts and a variety of promotions. Unfortunately, many of them, to put it mildly, treat their customers in bad faith. As a result, the consumer has to delve into the peculiarities of the market, the intricacies of the production of PVC products, as well as the installation and assembly of windows, not paying attention to aggressive advertising and marketing tricks.

Principles for choosing plastic windows

A modern plastic window is a complex system, all elements of which are closely interconnected. None of them are not particularly important, secondary. Oddly enough, but one of the most common consumer mistakes is choosing a window just for a specific brand of PVC profile. At the same time, it is obvious that plastic windows will certainly disappoint the customer if the manufacturer uses thin double-glazed windows, cheap fittings, low-quality fittings, and short-lived seals for their manufacture. Let's take a closer look at what components metal-plastic windows consist of, let's look at the features of the configuration.

In order for expensive metal-plastic windows to become a successful and long-term investment, you need to accurately determine your needs.

The technical nuances of window systems will largely depend on the conditions of their operation. The main criteria for selecting window elements will be:

• temperature conditions inside and outside;
• security requirements.

Everything is important: what climate zone you are in; where the windows will be oriented - to a busy street or a quiet courtyard; for which room the window is intended - a kitchen, a nursery or a balcony in the bedroom; What floor is your home on?

How to choose a profile for a plastic window?

A PVC profile is not unreasonably considered one of the main elements of a plastic window. The service life of the product as a whole, its insulating properties and appearance largely depend on its quality. Naturally, you should pay attention only to a certified plastic profile that meets all modern standards and current state standards.

Which window profile manufacturer is better?

Practice shows that many window companies prefer to work with a German-made profile, especially since most foreign manufacturers offer several series of profiles that differ both in their characteristics and cost.

Note that the profile market is divided into segments. There are relatively inexpensive profile brands, there are strong middle peasants. Until recently, the main prerogative of Russian manufacturers was the economy class, the so-called "tender" profiles for objects where quality issues are relegated to the background, and most importantly, the cheapness of products. In fairness, we note that domestic companies have been successfully competing with foreign manufacturers in the middle class for several years, as they use their own raw materials, equipment and technologies.

Some Western European PVC profile manufacturers are represented only in the highest price category, as a rule, they are produced outside of Russia. Experts are sure that there are no fundamental differences between the products of the world's leading companies, only economy-class products that do not stand up to criticism should be avoided. Therefore, it is not the brand promotion that is much more important, but the technical characteristics of a particular profile series.

Choosing the characteristics of the window profile

The plastic profile is the basis of the entire window block, it performs a load-bearing function. The width and height of the profile affects the static performance of the finished product. Massive frames and sashes can be equipped with an additional third sealing circuit, wider double-glazed windows (up to 48 mm), anti-burglary fittings, and a large number of air chambers. There are profiles on the market with a width of 58 to 121 (“Dutch series”), of course, the wider the better, but also more expensive.

Bulkheads inside the profile form air chambers, which play a huge role in the sound and heat insulation of the window, and are also stiffening ribs. The more chambers, the better the insulating properties of the finished product. Three-chamber windows with a width of 58 - 60 mm are recommended for use only in areas with a temperate climate or in unheated rooms, for example, on a loggia. For most of the territory of our country, profiles with five or more chambers, with a width of 70 mm or more, are better suited. By the way, in Europe, where climatic conditions are much milder, three-chamber profiles are practically not used in housing construction.

Another extremely important indicator of a PVC window profile, which directly affects its strength and durability, is the thickness of the outer walls. According to GOST for windows of the middle class (A-class), this figure should be at least 3 mm, although some manufacturers, in order to reduce the cost of profiles, reduced the thickness of the front walls to 2.5 - 2.7 mm, presenting the world with a "light" series economy class.

It is also necessary to clarify which reinforcing insert will be used in the production of windows. The reinforcing insert is inserted into the main chamber of the PVC profile in order to give rigidity to the structure, as well as to stabilize the shape and linear dimensions of the plastic product, which are actively changing due to temperature fluctuations. According to the standards, it is made of galvanized steel with a thickness of 1.2-2 mm, U-shaped or rectangular section. It is not uncommon for dishonest window manufacturers to use a reinforcing profile with a small wall thickness - from 0.5 mm, or made of ferrous metal.

Attention! The reinforcing metal profile must be installed in white windows with a length of more than 800 mm, as well as in colored products of any size.

According to the degree of resistance to climatic influences, the PVC profile can be divided into normal and frost-resistant. Frost-resistant profiles are used in areas with an average monthly temperature in January below -20 ° C, they have an additional letter “M” in the marking.

Window profiles can be selected in any color according to the RAL scale. In most cases, tinting is implemented by laminating the front surfaces with special films. The films often have a wood texture, and also imitate some valuable species: oak, walnut, beech. It is also possible to laminate the front and outside of the window in different colors. Another way of color decoration of plastic profiles is co-extrusion staining. It consists in applying a thin acrylic coating during the manufacture of profiles, which is integral with the PVC base. Acrylic (plexiglass) layer has excellent resistance to ultraviolet radiation and local heating, therefore it is not subject to cracking and peeling. In addition, window profiles are painted by spraying colored varnish. Brown profiles can be tinted in bulk. By the way, different manufacturers of window profiles may have white options: from white-blue to milky-white.

Note that no matter what method of tinting is used, this is an additional work for the manufacturer, respectively, the price of the profile will be 10-20% higher compared to white. Moreover, special requirements are imposed on colored windows - this is a smaller allowable distance between the fasteners and the mandatory reinforcement of the profiles with metal inserts.

When choosing a profile, you need to pay attention to the following details:

• number of air chambers;
• profile width and height;
• the thickness of the front walls;
• the presence and characteristics of the reinforcing insert;
• frost resistance (if necessary);
• toning;
• brand recognition.

Choosing a double-glazed window

As well as a multi-chamber plastic profile, a high-quality double-glazed window provides a PVC window with good soundproofing and high thermal insulation characteristics. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of selecting the appropriate technical characteristics of a double-glazed window, especially since the opening area covered by glass is disproportionately larger than that filled with plastic elements. The role of double-glazed windows is so important that many large window manufacturers manufacture them themselves in their own workshops for proper quality control.

Modern double-glazed windows have serious versatility, therefore, with the right choice, they are able to comprehensively solve a lot of problems and problems. Special properties of double-glazed windows are given by the use of special films and coatings.

They can be of a wide variety of shapes: arched, oval, triangular, trapezoidal; and also have a thickness of 14 to 60 mm (GOST 24866-99).

The main criteria for choosing a double-glazed window are:

• features of climatic conditions;
• sound exposure level;
• security requirements;
• nuances of architectural, design solutions.

Single or double glazing?

A single-chamber double-glazed window is a construction of two glasses glued together at a certain distance. Depending on the size of the distance frame and the thickness of the glass, they are most often 24-26 mm thick. Double-glazed windows with two glasses, without the use of any energy-saving technologies, it makes sense to use only in southern latitudes, in unheated or well-ventilated industrial premises. Otherwise, they are prone to fogging.

A double-glazed window has much higher sound and thermal insulation, therefore, with a total thickness of at least 32 mm, they are best suited for use in residential areas of central Russia. The design of three glasses separated by two spacers, in general, was conceived to optimize the insulating properties of the window as a whole.

Often the glasses of a two-chamber double-glazed window are placed at different distances from each other, using spacers of various widths for the chambers of one block, from 6 to 16 mm, which makes it possible to more effectively dampen sound vibrations and improve thermal insulation properties. Another trick of the developers regarding the improvement of sound insulation is to increase the thickness of the outer glass from the minimum allowable 4 mm to 5-6 mm.

Energy-saving technologies in the production of double-glazed windows

The problem of saving heat with double-glazed windows is solved in various ways. Most often, this is the use of energy-saving glass with a hard or soft coating. Soft coatings are applied to finished glass in the form of films. Hard coatings are applied to glass during its production, and is a deposition of low-emissivity compounds that transmit visible light, but at the same time reflect thermal radiation towards its source. Thus, heat loss can be reduced by almost three times, in addition, in sunny weather, the room heats up much less, interior items do not burn out, condensation does not fall on the windows. Depending on the type of sprayed composition and the technology of their application, there are k-glasses and i-glasses. The former have low thermal conductivity, neutral color and are easy to manufacture. The latter have even more outstanding insulating properties, but their production process is somewhat more complicated and expensive, the i-coating is slightly noticeable to the human eye.

The use of two glasses with energy-saving coating in a single-chamber double-glazed window is not very effective, in contrast to a two-chamber design with a 10 mm distance between the glasses - according to the scheme 4i-10-4-10-4i(4 is glass thickness; 10 is chamber width; i is coating type).

Another option for energy-saving technologies is the gas filling of double-glazed chambers. The inert gases used for these purposes, argon and krypton, have much lower thermal conductivity and heat capacity than air, and besides, due to molecular features, they transfer heat from one glass to another more slowly. Experts believe that the thermal insulation characteristics of a single-chamber double-glazed window with ordinary glasses improve by about 5% when filled with gas, but a similar double-glazed window with one i-glass will become even 10-12% warmer - scheme 4-16Argon-4i. Therefore, it is recommended to use these technologies in tandem, including in double-glazed windows.

What is "safety glass"?

The security issues that a special double-glazed window solves concern two things. Firstly, this is its resistance to mechanical stress, and secondly, this is the nature of fragments in case of damage.

The possibility of a window pane shattering into many sharp-edged fragments can never be ruled out. To protect people from problems in such a situation, double-glazed windows with tempered glass are used in the production of windows. Such glasses are made by heat treatment after cutting them to size. As a result, they become 5-7 times stronger, this applies to both shock and impact on deflection and tension. Damaged tempered glass breaks into small fragments no larger than 3 cm 2 in size, which do not have sharp corners. Glasses after heat treatment do not lose their light transmission and thermal properties, so any double-glazed window can be made tempered - sun-protection, energy-saving or multifunctional. Double-glazed windows with tempered glass are most often used for children's rooms, entrance groups and facades, roof windows, winter gardens, and fire hazardous premises.

Glass with a polymer layer - triplex - has special characteristics. These are glasses that have a complex multilayer structure, all layers of which are connected by a special film or a special resin. When a double-glazed window is destroyed, the fragments do not scatter around, but remain on the polymer gasket, therefore they are not capable of harming a person. The triplex multilayer technology formed the basis for the production of armored, bulletproof glass. Note that laminated glass does not transmit vibrations very well, therefore it is an effective element of soundproofing a double-glazed window and a window as a whole. Double-glazed windows with triplex glass can be safely called anti-burglary, since it is just as difficult to get into a home through them as through a good front door, so they are very often used for suburban construction and in lower-floor apartments.

Reinforced glass is not only safe in case of mechanical damage, but also perform a fire-fighting function. Thanks to the metal mesh embedded in the glass structure, double-glazed windows retain their integrity in case of destruction and prevent the spread of fire. They produce such glasses as smooth, transparent, and with a pattern, corrugation.

Recently, the issues of protecting premises from electromagnetic radiation have become relevant, in particular, to prevent information leakage. Screening of windows, glazed doors and partitions is carried out by metallizing the glass with a mesh or pasting them with conductive films. Shielded double-glazed windows are easily integrated into the electromagnetic screen of special premises, which, in addition to solving privacy problems, can protect a person from exposure to harmful radiation, and complex devices and devices from electromagnetic noise.

Double-glazed windows, viewed from only one side, help maintain privacy. As a rule, they have a mirror-like appearance on the outside. Most often they are used in offices, banks, on the first floors of apartment buildings.

How do sun glasses work?

Sunglasses are designed to limit the amount of light and heat energy entering the interior space. Their special properties are most in demand in the summer, when it is necessary to deal with overheating of the premises. Previously, it was assumed that for these purposes it was simply necessary to reduce the fluxes of transmitted light as a whole, so dark glasses were considered working. Now, in addition to tinted in bulk and pasted over with a film, glasses with various kinds of coatings are actively used.

Depending on the technology of coating and its type, sun protection glasses are created that reflect or absorb radiation.

To be precise, they are either predominantly reflective or predominantly absorbing (tinted). As a result, the consumer has the opportunity to order the manufacture of transparent double-glazed windows that reflect the thermal energy of the sun, but let in most of the natural light.

What are sprouts, what are they for?

Bars can be a structural element of a window designed to reinforce a large area of ​​glazing. They divide it into several fields filled with separate double-glazed windows. Structural bars are part of the frame and are made of plastic impost profile.

Decorative screeds are an inter-pane layout that forms a variety of spatial patterns. Such bars are attached to the spacer frame during the production of the double-glazed window. They can be made in any color according to the RAL scale, but the most popular are white, brown, anodized, "golden" layouts. Bar profiles have a width of 8, 18, 26, 32 mm, thanks to the connecting elements of various configurations, very interesting geometric shapes are created from them, from simple gratings to complex structures with lines curved at different angles. Decorative bars allow you to realize individual design ideas. The light opening of a window with an internal layout receives a certain amount of exclusivity, recognition, which, you see, is important for unified PVC window blocks.

Choosing fittings for a plastic window

The fittings of the plastic window provide opening of the shutters in different directions and their reliable locking. The quality of this element determines the life of the window, its thermal characteristics and appearance. Any experienced "windowmaker" will say that you can't save on fittings. Moreover, there has even been a trend in which manufacturers of inexpensive window blocks are almost by default equipped with high-quality European fittings.

What makes quality furniture stand out?

Modern PVC windows can be equipped with fittings from almost any manufacturer, but the products of the following companies have proven themselves in the best way: Roto, Maco, Siegenia-Aubi. Their fittings are almost identical in quality and cost, it fully complies with the current Russian GOSTs.

Fittings for a PVC window should be only steel, which is capable of providing several dozen openings per day for at least 20 years. Hinges of high-quality fittings can easily withstand a weight of more than 100 kilograms, window sashes with its help open smoothly, without jerks and extraneous noise (creaking, rustling, rustling).

Be sure to ask the window manufacturer to present certificates of conformity for the fittings to be installed. For example, plastic fittings in Russia are not certified and no one will show you such documents for it.

What is the fittings like?

The constructive criterion for the classification of fittings is the method of opening the window. There are three options for the movement of the wings: folding (fanlight), rotary and tilt-and-turn. Depending on the side on which the opening takes place, there are right and left hinges.

Anti-burglary fittings are designed to prevent unauthorized entry into the home through windows. According to statistics, in more than 70% of cases, burglars prefer to break open the window sash. Already in the standard version, high-quality fittings have a basic level of security, in addition to this, there are several more anti-burglary classes, the highest of which provide protection against thieves armed with heavy hand tools such as crowbars or powerful electric tools.

The window becomes as reliable as high-quality entrance doors due to the use of high-strength alloy steel fittings (hooks, hooks, mushroom pins, hinges, locks, strikers ...), an increase in the number of locking points, as well as some design solutions borrowed from anti-burglary door areas. Further enhancing the degree of protection is a hidden anti-drilling pad, as well as a handle with a lock or blocking, which is mandatory for all configurations of anti-burglary fittings.

It is obvious that a window with anti-burglary fittings must be completed with a multi-layer protected double-glazed window, inside the plastic profile there must be a high-quality reinforcing insert that ensures reliable fastening of the strikers.

Windows with well-adjusted fittings are easy to open even by the youngest children. There are several ways to protect curious kids. Windows can be equipped with fittings with elements that block the turning function of the sash - child overhead locks, opening blockers. The most effective is the use of a handle with a lock or a hidden button, as well as plug sockets with removable handles.

The fittings can have a micro-ventilation mode, which means that in a certain position of the handle - 45 °, the sash deviates from the frame by a few millimeters. This ensures access to the room of fresh air without the formation of drafts. This function is also called "slotted", "winter" ventilation.

There are some additional functions of fittings - this is a stepped opening that allows you to install the sash in various positions; tilt blocking, which prevents incorrect rotation of the handle in the open position of the sash; protection against spontaneous slamming, which helps to securely fix the sash in the open position.

In addition, high-quality fittings include handles and decorative overlays of various colors and designs.

How to choose seals?

The sealing system is closely interconnected with the drainage system of the profile system. Together they have a much greater impact on the thermal performance of the window than it might seem at first glance. It is the seals that provide PVC windows with exceptional tightness, which provides the entire structure with sound and heat insulation. It is they who protect the fittings from condensate, debris, abrasive particles harmful to its functioning. Unfortunately, the choice of the consumer comes down more to color issues - for many, it is only important that the seal is inconspicuous, gray. Often the managers who take orders, for certain reasons, are also not inclined to discuss the choice of sealing materials.

Depending on the type of profile, plastic window blocks can have from one to three sealing perimeters. From where they are located, the sealing contours are divided into internal, external and medium.

Sealants for plastic windows are made of special rubber, silicone, rubber-plastic or rubber. Of course, they all have special characteristics: elasticity; softness; resistance to temperature extremes and exposure to ultraviolet, acids, alkalis, oils. But each has its own drawbacks - rapid aging, difficulty in replacement, decrease in elasticity at low temperatures, significant cost (silicone). According to many experts, seals made of EPTK material have the best price / quality indicators - ethylene-propylene-thermopolymer-rubber, international marking - EPDM.

It is believed that although manufacturers of plastic windows have the opportunity to independently complete their products, it is better if seals recommended by its manufacturer are used for a specific profile system. This will ensure a perfect match between the groove and the seal.

When ordering a plastic window, ask for a certificate of conformity for sealing materials. Give preference to products of European manufacturers.

From whom to order a window? Instead of an epilogue

So, we have examined in detail all the elements of a modern plastic window, their types and technical features. However, it is not enough just to competently complete the window unit, a lot depends on the professionalism and decency of the employees of the company that will manufacture your windows. Do not forget also that the installation of products is carried out in most cases by them.

When choosing plastic windows, do not focus on the PVC profile brand, but choose a window manufacturer that has proven itself in the market, has solid experience, and a staff of qualified employees. It is better if it is a large company that has been operating in your city for more than one year.

Beware of entering into contracts with seasonal "one-day firms" that offer windows at the lowest prices, huge warranty periods, and many tempting promotions. They cease to exist already in early winter, when consumers begin to massively file claims for low-quality products. Such companies do not have competent managers, measurers, installers, sometimes their function is generally performed by the same person. It happens that seasonal firms do not have their own office, but take orders by mobile phone, and conclude contracts at the customer's home.

When choosing a window, discuss in detail with the seller the options for completing windows, ask for advice on what you can save on. Often, after such conversations, much becomes clear about the competence of the contractor.

Do not be too lazy to talk to the measurer about the details of design and installation, keep in mind that his call still does not oblige you to anything. If the level of knowledge of the subject, the appearance or manner of communication of the measurer is alarming, consider whether it is worth continuing further cooperation with this company.

Ask managers to show you certificates for the services provided and the products provided. The certificate of quality must be for the window as a whole, as well as for all its components - a profile, a double-glazed window, fittings, seals.

Order windows only at the conclusion of the contract, which indicates the full details of the manufacturer, the configuration and cost of products, the timing of their manufacture and installation. Only with the help of a contract can you protect yourself from unforeseen price increases, delays in terms, poor-quality assembly and installation, and re-grading of components.

Follow these simple rules and you will get a really high-quality window.

If you are ready to regret your choice for 20 years, you should not read the advice So:

Have you noticed that a double-glazed window occupies from 70 to 90% of the window structure? This is the main gate for the leakage of such expensive heat. Therefore, decent, i.e. a warm double-glazed window is: 32 mm (the wider the better)...

How to choose plastic windows?

3 glasses, i.e. 2 air chambers spacer PVC glass with energy saving.

If you have Africa in winter, you can stop at a double-glazed window with a width of 24 mm, 2 glasses, 1 air chamber. Cheaper! But it is worth putting energy-saving glass in case the heating is turned off in winter.

What to look for? First things first, the manufacturer. We will delicately keep silent about China and Russia.

All European plastics are produced in Russia and Ukraine, according to European recipes, on imported automatic and semi-automatic equipment. All of them are white, maybe with a slight blueness, do not turn yellow. Everything is environmentally friendly, the notorious lead harms nature only during production and disposal, it is absolutely harmless in windows. The amount of lead in your windows is hundreds of times less than in your crystal.

I liked the manufacturer, we look at the width of the profile. 70 mm is optimal for our climate. The main difference between a 70 mm profile and a 60 mm profile is in the width of the mounting joint. There is more warm foam in a wider profile.

Select the number of air chambers in the profile. Where they are, any manager in the sales office will show you. Here you can save money, with the same width, the number of cameras does not significantly affect the advantages of the window. Only if you have your own house, you need to heat it, or you have apartment heating, it is better to take 5 cameras.

Who will not listen to this advice and choose a profile of 58 mm, 3 cameras, look at least at the thickness of the front walls. It happens from 2.5 mm to 3 mm. For heavy window structures, 2.5 mm are not suitable, the welding seam is less strong, and the walls themselves will not withstand the load.

And there is also a staple. I saw a man admiring a round glazing bead: “I like this one!”. They say that someone falls in love with a glazing bead.

I am not talking about a colored profile, laminated or tinted in bulk, because this has nothing to do with practicality, on the contrary, colored plastics are weaker than white against frost.

It's simple here. Fittings have already been chosen for you, as an attachment to plastic, by manufacturers of window blocks, who is what. Good hardware:

GU, ZIEGENIA-AUBI, Roto-NT

All of them are made in Germany. Automated lines produce lots and lots of fittings for windows, Russia is a great market for Germany. Accessories of the same name cannot be produced in China.

Ask for installation according to GOST. These are: tape PSUL (vapor-permeable self-expanding) foam waterproofing tape. Otherwise, over time, the foam will collapse, and in the cold it will blow out of all the seams.

Excess foam cannot be cut off; after installation, a protective film is formed only once. Take care of good installers, they will not produce excess foam.

Mounting seams are the weakest point in the window structure.

do not get into the garage production. There, they will assemble a double-glazed window for you very inexpensively with adhesive tape, instead of a sealant, they will weld a profile at the very least, and, at best, in 2-5 years you will definitely feel the difference with a neighboring normal window. Good advice and intuition can help.

P.S. This article was written as part of a competition . Do you participate?

Some 10 years ago, plastic windows were considered and were a luxury, but in a short period of time, they became so popular that they already exist in almost every apartment.

At first, plastic windows were skeptical, because over the years people have developed a stereotype that windows must be wooden, and plastic ones are not so warm and will not withstand our harsh winters. But starting from the mid-2000s, plastic windows began to be seen one after another in houses. On the one hand, this was due to the reduction in the cost of metal-plastic windows in view of the fact that their production was established in our country, and not exported from abroad as before. In addition, people are convinced that plastic windows are quite reliable and warm. Having plunged into history, let's still return to our topic, today we will tell you about how to choose the right plastic windows.

In view of the fact that the choice of plastic windows is a very serious procedure and that both low-quality windows and fakes are on sale, we want to tell you in more detail how to choose high-quality plastic windows for an apartment. Sometimes manufacturers themselves save on the production of windows, thereby reducing the cost of its production for themselves, increasing their profits, at the same price for buyers, or they sell fakes under the brand name of well-known brands. How not to be deceived and choose good windows?

What you should pay attention to when choosing and buying plastic windows

Profile

Each metal profile must be internally reinforced and reinforced with metal. As an amplifier, inside the plastic profile, a strong steel pipe of a closed square section should be used. Some manufacturers, due to economy, mount an amplifier made of a weaker material than steel in the profile, or the amplifier is not square, but U-shaped - as a result, you will get a low-quality profile. Therefore, when choosing and buying a window, check this issue with a consultant. The thickness of the profile must be at least 60 mm, it will provide the minimum required degree of thermal insulation for the room.

Chambers - are responsible for the heat-saving properties of the profile, respectively, the greater the number of chambers, the better the heat-saving properties of the profile will be. Most often, a minimal three-chamber plastic profile is used for an apartment, which is suitable for the climatic features of our area.

accessories

A very important point when choosing a window is fittings. Fittings are the mechanics of the entire window, which is placed around the perimeter of the entire sash. The fittings are responsible for opening and closing the sash, and also perform the functions of pressing it tightly against the window profile itself - therefore, a lot depends on the fittings. The fittings have a complex mechanism, because just imagine, a small turn of the window handle makes all mechanical parts slide along the perimeter of the entire sash. A lot depends on the quality of the fittings, therefore, when buying a window, be sure to check it.

double glazing

Let's move on to one of the most important components of a plastic window - a double-glazed window. For some reason, many people mean the whole window by this concept, but this is wrong, a double-glazed window is a part of a window consisting of a glass block, which includes glass separated by cameras.

As a rule, double-glazed windows are distinguished by the number of chambers, and not the number of glasses, that is, one chamber is one gap between the glasses. Accordingly, a single-chamber double-glazed window includes two glasses, a two-chamber double-glazed window - three, etc.
The double-glazed window must be completely sealed, inside the chambers there must be rarefied air or an inert gas, the latter is used in energy-saving double-glazed windows. Checking the quality of sealing is very simple - if you see the middle glass of a double-glazed window, then the sealing is broken and this double-glazed window needs to be changed.

Due to the fact that up to 70% of heat loss is due to glass, you should not save on double-glazed windows. We recommend buying a window with an energy-saving double-glazed window, it not only perfectly retains heat, but also has a smaller mass compared to conventional double-glazed windows, which reduces the load on the fittings and prolongs its service life. The thickness of the double-glazed window must be at least 30mm.

For the most comfortable stay in the room, it is necessary to carry out its ventilation. As a rule, all windows have three modes: opening, airing and closing. In addition, we recommend buying a window in which it will be possible to adjust the degree of inclination of the transom during ventilation - this is a very convenient option.

sealant

When choosing a window, you should also pay attention to the rubber seal, which should spring back. If it is too soft or too hard, then this will negatively affect the sealing of the sash, so in this situation a golden mean is needed.

How to choose a plastic window company

To date, there are quite a few manufacturers of metal-plastic windows. There are large manufacturing companies that sell their windows throughout our country, and there are also local ones that do not have such large production capacities and popularity, but cover the needs of a certain region of the country. Personally, we recommend giving preference to such well-known manufacturers that have the best reviews: VEKA, REHAU and Salamander. If you are confident in the quality of windows from another manufacturer, then give preference to them.

window sales company

The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing plastic windows is the company that sells the windows themselves. This should not be a “basement” office, since it is precisely such that often sin on the sale of counterfeit products, but should have a normal office. Reviews about the work and products sold by this company are also important. If you have decided on a window company, then it is best to buy them in a special store certified by the manufacturer. As a rule, certified windows from manufacturers are sold in stores of the same name, but sometimes there are options when this is not the case.

Saving

Unfortunately, very often people try to save money on buying plastic windows, for example, they buy windows with a U-shaped metal reinforcement, a single-chamber double-glazed window, sometimes it even comes to the point that they buy windows without a ventilation mode - this is absolutely impossible to do!
If you want to save on windows, then ask yourself a simple question - why do you need new windows!? You can safely paint and insulate the old ones, with the least waste. If you want to insulate an apartment, then saving on windows will primarily affect the thermal insulation of the apartment, and subsequently the profile may sag, condensation will constantly form on it, there will be problems with the movement of the sash, etc. Therefore, if you install windows in an apartment, do not save on them.

Although this indirectly refers to the choice of windows, nevertheless, an important aspect when choosing plastic windows is the choice of installers. If you choose the highest quality and best insulating window, then it will not be useful if it is not installed correctly. Therefore, no less seriously approach the choice of a team of installers.

Which plastic windows to choose for certain tasks

In your messages, you ask us about which PVC plastic windows to choose for a particular place - this article is just, by the way, and we will raise this question.

For an apartment and a house, there are two options for windows:

Option 1:

Ideal for apartments and houses.

Profile: 5 chambers, depth 70mm;
Double-glazed window: two-chamber, at least 30 mm thick, one glass must have a special energy-efficient coating.

Option 2:

A window option that has excellent thermal and sound insulation properties.

Double-glazed window: two-chamber, thickness not less than 40 mm, glass (at least one of them) must have an energy-efficient coating.

How to choose plastic windows on the balcony

Option 1:

If your balcony window profile is the only one, that is, you have combined the room with a balcony or loggia, or you plan to make an office out of the balcony.

Profile: 5 chambers, depth 86mm;
Double-glazed window: two-chamber, thickness not less than 40mm, glass with energy-efficient coating.

Option 2:

If you want to insulate the balcony and do not plan to make a room out of it.

Profile: 3 cameras; depth 60mm;
Double-glazed window: single-chamber, thickness not less than 30 mm.

We also want to tell our readers about how to choose plastic windows in the video version.