One of the most important stages of negotiations with the manufacturer is the discussion of all the technical details of your future window and the conditions for its installation. Only an accurate determination of design requirements, correlated with operating conditions, is a guarantee of your comfort and direct warranty service for your windows.
Windows are one of the important elements of the house, contributing to the creation of comfortable living conditions. Plastic windows using double-glazed windows provide the necessary lighting and openness, allowing you to enjoy a beautiful view. Not only the external impression of the house, but also its safety depends on the quality of the windows.
Before installing plastic windows, you need to know what you should pay attention to when purchasing them. This will eliminate many problems associated with unfair treatment on the part of unscrupulous companies offering cheap goods at the expense of quality.
Type of profile used.
The profile from which plastic windows are made can be imported or domestic - the former is preferable. Imported (in particular, German) technologies proven over the years allow us to confidently assert that the plastic profile will withstand both temperature changes (from -50 to +50? C) and dynamic loads. In this case, the reinforcing profile must have a thickness of at least 1.5 mm. In addition, it must be made of galvanized steel (this affects the dynamic loads that the window carries and is also a condition for anti-corrosion resistance).
About window sills
Regardless of the type of plastic windows, they are all equipped with window sills. The construction market offers a huge range of products made from various materials (plastic, wood, stone).
The most common options are plastic models, due to their efficiency and practicality. Such window sills differ from each other in quality and cost. More reliable modifications are considered to be versions made from chipboard, which have a dense structure created by a combination of natural wood fibers and synthetic resins.
Options made of artificial stone are rare, they are heavy and cold. The main role of a window sill is functionality, as a stand for accessories or indoor flowers. For a more harmonious fit into the interior, it is desirable that the window sill be made of the same material as the window.
Double-glazed window.
A double-glazed window is the main component of a plastic window. Therefore, it requires a special list of requirements:
- The number of air chambers in a double-glazed window is at least 2 (cold winters do not allow the use of single-chamber double-glazed windows).
- The thickness of the glass unit is at least 32 mm (for the same reason).
- Glass brand: M1 polished (for example, domestic Lisichansk plant). You can use imported glass, like English Pilkington, but it will cost much more, but without much improvement in quality.
- Heat-reflective coating: modern technologies make it possible to reduce heat loss to almost zero. This effect is achieved by using a special heat-reflecting film (TOP). Its use is not mandatory, but among the services offered to you by the manufacturer, applying TOP must be mandatory.
For cottages or offices on the first floors, you can offer special designs of double-glazed windows with triplex glass or protective blinds (roller blinds).
Triplex is glass consisting of several layers of glass laminated together with a special film. When glass breaks, it remains on the polymer film. The main task of the triplex is to prevent violent intrusion as much as possible.
Tempered glass is glass that, through chemical or thermal treatment, increases its resistance to impact and temperature changes compared to ordinary glass. When destroyed, it breaks into small, harmless fragments.
Also, depending on the client’s wishes, other types of glass can be used in double-glazed windows. The most radical is the use of armored glass, the technology of which is based on the principle of multilayering. Depending on the class, such glass will protect not only from foreign objects, but also from serious weapons.
About accessories
Regardless of what kind of plastic windows there are, all types (photo below) are equipped with special fittings. This group includes mechanisms and parts responsible for opening and closing the structure. There are several groups of devices under consideration.
Pivot-type fittings have a vertical hanging mechanism that allows the sash to be directed in only one direction in relation to the vertical axis. This variety is the simplest.
Tilt-and-turn options allow you to rotate the sash around the vertical, as well as tilt it. This design is the most popular, allowing for manipulations related to home ventilation. By changing the position of the handle, the window is opened in the desired direction without significant effort.
A rotating type of fittings with a horizontal hanger makes it possible to open the window 180 degrees relative to the horizontal. Such elements can be mounted on structures of various geometries and weights, including ellipsoidal and round systems on roof windows.
Sliding fittings are used for glazing balconies and loggias. Locking handles secure the window in the locked position. The package includes special hooks. If you plan to frequently ventilate the room, in order to avoid drafts, it is necessary to equip the system with a slot ventilator.
Regardless of the thickness of plastic windows, they can be equipped with new generation fittings. This includes devices that are characterized by high reliability and smooth operation. The main advantage of such mechanisms is a high degree of protection from climatic influences. The kit includes a device for micro-ventilation and a closer, which makes it easier to close the sash. Such fittings eliminate as much as possible the penetration of street noise and blowing.
Another new product is a tilt-and-slide system designed for window structures up to 2700 mm high, when glazing a wall from ceiling to floor. With the help of such fittings, you can tilt and move windows weighing up to 160 kg without much effort.
Certification.
The production and installation of plastic windows must be certified. First of all, check with the sellers for the availability of the DIN EN ISO 9001 certificate. This is a quality control system designed to ensure the stability of the properties of the products at a given level, as well as continuous improvement of the product. Therefore, all consumers, whether individuals or large companies, need to pay close attention to its availability from the manufacturer. The RAL certificate states that the declared product meets certain physical and mechanical properties, and the DIN EN ISO 9001 certificate states that the stability of these properties is controlled during the production process.
Application options with photos
Elements with two chambers are considered “cold”. They are intended for glazing of industrial and utility rooms, loggias, balconies, and non-residential buildings.
The optimal region of application is the southern regions . The climate here is quite warm and there is no need to install a profile with a large number of cameras. Moreover, such designs are much cheaper than multi-chamber analogues.
For a cold region, you can use the structure as an interior element.
The two-chamber element is often used in suburban areas.
If the building is not used in winter, then its characteristics will be quite sufficient . To increase protection from the cold, it is recommended to install a double-glazed window with energy-saving glass.
This option can also be used in a residential area if it is located in a hot climate.
Guarantee.
Find out what warranty the manufacturer provides for its products. You should be wary of both too short (1 year) and too long (20 years) terms.
What does the price of a plastic window consist of?
- frame (profile) price;
- price of fittings (locking mechanism);
- price of a double-glazed window (two or more glasses fastened together).
Remember! A high-quality plastic window cannot be cheap. By saving money now, in the future you will encounter problems such as low noise insulation, poor ventilation, leading to window fogging, condensation and dampening of wall surfaces next to the plastic window (slopes), low color stability of window frames (profiles), leading to their yellowing , deformation of the window, difficulty in opening and closing. Such a plastic window is short-lived and loses its properties within the first three years of operation.
The price of the window does not include the cost of the window sill and ebb, which must be installed in 90% of cases. As a rule, the company that installs windows does not make slopes or plaster the walls.
Helpful information
We examined in detail what kinds of plastic windows there are, the photos of which are given above. Finally, here are some useful tips:
- If there are small children in the house, it is better to purchase handles with locks or a special “child lock”.
- In new mosquito nets, the design includes a crossbar that increases the rigidity of the frame.
- Installation of plastic slopes is carried out immediately after window installation. The opening is leveled using a building level and a wooden batten.
- When installing canopies and ebbs, first install the lower element, and then the upper one. First, silicone sealant is applied to the fastening site. The canopy is brought inside the room 300 mm and fixed with dowels.
Determining the configuration of a plastic window
One of the main advantages of plastic windows is the ability to produce and install structures of any configuration - rectangular, arched, round, bay windows. Of course, window slopes that have a complex shape require a competent, professional approach to finishing. The appearance, functionality and durability of not only the slopes, but also the windows themselves will depend on this.
Window configuration - dividing the window into a certain number of modules: blind, opening vertically and horizontally. That is, the configuration of a plastic PVC window means how the window will be divided into sashes and how many of them will open). In essence, this is a way to open a window.
The price of a window depends on the size of the blind part - the larger the blind part, the cheaper the window. A larger window size allows you to reduce the price per square meter, and if the windows are small, then the price per square meter increases significantly.
If we are talking about a balcony where it is necessary to use several window blocks, we must take into account the use of connecting profiles, which can significantly affect the final cost of the product.
If the windows face the sunny side, you can order tinted double-glazed windows.
Before ordering a window, it is best to call the maximum number of companies offering windows. In this case, it is necessary to clearly indicate the size and configuration of the window. If window company specialists offer an alternative configuration, you should not refuse; you need to find out the prices for it and for the one you chose. All this will allow you to save money. If the price is indicated in USD, do not forget to check the exchange rate.
Peculiarities
There are variations that combine two types of opening, as well as with a tilt-and-turn mechanism. This design is the most convenient, but also quite complex. A sash of this type can be tilted for ventilation or opened into the room. To open the window, the handle is placed in a horizontal position, and for ventilation and opening slightly, it is placed vertically.
This tilt-and-turn mechanism is very convenient for ventilation, since the element does not open completely, but only a small gap is obtained. At the same time, a comfortable atmosphere without drafts is created inside the room. To fix the window in the required position, a special alligator latch or similar configuration is attached to the frame. They require careful handling as they are prone to breakage.
Dimensions and methods of opening plastic windows
First of all, you need to decide on the size of the window, since windows should not only be attractive and easy to use, but also protect the apartment well from cold, wind, rain, pollution and intrusion by unauthorized persons. When replacing old windows with new ones in a typical house, you must remember the rules for observing the old dimensions of the products and the proportions of the building facade. When building private houses and cottages, it should be taken into account that small windows make the room dark inside, and too large ones can make it look like an aquarium. Therefore, it is very important to correctly plan the size of window structures.
After choosing the size of the products, you will have to consider ways to open windows. Your decision about the configuration of the sashes should depend not only on cost, but also on the ease of use and maintenance of your structures.
Windows (window casements) can be non-opening (“fixed”) or opening.
There are a limited number of ways to open operable windows:
- rotary opening (regular) - opening the window sash relative to the vertical hinges;
- tilt opening (fanlight) - opening the window sash relative to the horizontal hinges;
- tilt and turn opening (combined) is a modern type of opening that combines the two types of opening described above.
The advantage of “blind” sashes is the overall reduction in the cost of window construction with their use, however, in pursuit of cheapness, you can subsequently find yourself in a situation that will require even greater costs.
Components of a window
Glossary of window terms:
- PVC profile is the structural basis of the window. Inside the plastic profile there is a metal frame that gives rigidity to the system, drainage channels, as well as seals and filters. The entire internal space of the PVC profile is filled with transverse jumpers, which serve as stiffeners. These partitions form many air-filled compartments inside the profile. It is these air chambers that determine the insulating properties of the profile - the more chambers, the “warmer” the profile. The number, size and location of internal chambers are not random. Each chamber has its own functional significance: one is designed to increase the rigidity of the profile, the other is for the outflow of water, the third is for fastening fittings.
- The frame is the stationary plastic part of the window onto which the sashes are attached.
- The sash is the opening part of a window.
- A double-glazed window is glass that is hermetically sealed in a special way. Depending on how many glasses are used, a distinction is made between single-chamber (two glasses and one chamber between them) and double-chamber (three glasses and two chambers) double-glazed windows.
- Fittings - handles, latches, locking mechanisms and other devices that ensure opening of plastic window sashes, fixing them in any position or locking them.
- A reinforcing profile is a steel reinforcing element located inside a PVC profile and is necessary to impart rigidity to the window structure.
- Frame profile - used to create the main structure (frame), usually along the contour of the entire window.
- Sash profile - sashes and other opening elements are made from it.
- Impost is a frame profile used for the rebate of sashes and the hanging of sashes in three or more casement windows.
- Glazing bead is a plastic strip that holds the glass unit in the window.
- The seal - an indispensable “accessory” of each window, made on the basis of complex silicones - is a decisive factor regarding the thermal insulation properties of the window. The seals run along the edge of the glass unit on both sides and also protect the space between the frame and the sash.
- Flashing is a flat and wide profile installed outside the window and designed to drain rainwater from the window.
About mosquito nets
What types of PVC windows with mosquito nets there are, we will consider further. When ordering designs, you need to remember about high-quality mosquito nets. They are designed to protect the room from insects, leaves, and poplar fluff. The mesh can be easily removed, washed, and is made of fiberglass (fiberglass sealed in polymer). The element is fixed using a rubber cord in an aluminum frame connected by plastic corners.
The mosquito net is attached from the street side to special devices; its dimensions are selected individually for each opening. These products are also placed on the doors of balconies; they are fixed on the frame with side hinges and a magnetic latch. After 3-4 years, the nets sag and require replacement. This feature is due to insufficient rigidity between the aluminum frame and plastic corners.
Converting a non-opening sash to an opening one
Let's consider a situation where, after careful search and selection, you finally installed plastic windows at home. At first, you are completely satisfied with everything. But it could also happen that when choosing a plastic window you did not foresee something, or at that time you could not provide for it.
For example, you have a refrigerator (cabinet, piano or other large object) in such a way that it does not allow you to open one of the sashes of the old window, and you, keeping this in mind, order a new plastic window with one “blind” (non-opening) sashe . After some time, you decided to make innovations in the interior, and this item changed its location. At this moment you clearly understand that it would be nice to open this blind door!
Well, don’t despair, because there is a way out in this situation. You can turn a blind sash into an opening one, even in an already installed window. But, before we talk about how this can be done, let us remind you that it is better not to skimp on the opening parts of the window, because installing an opening in a new window at the production stage will cost significantly less than in an already installed one.
To change the window configuration, it is best to have a printout of the order details (this should be attached to the contract and be an integral part of it), which indicates the overall dimensions of the window and its specification. By providing such a document to the office manager of the window company, you will be able to order a new window sash without calling a surveyor-designer to your home. Here in the office you will be able to discuss the configuration of the double-glazed window of the new sash and its opening modes: tilt, tilt or turn-turn.
Upon completion of your order at the factory, you will be delivered a new sash with a set of components necessary for its installation - fittings. Then, the craftsman will hang the sash on the frame without dismantling the old window. Note that it is possible to replace one opening mode (for example, from rotary) to another (turn-and-tilt) using the same algorithm.
Modern varieties
You can choose the type of structures under consideration correctly if you know the characteristics of the classification of manufacturing materials. What types of plastic windows are there based on the number of sashes? Based on this factor, three groups of products are distinguished: with one, two and three doors.
Single-leaf elements are made to open. Options with two doors are made with both or one opening door. The third type is much more difficult. Based on the principle of economy, three-leaf structures are made with one opening element, but this causes certain inconvenience. Experts recommend spending a little more money and choosing an option in which one opening door is mounted on each side of the central part. The most expensive version is with three opening elements.
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