How to choose the right plastic window?

Even 10 years ago, plastic windows were considered a luxury and there was a lot of controversy regarding their reliability and safety. Today they are installed in almost every house and apartment. How to choose the right plastic window so that it is reliable and of high quality, because at first glance they are all the same. And the assortment of such products is already more than sufficient. This article is devoted to the main parameters of the choice of plastic windows.

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The advantages of plastic windows

When plastic windows appeared on the market, people were skeptical of them, considering their wooden frames more reliable and durable. However, PVC windows quickly gained popularity and earned the trust of consumers. And this is not strange, because they have a large number of advantages:

• Exterior design. Modern models of such windows can be produced in various shapes and colors, sometimes they are difficult to distinguish from wooden or metal, so skillfully made profile.
• Universality. PVC products can be installed both in residential buildings and apartments, as well as in offices and in production.
• Profitable price. Products have excellent value for money.
• Practicality. Plastic windows are very practical. Frames do not have to be painted annually, as you did with wooden ones, and drafts and excessive audibility of sounds from the street with plastic products will become only a memory. In addition, it is a pleasure to look after such windows, they are not afraid of moisture and do not succumb to the natural processes of destruction.
• Reliability and safety. If your house has small children, then the plastic window in the apartment will become a reliable barrier for the child. Unwanted intrusions into the house are also excluded. Such designs are often equipped with various interlocks.

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Wood or plastic?

Many still doubt what to choose to replace wooden rotten windows - new wooden or plastic.

Natural material, which is a tree, is prone to absorb moisture. This could not be overlooked when dealing with old window frames. They formed cracks when they dried out in the sun, then swelled when it was damp in the street.

Important! Modern wooden windows undergo high-tech processing, therefore, sound and thermal insulation are not inferior to plastic in their qualities. But at the same time their cost is much higher than plastic models. Therefore, the latter option is in great demand and popularity.

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How to choose the right plastic window?

Unfortunately, low-quality products and fakes are sometimes found on sale, so you need to know how to choose the right plastic window for the apartment, which will really be safe and meet all your expectations.

The main components of a plastic product are a metal-plastic profile and a double-glazed window. The general characteristics of the window will depend on their appearance and parameters.

Recommendations for choosing a profile:

• Each frame of the window profile must be reinforced inside and reinforced with metal. Inside the plastic profile, a solid steel pipe of square closed section should be used as an amplifier.For the sake of economy, some manufacturers install an amplifier in the profile of a weaker material than steel, or one that has the shape of not a square, but a U-shaped. As a result, a poor-quality profile is obtained, which eventually begins to deform, which will lead to a general skew of the window.

Important! When buying a plastic window, be sure to specify which frame is installed in the profile. The manufacturer, who has nothing to hide, will certainly provide samples of his products in the context at the point of sale.

• In addition to the shape, the thickness of the metal is very important.

Important! The thickness of the profile to ensure the necessary degree of thermal insulation in the room should be at least 60 mm.

• The cameras are responsible for the heat-saving properties of the profile. The camera is an air gap in the profile.

Important! The more cameras in the profile, the better the window will protect the room from low temperatures and the higher the soundproofing properties. But accordingly - the price of the product is higher.

Which window is better?

The most popular for today are three-chamber and five-chamber profiles:

• Five-chamber is better suited for houses that are located near noisy highways or streets, and if the room is in an area “open” to the wind.
• In other cases, a three-chamber product will be quite comfortable and practical.

Double-glazed window selection

One of the important structural elements of a plastic window is a double-glazed window (the part consisting of a glass block). It is a hermetically glued glass. They also have cameras. To increase the noise absorption, the air in the chambers should be rarefied. Sometimes air is replaced by gas.

There are several types of double-glazed windows: single-chamber (has two glasses), two-chamber (double-glazed windows with three glasses) and so on. Visually distinguishing from each other types of double-glazed windows is very difficult.

Important! If you want to know how many glasses the selected double-glazed window has, then light a candle or match near the glass. The number of reflections will correspond to the number of glasses.

Since a greater amount of heat loss (about 70%) is accounted for by glass, it is not worth saving on it.

Important! It is recommended to choose plastic windows in the apartment with an energy-saving double-glazed window. It will not only retain heat perfectly, but also reduce the load on the hardware and extend its life, as it has a lower mass.

The quality of the seal also plays an important role. Checking the quality of the adhesive joint is quite simple. If you look at the double-chamber window, you see the middle glass, then the sealing is clearly broken and the double-glazed window requires replacement.

Important! The double-glazed window should have a thickness of at least 30 mm.

Window seal

You should also pay attention to the seal when choosing plastic windows in the house. Poor, too hard or too soft sealant will create an unreliable connection of parts of the window. Weakly fitting flaps in the structure will cause air to enter the room, forming drafts.

Important! To determine whether a high-quality sealant or not, you can conduct such an experiment. Swipe a little while with a damp cloth or hand over the sealing element. If a trace remains on the hand, then the sealant is of poor quality and cheap. Therefore, if the manufacturer saved on gasket, then most likely he saved not only on it, and in general the plastic window will not be the best.

Hardware

This element of the plastic window is responsible for opening and closing its wings. The hardware itself has a rather complex mechanism and is placed around the entire perimeter of the sash. Much depends on the quality of the mechanism, because you will use it often enough. As a rule, there are 3 modes in windows: opening, closing and airing.

Important! It is recommended to choose a plastic window, in which you can adjust the degree of inclination of the transom during ventilation. This option is very convenient.

Plastic window manufacturer

Today, there are many companies that produce high-quality and not very plastic windows. It is better, of course, to give preference to well-known brands that are tested by experience and years of service:

• VEKA;
• REHAU;
• Salamander.

It is also better to make a purchase in a reliable store or company, and not in the "basement" office, because often the last companies sell not certified goods, but fakes.

Important! If you want to save on the purchase of plastic windows, then do not do this to the detriment of the quality of the double-glazed window or metal-plastic profile. Order installation services from the company also for windows - in this case you will save on installation.

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How to choose the right plastic window for a particular room?

Which plastic windows in the apartment is better to put, which ones in the house, and which ones on the balcony? There are many such questions. Consider a few specific examples.

PVC windows for home and apartment

The following window options will be the best option for home and apartment:

• 5-chamber profile with a depth of 70 mm.
• A two-chamber double-glazed window with a thickness of at least 30 mm. One glass should be coated with a special energy-efficient material.

An excellent option for good noise and thermal insulation is products with the following characteristics:

• Five-chamber profile 86 mm deep.
• Double-glazed windows at least 40 mm thick. At least one of the glasses must have an energy-efficient coating.

How to choose the right plastic window for the balcony?

If the apartment has a room and a balcony (or loggia) combined, and the balcony window profile is the only one, it is recommended to choose a window with the following characteristics:

• Five-chamber profile, depth 86 mm.
• Double-glazed windows, at least 40 mm thick. Glass should have an energy-efficient coating.

If you just want to insulate the balcony, and you have no plans to remodel it into a room, then the following option will be good:

• Three-chamber profile, depth 60 mm.
• The double-glazed window is single-chamber, the thickness is at least 30 mm.

Important! It is recommended that when ordering a window to the apartment immediately order a mosquito net for him. In this case, you do not have to take measurements of the window yourself or re-invite specialists to your place.

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Stock footage

Choosing a plastic window to your home, you should not rely on the advice of friends and acquaintances. It is worth it yourself to understand all the main criteria for choosing such a product and soberly assess your capabilities and needs. Only in this way will you be able to buy a truly optimal replacement for old wooden windows.