How to choose high-quality plastic windows for an apartment and for a private house

The first plastic windows were the result of an experiment with the use of polymer materials back in the distant fifties of the last century in Western Europe. They got to us much later – the first models began to appear only by the end of the eighties. Modern models have gone far from their ancestors, but with the wrong choice, installation and operation, they are unlikely to be able to provide the declared functionality: drafts, temperature drops, fogging and other 'delights' will certainly become the most common thing. It is for this reason that experts identify about 10 criteria that should be paid attention to when choosing PVC windows.

The best manufacturers of plastic windows. Which company to choose?

Currently, the production of PVC windows is carried out by a huge number of companies. Preference should be given to products of well-known brands, many of which are the founders and pioneers in the PVC window market, it was they who launched them into mass production 50 years ago:

1. Rehau

2. Veka

3. KBE

4. LG Chemistry

There are a huge number of models in the catalogs of each of the manufacturers presented above, and therefore, before giving preference to one or another model, you should familiarize yourself with the rating, as well as with user reviews. And most importantly, preference should be given only to those manufacturers whose products are certified for compliance with the ISO9001 quality system. Only such products will fully comply with the declared characteristics and will save you from potential problems during operation.

Which profile of plastic windows is better

The key element of all, without exception, structural elements of plastic windows is a PVC profile. The window frame is made from it, and therefore the functioning of the entire system in any operating conditions largely depends on its quality. When choosing plastic windows, you should pay attention to the following profile features.

Profile class

A parameter indicating the thickness of the outer and inner walls of the profile, and hence the insulating properties. It is not possible to visually determine the thickness of the profile, and therefore information should be sought in the operating instructions for a particular window.

1. Class A implies an outer wall thickness of 2.8 mm and an inner wall thickness of 2.5 mm. The best option for use in apartments, private houses, cottages.

2. Class B is thinner – the outer wall thickness is 2.5 mm, the inner wall thickness is 2.0. Such a profile is cheaper, but its insulating properties are worse.

Most often used for glazing garages, outbuildings, retail facilities, balconies;

Profile frame depth

A parameter reflecting the thickness of the window frame. Measured at the widest point by measuring from the outermost point of the inner wall to the outermost point of the outer wall at the widest point of the window. The higher this parameter, the better the sound, vibration and heat insulation properties of a particular window model.

1. The size typical for all manufacturers and the unspoken standard is 58 mm. It can be recommended for installation in all places without exception – both residential and public;

2. Windows with a wider frame (about 65-85 mm) are intended for installation in regions with harsh climatic conditions and regular long-term negative air temperatures;

3. The deepest profile (about 100-105 mm) is very specific and is intended for installation in highly specialized institutions that impose serious criteria for noise and heat insulation.

Parameters for the selection of plastic windows

In addition to the profile, the design of PVC windows includes a large number of various units and elements that should be paid close attention to.

Installed glass unit thickness

A double-glazed window is a kind of 'sandwich' of several layers of glass, between which there is an air gap that has no connection with the atmosphere. Depends both on the thickness of the glasses themselves and on the width of the air gap. The proportions are as follows: the larger the air gap, the better the glass unit insulates noise and protects against temperature changes.

1. Double-glazed windows of minimum thickness (about 14-25 mm) can be recommended for installation in gazebos, garages, shopping pavilions, outbuildings;

2. For installation in residential buildings, apartments and cottages, it is best to choose those double-glazed windows, the thickness of which will be 30 millimeters or more.

Installed glass type

The simplest is ordinary tempered glass. It is inexpensive, together with the functioning of the entire glass unit, it provides an acceptable level of comfort;

1. Special glasses with a silver layer applied to the surface are heat-saving. They perfectly retain heat and allow you to maintain the temperature in the room 2-3 degrees higher compared to ordinary glasses. The payment for such characteristics is lower light transmission;

2. Windows facing a noisy street require the installation of special glass with an increased noise insulation parameter – the so-called triplex glass. In addition to the usual ones, vandal-proof triplex glasses are also on sale. They are not afraid of mechanical stress and are able to withstand blows from a sharp object;

3. If the windows are on the sunny side of the street, tinted glass should be preferred. They will provide protection from excess sun and prying eyes.

The number of chambers with which the glass unit is equipped

The chamber is an air gap between two separate glasses. It is she who provides protection against extraneous noise and temperature changes.

1. Single-chamber double-glazed windows do not differ in any special indicators of sound and thermal insulation, and therefore they cannot be recommended for installation in residential premises. Their lot is balconies and loggias, garages and other non-residential premises;

2. Double-glazed windows with an air gap of 10-20 mm – the best option for use in residential buildings and cottages;

3. Three-chamber double-glazed windows provide maximum sound and thermal insulation, but they are not always needed. They can be installed in places with high noise levels, as well as in the northern regions of the country – where severe frosts are frequent.

Cameras with which the profile is equipped and their number

Any plastic profile has a special design – it consists of several separate pockets, which have a direct impact on the characteristics of the window, as well as on the rigidity of the entire frame.

1. The three-chamber profile is an unspoken standard and is suitable for most situations and for installation in quiet sleeping areas or in a country cottage;

2. If the windows face a noisy avenue, you should prefer windows, the frame of which is made of a five-chamber profile;

3. Not everyone needs an eight-chamber profile, but if you live in the immediate vicinity of a railway or airport, you cannot do without it.

Opening sashes and their number

1. Double-glazed windows with one hinged sash are an excellent option for installation in bathrooms, kitchens and other rooms in which equipment of such a ventilation system is needed;

2. Deaf PVC windows, devoid of sash, are installed only in those places where there is already a well-thought-out ventilation system;

3. Swing windows with two or more opening modes are an excellent option for installation in living rooms. Open it completely, open it for ventilation or leave a small slot for microventilation – there can be a great variety of setting modes.

What plastic windows to choose – expert advice

1. For country cottages or quiet sleeping areas, classic PVC windows with three-chamber double-glazed windows are quite enough, the design of the doors of which allows opening in several modes of ventilation. Depending on the place of installation, you can choose both ordinary and tinted glass;

2. If the installation is carried out in a noisy place or the windows overlook a busy avenue, you should prefer PVC windows with a five-chamber profile, equipped with triplex glass (if you live on the ground floor – increased strength). The design of the flaps should provide the possibility of both micro-ventilation and full opening;

3. In bathrooms and kitchens, as well as in other places equipped with forced ventilation, a two-chamber double-glazed unit made on a profile with a thickness of 58 mm is sufficient.

How much do plastic windows cost?

1. The cheapest are PVC windows designed for installation in non-residential premises – on balconies, attics, designed for glazing loggias. Their cost is about 6,500 rubles per square meter;

2. Windows designed for installation in bathrooms and kitchens cost about 7,000 rubles per square meter;

3. Spacious windows designed for installation in living rooms cost about 8,000 rubles;

4. Models designed for installation in country cottages are the most expensive. Their price can vary from 7-8 thousand and up to 18-20 thousand rubles per square meter.

In the following articles, our experts tell you how to choose the right blinds for windows, the secrets of choosing a window sill and the peculiarities of choosing a profile for plastic windows.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.