Often, when choosing plastic windows for their home or apartment, the buyer looks only at criteria such as the way the sash is opened, the cost and requirements for maintaining the structure. Such a choice cannot be called right, since when choosing a plastic window, it is imperative to take into account a number of technical conditions and requirements.
Functions to be performed by the window
Windows are installed in any building in order to:
- provide adequate daylight in daylight;
- reduce heat loss through building envelopes;
- protect the room from wind, dust and precipitation;
- reduce street noise;
- provide periodic ventilation by opening the leaves or through special devices;
- prevent free entry of strangers.
These factors should be considered when deciding which plastic windows are best to choose. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the existing structures, their advantages and disadvantages.
Typical design of a modern plastic window
The constituent elements of the windows are:
- frame - a supporting frame made of PVC, sometimes reinforced with metal plates, which is called the frame;
- sash - the opening part of the frame;
- double-glazed window - a single design of two or more glasses;
- glazing bead - a plastic profile for fixing a double-glazed window in a frame or sash;
- Impost - vertical or horizontal support for hanging and fixing the sash;
- accessories - parts for fastening the sash to the frame, closing and opening the window;
- amplifiers - metal elements inside plastic profiles for reliable fixing of accessories;
- slope - a lateral decorative element that covers the visible end of the wall.
Profiles for the manufacture of frames and sashes have a different design, the cross-sectional configuration of which is determined by the manufacturer.
What to look for when choosing
Determining the requirements for choosing a window should be made in a specific order for each room individually:
- the geometric configuration of the window, the number of wings and the way they are opened are selected;
- depending on the external orientation of the window, the type and design of the glass packet is selected;
- in accordance with the dimensions of the package, the mounting width of the profile is calculated;
- quality seals, glazing beads and fittings are selected;
- determines the appropriate color cast for the profile surface.
After that, based on the formed requirements and price factors, you can determine which plastic windows are the best in quality, choose a manufacturer and a brand.
Geometric shape
The development of production technologies allows the manufacture of plastic windows of almost any shape. This makes it possible to choose the perfect option for a wide variety of architectural structures. As a result, windows can be:
- rectangular;
- triangular;
- trapezoidal;
- arched;
- round;
- original.
The main advantages rectangular forms consist in the unification of sizes, the minimum consumption of materials for manufacturing and the minimum cost. Installation of such glazing is the easiest and cheapest.
Triangular the shape of the windows is most often used for installation in attic spaces, attics of private houses and country cottages. Such glass structures give pitched roofs a beautiful, finished look.
Trapezoid openings can often be seen in settlements of Western countries. In our country, they began to be installed recently. The main plus is the possibility of optimal lighting with a small window area and reduced heat loss.
Arched window frames - a combination of a rectangular design and a half circle. The cost of such windows is not very different from the rectangular options and therefore they can increasingly be seen on the facades of private houses, as well as in churches and public buildings.
Round the form is very rare, since such a window is usually poorly combined with the interior of residential and public buildings. Sometimes they can be seen in the attics, as well as bathrooms and toilets.
Exclusive Original forms are increasingly found in cases where the architect simultaneously decides on the design of the facade of a complex configuration with the interior design of the room. These are the most beautiful, but also the most expensive plastic windows, which each time are made only according to an individual project.
By the number of wings
According to the number of opening elements, plastic windows can be:
- deaf or not opening;
- single leaf;
- bicuspid;
- tricuspid.
Separate groups include balcony doors, as well as blocks of balconies and loggias, which can consist of an arbitrary number of wings of various configurations.
Window single leaf - the cheapest because of the simplest design and low material consumption. Installed in small window openings.
Bivalve Blocks - the most common. They are produced in two versions:
- with one deaf and one opening sash;
- with two rotary elements.
Tricuspid constructions are more expensive, but they allow to provide high-quality glazing of large window openings. The heavy weight of such blocks requires additional reinforcement with metal inserts.
According to the method of opening the wings
Opening elements of window blocks can be:
- swivel around a lateral vertical axis;
- folding with fastening on the lower horizontal axis;
- swing-out, combining the two previous options;
- lifting with fixing on the lower horizontal axis;
- sliding casements moving along the window plane;
- folding, in which the folds fold in the form of a book;
- innovative, with the ability to open in and out.
The most common casement designs are swing-out constructions. They allow you to fully open the window or open it with a tilt of 135 ° by simply turning the handle to one of the specified positions.
Double-glazed window selection
It is known that the glazed part occupies up to 85% of the total area of the plastic window. Therefore, the design options for the manufacture of a double-glazed window to a large extent affect the heat and sound insulation properties of the window unit, the light intensity and other parameters that determine the level of comfort in the room.
General description of the design
The technical principle of the structural assembly of a double-glazed window is as follows:
- every two glasses are separated by a metal perforated distance frame located around the perimeter;
- a dense butyl tape is laid under the frame, onto which a moisture absorbing sorbent is deposited, which protects the glass from moisture condensation;
- the sealing mass of the theokol is applied along a common external perimeter, which finally assembles the entire structure into a single whole.
Improving the technical characteristics of a double-glazed unit is achievable only through an increase in the number of cameras (additional glasses).
An increase in the number of cameras of more than 4 already does not improve the quality indicators, but only increases the total weight and cost.
The effect of glass thickness
The change in the thickness of the glasses installed in the package practically does not affect the change in the thermal conductivity index. But you can achieve a significant effect in the absorption of noise if you put in the design of glass of different thicknesses. In this case, each layer of glass will resonate at its own frequency, reducing the overall level of sound vibrations.
Applicable grades of glass
For the assembly of modern double-glazed windows, the following types of glasses are used:
- very smooth, even and transparent float glass;
- low emission, capable of reflecting thermal radiation and transmitting sunlight;
- mirror and tinted to protect from the sun;
- shockproof to prevent intruders.
Each type of glass can have several variants of manufacturing technology and chemical components in its composition. They significantly change the characteristics of the material and affect its price.
Double-glazed window thickness and installation depth of a profile
Depends on the number and size of air chambers:
- thermal conductivity coefficient of the whole structure;
- level of protection of the room from street noise;
- light transmittance of the window;
- the total cost of the window unit.
The thickness of the glass unit is defined as the total thickness of the glass and the total size of the air chambers.
The distances between the glasses have minimum and maximum restrictions. The air gap may not be less than 5 mm and more than 20 mm. The optimum width of the air chamber is within 10-15 mm.
The mounting depth of the profile is called from the edge of the front wall to the edge of the inside in the narrowest place. It corresponds to the estimated glass unit size and the width of two glazing beads. If this condition is violated, an adjustment of the width of the air chambers is necessary.
Manufacturers produce profiles with a minimum mounting width of 48 mm. For living rooms, when installing single-chamber double-glazed windows, profiles with a width of 58 mm are used. Two-chamber packages are usually placed on a profile with a width of 65 or 70 mm. Maximum profile depth 127 mm.
Types of Seals Used
The tightness, workmanship and appearance of the window unit depend on the correct choice of gaskets. To do this, you need to know what kind of products are of this kind. They are made of rubber, silicone, natural and artificial rubber. Each of these materials, as a sealant, has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Rubber - the cheapest material that seals cracks well and does not allow moisture to pass even in the most severe rain. However, the life of rubber seals is the shortest and usually does not exceed seven years.
Silicone products serve at least 12 years, and with proper care - up to 20, but more expensive and can be operated in a smaller temperature range than rubber.
Rubber seals last up to 10 years and require periodic lubrication. The main advantage of this material is a very good level of compaction. Therefore, rubber is recommended for use in windows with large linear dimensions.
Window fittings
The presence of a heavy double-glazed window and the need for frequent tearing off windows to ventilate the room determine the basic requirements for window unit fittings. All elements must be strong, wear-resistant, durable, not subject to corrosion. In addition, all visible external parts must have a beautiful and neat appearance.
Therefore, for the manufacture of fittings, only high-grade steels with an anti-corrosion coating or stainless alloy alloys are used. Decorative covers and caps are made from the same polymer compositions of which the main window profile is made.
Window fittings may include:
- locking mechanism with a handle;
- upper hinge group with bracket;
- lower loop group;
- angle switch module;
- ribbons and combs for transmitting force;
- screws and studs.
The set of accessories is determined by the way the shutters are opened and is acquired together with the main elements of the window unit.
Among the best manufacturers of accessories for plastic windows, experts name trade brands such as Maco, Winkhaus, Roto, Siegenia, Aubi and G-U. The products of these companies are designed for a minimum development of 50 thousand cycles and have a guarantee of up to 10 years.
As you can see, the right choice of a plastic window is a difficult task, the solution of which is determined by a large number of factors. It does not hurt to listen to expert recommendations on how to choose plastic windows, but in the end you will provide many years of coziness and comfort in your home. Those, for example, you can learn from the video below: