The outbreak of the financial crisis, the depreciation of the ruble and the economic sanctions imposed against our country by European states could not but have a positive impact on the standard of living of Russians - it is steadily declining.
As a result, ordinary citizens have become much less likely to make expensive purchases, sometimes saving on a lot. Sometimes, in order to save money, instead of the usual products, many people have to be content with buying a lower class . This situation is developing in literally all consumer areas, and the window industry in this sense is no exception.
Increasingly, advertisements published in newspapers or broadcast on local television channels invite the purchase of plastic windows at affordable prices, the so-called economy class, without disclosing how the cost of light-transmitting structures is reduced.
In this article we will look at how and by what means manufacturers of plastic windows achieve such attractive prices for their products, and what exactly the concept of economy-class windows includes.
True German VEKA quality
Premium German brand on the Russian market since 1995. With VEKA you get true German quality from a company with a 48-year history around the world.
- ALL profile systems of the highest class “A”
- ALL are made frost-resistant and marked with the letter “M”
- ALL have maximum 4-sided steel reinforcement
- Uniform quality standard regardless of country of production
The more air chambers, the less air exchange and, accordingly, the higher the thermal insulation.
The wider the profile and the greater the installation depth, the higher the thermal insulation.
Disadvantages of economy class PVC windows
As a rule, every well-known company engaged in the production of plastic windows introduces into production several models of light-transmitting products, differing both in design and characteristics.
The cheapest line of windows in most cases is intended for installation, no matter how strange it may sound, in new buildings. This approach is beneficial both for the developer and for intermediary companies involved in the sale of economy-class windows at a cost in the average and above-average price segment.
However, for the end consumer, such savings can backfire, and here’s why:
- The window profile has thin walls, only two chambers and does not have reinforcing reinforcement. This fact directly affects the strength characteristics of the window, as well as its ability to retain heat. Sometimes the system profile comes without reinforcement, which is responsible for its strength.
- A double-glazed window has only one chamber , which is not capable of providing the proper level of sound and heat insulation (a room glazed with economy-class windows will be noisy and not warm enough).
- There is no inert gas between the glass unit chambers . The presence of gas in the interchamber space of a double-glazed window increases the noise and heat insulation characteristics of the entire light-transmitting structure as a whole.
- Sealing cutters may be of poor quality and have defects.
- The window fittings used are usually among the cheapest. In addition to the fact that the fitting mechanism may not function properly (there is insufficient pressing density, smooth operation is impaired), its service life may be significantly limited - instead of the standard 50,000 opening/closing cycles, fittings from little-known manufacturers can withstand only 10,000 - 20,000 cycles.
Blitz survey: Which brand of plastic windows is the best? From our reviews of window manufacturers you can find out the advantages and disadvantages of each brand of plastic windows: KBE, Deceuninck, Proplex, Brusbox, Schuco, Grain.
Profiles ONLY of the highest class “A”
According to GOST 30673-99 “PVC profiles for window and door blocks” in terms of the thickness of the internal walls, ALL of our profiles are the highest class “A” - the thickness of their front wall is at least 3 mm.
GOST standards for different classes:
- class “A”: front wall not less than 3.0 mm
- class “B”: front wall not less than 2.5 mm
- class “C”: wall thickness is not standardized
Please note that 80-90% of the Russian market are classes “B” and “C” and only 10-20% are class “A” profiles. At the same time, VEKA’s assortment includes ONLY class “A” profiles.
We fundamentally DO NOT use profile systems of classes “B” and “C” (with a front wall width of less than 3.0 mm).
Reasons for placing an order at Windows Favorit
Cooperation with our company attracts corporate and private clients thanks to:
- Impeccable quality of plastic windows;
- Affordable prices for products and services;
- Long warranty for window structures (5 years) and installation work (3 years);
- Regularly held promotions;
- Good discounts and bonuses for regular customers.
Do you want to order plastic window or balcony structures in? Leave a request for a free surveyor visit on the website or call our operator.
Which Deceuninck windows are right for you?
| Enwin | Bautek NEO | Favorite Space | Eforte | |
| Price from: | RUB 7,360 per sq.m. | RUB 8,580 per sq.m. | RUB 10,240 per sq.m. | RUB 15,080 per sq.m. |
| Order | Order | Order | Order | |
| Thermal insulation | ||||
| Noise insulation | ||||
| Safety | ||||
| Environmental friendliness |
Do you want to know more about products and contract options? Contact a specialist at the office closest to you by phone or request a free call back. You can also write by email.
ONLY frost-resistant profiles
According to GOST 30673-99 “PVC profiles for window and door units” for resistance to climatic influences, ALL of our profiles are “frost-resistant” - for areas with an AVERAGE monthly air temperature in January BELOW minus 20°C.
GOST standards for different classes:
- normal version “N”: the average temperature in January is minus 20°C and above
- frost-resistant version “M”: the average temperature in January is lower than minus 20°C
Our assortment includes ONLY frost-resistant profile systems marked with the letter “M”.
Heat transfer resistance (thermal thermal resistance) is the main thermal insulation coefficient. It is determined by the ratio of the temperature difference between the outside and inside the room to the heat flow passing through the window. The higher this number, the better the insulation performance.
Window comparison
| PROPLEX BASIS | PROPLEX PREMIUM | REHAU BLITZ | REHAU GRAZIO | |
| Number of cameras in profile | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Profile thickness | 58 mm | 70 mm | 60 mm | 70 mm |
| Glazing thickness | Up to 34 mm | Up to 42 mm | Up to 33 mm | Up to 40 mm |
| Possibility of lamination | Any color from the Renolit catalog | Any color from the Renolit catalog | Any color from the Renolit catalog | Any color from the Renolit catalog |
| Accessories | Vorne, ROTO | Vorne, ROTO | Vorne, ROTO | Vorne, ROTO |
| Energy saving glass | At the request of the customer | At the request of the customer | At the request of the customer | At the request of the customer |
| Double sealing circuit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Seal color | Black | Black | Black | Black |
| Heat transfer resistance | R=0.66 m2*S/W | R=0.82 m2*S/W | R=0.7 m2*S/W | R=0.85 m2*S/W |
| Soundproofing | 34-36 dBA | 34-36 dBA | 34-36 dBA | 39-45 dBA |
| Width of the opaque part of the frame + sash combination | 112 mm | 112 mm | 112 mm | 104 mm |
| Guarantee | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
| Price per m2 | from 6,100 rub. | from 7,400 rub. | from 7,000 rub. | from 7,900 rub. |
Evolutionary double-glazed windows SmartGlass 2.0
Our multifunctional double-glazed windows work for you both in winter and summer. In winter, the spraying of silver particles retains up to 90% of the thermal energy of heating devices, and in the summer, a double-glazed window reflects 25% more solar heat than conventional plastic windows.
- 42% more HEAT in winter (energy saving properties)
- 25% less HEAT in summer (sun protection properties)
All our double-glazed windows contain special energy-efficient glass. We DO NOT use regular glass even in the most basic configurations.
Is it profitable to buy inexpensive windows?
It is profitable to buy plastic windows of the economy category only in those cases for which they were developed - the list of objects has already been given above. It is better not to install them in apartments, offices, shops and municipal buildings. Ignoring recommendations subsequently leads to significant losses, given the current cost of heating and air conditioning. In addition, maintenance and repair of budget windows will require additional expenses. After all, during their operation, sashes often become distorted, problems arise with fittings, and even sometimes welds crack. Eliminating these defects requires a lot of time and money.
AirDrive I, II and III climate control systems
Optimal ventilation mechanisms are built into the windows - the sashes open slightly by 1-5 mm, depending on the selected mode.
These are NOT external devices (combs or valves), but BUILT-IN ventilation fittings. Three options:
- AirDrive I: slot ventilation (1 mode)
- AirDrive II: discrete multi-stage ventilation (3 modes)
- AirDrive III: discrete multi-stage ventilation (5 modes)
We try not to place combs based on their appearance (only at your request). In principle, we do not use valves due to the fact that they violate the integrity of the window, reduce its tightness and strength (since the profile and its reinforcement are drilled through).
What to consider when ordering
Glazing occupies up to 90% of the window area, and heat loss through it is greater than through walls and ventilation. In addition to the frame, you need to purchase a high-quality double-glazed window.
In economy class there is no design possibility of installing two-chamber models. A good replacement would be to install a single-chamber energy-saving one with selective coating.
Such protection during the cold period will prevent heat from escaping from the room to the outside. In hot weather, it reflects part of the solar energy without creating shading. Purchasing glazing with selective coating allows you to get a product with better parameters than a 2-chamber modification without increasing the cost.
To reduce heat loss, it is worth installing a device for micro-slit ventilation. At a low cost, it will allow you to fully ventilate the room at low temperatures.
For the sake of saving, you don’t have to give up on the fact that the manufacturer will install economy-class plastic windows. Otherwise, the warranty does not apply and claims will not be accepted if any problems occur. Repair costs will become much more sensitive than savings.
Another factor that is mistakenly attributed to quality is the processing of external slopes. If you do not seal the external ones, ensuring reliable sealing of the installation joint, the characteristics of the window will be reduced to zero.
When ordering, you need to clarify whether the slope is finished and with what material. A joint simply blown in with polyurethane foam loses its tightness from exposure to ultraviolet radiation after a year.
For sealing, most manufacturers use PSUL mounting tape. It is glued to the outside of the frame. When exposed to air, the tape begins to expand, closing the foam mounting seam.
The sealing process is very fast and has a neat appearance. But the service life of PSUL due to poor frost resistance is from 3 to 5 years, then a complete replacement is required.
A durable finish is made by plastering the slopes using tile adhesive. The plastering process is long and complex, and performers are reluctant to use such technology. A less labor-intensive, but more expensive solution is a special window sealant.
