In our country, installing two frames into one window opening with a REHAU profile is not common, but is of increasing interest to consumers. This installation technology is known as “Finnish”, and a double-frame window of this type is known as “Scandinavian”. It turns out to be very warm and easy to use. The product is not cheap, but it is a well-thought-out and well-organized design for high-quality heat conservation and sound insulation. Unlike popular PVC windows, in Finnish the emphasis is not on external gloss, but on functionality and durability.
Double glazing: how effective is it?
Double glazing has many advantages over single glazing (where there is only one pane of glass, no layer of air or gas):
- Retains warm air, making your property better insulated.
- This results in fewer drafts and lower heating bills.
- Keeps noise out - You'll hear less outside noise with double glazing.
- Reduces the amount of condensation inside your windows.
- Increases safety - double glazed glass is more difficult to break than single glazed glass.
But its effectiveness and how much you notice these benefits will depend on what you replace and the quality of the product you buy.
The most efficient double glazing has a gas between the panes (such as argon) and uses low-emissivity (Low-E) glass, which has a reflective metal oxide coating to help reflect sunlight back into the home.
Tips for choosing double-glazed windows
When purchasing double-glazed windows, listen to the following tips:
- You should not buy a double-glazed window if the distance between the glass panes is more than twenty millimeters. Due to the increase in size, the level of thermal insulation decreases, and the cost increases significantly.
- The glass unit size should be no more than 3.2 by 3 meters, otherwise there is a risk of deformation. When the volume of air masses decreases or the temperature drops, it is likely that the glasses will connect with each other, and as a result, destruction and depressurization of the package may occur.
- If you purchase colored glass, remember: the colored glass must be on the outside of the package. In addition, it must be strengthened. By installing colored glass inside, it will heat up and will not be able to cool down, so the air temperature will increase. This temperature difference will increase the risk of glass breaking.
- When installing a double-glazed window, be sure to pay attention to the temperature conditions. The air inside should be no less than +5, and outside - no less than -15 degrees Celsius.
A reliable double-glazed window is the key to a cozy and comfortable life. So when choosing a design, be sure to study its technical characteristics. After all, only by choosing the right glass unit can you count on it to last a long time, creating the most comfortable conditions.
Can double glazing reduce noise and insulation?
While only 20% of people surveyed had double glazing installed because they wanted to block out noise, almost half (46%) thought getting it actually reduced outside noise. Because double glazing consists of two panels of glass rather than one, there will likely be less sound than single glazing. Triple glazing should reduce this even further. Different companies offer different levels of noise reduction. For example, some say that A-rated windows provide a sound protection level of 31-36 dB.
Number of glasses
When characterizing a double-glazed window, first of all they talk about the number of glasses. If two glasses are used, then it is a single-chamber double-glazed window, and if three are used, then it is a two-chamber one. The glasses are separated from each other by frames. An air gap forms between them, and in order to improve the performance of the product, instead of air, inert gas is often pumped into the gap. Argon is usually used, and the glass is additionally coated with a special coating. Thanks to this, it is possible to significantly improve the energy-saving properties of double-glazed windows.
In residential premises, when installing plastic windows, they usually install a warm version, which includes three glasses. However, this design is quite impressive in size, its use is not possible everywhere, and therefore, to lighten the weight of the sash, a single-chamber double-glazed window is often used. To improve temperature indicators, use energy-saving coating as the inner glass. This approach combines both indicators: thermal conductivity remains at a fairly high level and does not change much, and the sash weighs much less.
Thus, a double-glazed window is a single-chamber double-glazed window . Moreover, its first glass consists of triplex. Let's look at a specific example. These can be two glasses three millimeters thick, which are glued together with a special film - triplex six millimeters. Then a spacer frame is installed, and it is connected to another glass. The result is three glasses, but one camera. If thicker glasses of 4 millimeters are used, then triplex is taken larger - eight millimeters.
It is this version of the design that is called double glazing.
Will double glazing make my home safer?
While two panes of glass are more difficult to break than one, the key is to have keyed locks on your windows. This is vital for home insurance, which typically specifies that ground level windows and accessible windows on the upper floor must have adequate security measures.
Securing wooden windows
If you have wood casement windows (hinged on one side and opening outward), choose locks that secure the window and frame together. This provides additional resistance (compared to just holding the handle) if an intruder tries to open the window.
Reviews
Original reviews
Useful knowledge on the topic of soundproofing windows
- Noise characteristics of double-glazed windows
- Which windows are the quietest?
- Article on Zen: All ways to make a window quieter
What additional double glazing elements do I need?
Beyond the window or door, handles, color, trim and more are important to the overall appearance of your finished project.
Color options
Some companies offer window frames in a variety of colors, including more modern options at https://oknabalkonperm.ru/. Handles usually come in white, black, chrome and gold. Various handle shapes are available to suit every taste, from rustic to traditional.
Decorative windows
You can add patterns, textures and color to your window to make it unique. Options include: leaded glass with square, rectangular or triangular patterns (which can help maintain the feel of a historic property) opaque glass (for those times when you want privacy, such as in a bathroom or where the window is close to passersby) decorated with precious stones stones or beveled glass can add a touch of color and can often be seen in glazed entry doors. window grilles mimic cottage-style windows, making one panel look like multiple small panes of glass.
Requirements for sashes
The following design and functional requirements apply to movable or fixed sashes in which double glass is installed :
- The weight of the product should not exceed 70 kg, provided that standard rotary or sliding fittings are used.
- The single glass in each part of the sash must fit tightly to the profile along the entire perimeter, which is achieved by using polymer seals.
- Each part of the valves must have its own contact plane with the fixed part of the frame, which prevents leakage and blowing.
- When opening the first part of a double-glazed sash, the second element must remain motionless so as not to violate the tightness of the window unit, provided that a synchronization mechanism is not installed on the frame.
- Two glasses in one window structure must fully satisfy the thermal, functional and other requirements imposed on them.
If the design does not meet regulatory requirements, before its installation it will be necessary to issue a quality passport for the product, which indicates the main technical characteristics of each element after calculations and full-scale tests of the individual design.
To the translucent elements themselves
The following requirements apply to translucent elements, provided that they are installed on the same frame in a duplicate version :
Strength - glass should not be too brittle or break from minor impacts.- Correct geometry - deviations in glass dimensions should not exceed GOST requirements - no more than 2 - 4 mm in length or width and no more than 0.2 - 0.4 mm in thickness, depending on the actual dimensions of the product.
- Considering that single glass must have high strength, its thickness as part of a window block should not be less than 4 - 6 mm, depending on the other two linear dimensions.
- Reliability of fastening - the glass must be securely fixed in the frame around the entire perimeter, which eliminates the presence of chips and other defects on its edge.
- Weight and density - a translucent element, regardless of its dimensions, should not weigh more than 50 - 60 kg in order to ensure the maximum permissible weight of the finished sash of 70 kg.
- Thermal and sound insulation properties - the structure and chemical composition of the glass must fully satisfy the conditions for providing a barrier to vibrations and retain the thermal energy of the room.
- Sanitary and hygienic requirements - the glass components should not contain chemically active elements that, when heated, release toxins and can be harmful to health.
Important. Before choosing glass for installation in a window block of the design in question, it is recommended to study the product quality certificate.
Making a frame from bars
Window frame manufacturing diagram.
Glued laminated timber is a popular, lightweight, strong, durable and reliable material. It is relatively easy to deform and is quite often used in construction. You can use ordinary timber, but it is better not to do this. Over time, under the influence of precipitation and temperature changes, it can become deformed, which will inevitably lead to distortion of the finished product. If you decide to use regular timber for your work, be sure to treat it with special wood preservatives.
The work is performed in the following sequence. First you need to assemble the window frame. To do this, take a 5x15 cm board and carefully cut a groove in it. It needs to be made so that in profile the board looks like the letter “G”. Thanks to this ridge, the tightness of the future window will increase.
Take the necessary measurements and get to work. Saw the prepared board in the shape of the letter “L” into 4 pieces of the required size. Connect the parts to each other. Pay special attention to the method and technology of making the connection. If you make a mistake and the boards are not connected securely enough, all the work will go down the drain. The most reliable is the tongue-and-groove connection. To quickly create grooves of the required size, use a hand router. If you don’t have this tool, you can get by with a hammer, chisel and saw.
Grooves must be created in vertical sections. Those boards that will later be installed in a horizontal position are equipped with a tenon. After preparing all the necessary parts, carefully coat the grooves and tenons with wood glue. Connect the box as carefully as possible. Make sure that the mounting angle is 90 degrees. You can check this using a square.
Scheme of connecting bars for a tongue-and-groove frame.
Take the metal corners and insert them into the corners of the ends. The corners you need can be purchased at any building materials store. Thanks to these simple products, the rigidity of the window frame will be increased. The glue takes some time to dry. It is indicated on the packaging. At this time you can start making the window frame.
For the frame, timber of a slightly smaller cross-section is used. In most cases, they opt for a product measuring 5x5 cm. First, the profile is assembled. You need to leave a gap of 1-2 mm between the frame and the box. After this, the profile is sawn into blanks. You need to make the grooves and tenons already familiar to you in them. The connection is made in exactly the same way as the box parts.
Finally, you need to glaze the window. To do this, attach hinges to the box and frame, treat the product with a moisture-resistant compound and paint it in the desired color. This completes the production of the frame from boards and timber.
Installation Features
Installing glass into one sash or a solid frame is a responsible procedure that is best left to professionals. If this is not possible, when doing the work yourself, it is recommended to take into account some important nuances :
- Each glass should be 3–5 mm smaller than the frame’s fitment dimension, which is determined by different thermal expansion rates of dissimilar materials.
- When installing glass, it is necessary to ensure its sealing on both sides. This is done using clamping beads with sealing tapes, or by treating the joint around the entire perimeter with high-quality silicone sealants.
- Before installing glass, it is recommended to inspect its surface and accurately determine that there are no cracks or chips on the edges, which can easily cause the structure to blow out.
- Immediately after installing two glasses, it is necessary to ensure that the two frame particles are tightly connected to each other, since only in this case is the proper energy efficiency of the enclosing structure achieved.
If all requirements are met, the structure will serve no less than a factory-made double-glazed window. To successfully complete all production processes, it is recommended to work out a detailed technological map in advance and familiarize yourself with video lessons, as well as master classes from professionals.
