Which windows are best to install in an apartment?

Window blocks for an apartment or residential building are made of wood, aluminum, and metal-plastic profiles. In some cases, the above materials are combined.

Wooden frames. Made from natural wood that is resistant to weathering, they are characterized as the most environmentally friendly option, since they are made from natural raw materials. Modern structures are equipped with fittings that expand the functionality of the window and significantly facilitate its operation. Glued laminated timber is used to make frames for wooden windows, which eliminates deformation of the opening sashes.
Wood-aluminum blocks. An aluminum profile overlay is installed on the outer surface of the wooden frame. This allows you to preserve all the qualities of the natural material indoors and protect the window from harmful atmospheric influences from the street. In addition, aluminum linings significantly extend the service life of the window, protecting the structure from mechanical damage, and an additional layer of glazing installed in the outer aluminum sash increases noise absorption and thermal insulation.
Windows made of metal-plastic profile. Now this is the most common and affordable option. For production, colorless plastic is used - polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This polymer, in addition to its relatively low cost, has all the necessary qualities for its use in the manufacture of window profiles: low thermal conductivity; resistance to mechanical damage, long service life (at least 50 years) without loss of basic characteristics; environmentally friendly, sufficient for use in residential premises.

Basic elements of a plastic window

Metal-plastic window structures consist of the following elements:

Support frame. The outer part of the block, which is fixed directly in the opening. It is made of a multi-chamber profile, reinforced inside with metal reinforcement (most often a square pipe).
Impost. An internal vertical or horizontal frame spandrel designed to separate large structures into sections.
Opening elements (sashes). They are located inside the frame and are equipped with rotating, tilt-and-turn or sliding fittings. They are made from a lighter multi-chamber profile with internal reinforcement (usually a U-shaped galvanized profile).
Translucent filling (glass unit). As a rule, this is a sealed structure of two or more glasses (up to 4), separated by spacer frames. The thickness of the glass and the distance between them can be different, which has a positive effect on the heat-insulating and noise-absorbing characteristics of the double-glazed window and the window as a whole. The space between the glasses (chamber) in budget products is filled with dried air, in energy-saving ones - with inert gas (argon, krypton).
Accessories. A set of elements (moving and stationary) designed to provide the necessary functionality of a window structure. First of all, this is an opening mechanism (hinged, tilt-and-turn, sliding), shut-off valves, handles and built-in ventilation modules.
Glazing bead. A plastic profile of small cross-section without reinforcement, designed for fixing a double-glazed window in a frame or sash. There is a rubber seal on the surface of the bead adjacent to the glass, which gives the structure the necessary tightness.
Window slab. The profile is made of durable polyvinyl chloride, installed at the bottom on the inside of the block.
Drainage The metal profile is mounted from the outside at the bottom of the frame to remove precipitation outside the window structure.
Mosquito net. A frame made of a thin metal profile designed to prevent insects from entering the room during ventilation.

Next, the most important elements of window structures will be considered in more detail.

Which rooms will it fit perfectly between?

An interior window in a country house or apartment can be placed in any room. In order for it to fit harmoniously into the interior and at the same time perform certain functions, several nuances must be taken into account.

1. Window openings are made in blind rooms that do not have access to the street. Such premises appear after redevelopment of an apartment from a one-room to a two-room apartment or a two-room apartment to a three-room apartment. Thanks to a small window, daylight will flow into the room - you won't have to keep the lights on all the time. In addition, the luminous flux will make the bedroom or office (they are usually equipped in nooks) more spacious and cheerful (psychologists say that a closed space without windows causes sadness and despondency). For this reason, many owners make the entire partition from glass blocks instead of windows or install a sliding system with tinted windows.

2. Install internal windows and on the walls of the corridor (hallway). Two problems are solved here:

the hallway is illuminated with daylight;
the size of the room visually increases.

In this situation, you need to consider how the room from which the light comes will look with the window. Experience shows that this is where there are many mistakes. For example, a window fits perfectly into the design of the hallway, but in the living room, which is an adjacent room, it is actively discordant with the furniture. We need a golden mean.

3. When lighting dark rooms, it is recommended to make openings opposite ordinary windows - this way more light will get into the darkened areas. There are particularities when installing interior windows in rooms with different purposes.

In the kitchen

A window in the kitchen can be decorative if it opens into the living room or functional if the adjacent room is the dining room.

Decorative window in the kitchen.

A decorative window is, firstly, beautiful, secondly, a small kitchen becomes visually more spacious, and thirdly, it opens up the interior, linking the design of adjacent rooms into a single whole (they complement each other), which gives an amazing effect. In addition, it becomes possible for light flows to flow freely from room to room, making them look lighter and airier.

In most cases, a functional window is designed in the form of a bar counter. This makes it not only convenient to pass dishes to the dining area (no need to make circles along the corridor), but you can also set the table on the windowsill, especially in cases where the whole family cannot get together for breakfast or dinner.

In Russia it has become popular to combine the dining room with the living room. In this case, it becomes possible to unload a small kitchen from excess furniture, ensure a good level of communication between adjacent rooms (establish contact with guests or family members in the dining area).

Bathroom

Interior windows in the bathroom are a classic of the genre. They are installed mainly in apartments, because... In private construction, it is recommended to leave the window niche in the outer wall. There is no single point of view regarding the location. Most experts and designers consider it unacceptable to install a window between the kitchen and the bathroom - only in a blank wall with another adjacent room.

Installing a window allows you to:

provide natural light to the bathroom - you can wash your hands without turning on the light;
change the design using an opening;
eliminate the discomfort of a closed room.

Cabinet

The problem with an office is that in an apartment it is sometimes arranged in utility rooms or a special area is fenced off with plasterboard partitions. Limited space and lack of natural light greatly reduce mental performance. Therefore, the installation of internal window structures is more relevant here than anywhere else.

Bedroom

An interior window into the bedroom performs a decorative function: it makes the room more spacious and “refreshes” the interior. But this approach to design has many opponents. They believe that the bedroom is a private room in which everything that happens there should remain. Therefore, we need a solid wall that hides the intimate rooms from prying eyes and prying ears. Another option is to install a permanent window made of several rows of colored glass blocks.

The editors of the site do not take responsibility for recommending anything in the current situation. Everyone must decide for themselves what to do. To help, we provide a photo gallery of successful design solutions.

What you need to pay attention to when choosing a PVC profile

The binding of the supporting frame and opening sashes of metal-plastic windows is made of a special profile. In structure, it is a hollow part, divided into several isolated sections by partitions and reinforced with a metal square pipe or U-shaped profile.

Reinforcing U-shaped profile for additional rigidity

PVC profile sections are more often called chambers, and the energy-saving and soundproofing characteristics of the window unit depend on their number. The more cameras, the warmer the window and the less extraneous noise will enter the room from the street.

Summarize

When choosing a plastic window profile, we are guided by the following points:

1. Number of cameras.

The greater the number of air chambers in the window profile, the higher the heat saving of the finished product, as well as protection from noise and unpredictable weather conditions. But at the same time, we do not forget that the structural width of the profile has priority importance for the thermal qualities of the window.

2. Full characteristics of the product.

Plastic windows differ greatly in reliability, intensity of use, and raw materials used for manufacturing, not to mention energy-saving and sound-proofing properties. Therefore, ask sellers for complete specifications of the product you are purchasing, and clarify whether the profile belongs to class A or B (give preference to the first).

3. Rational approach.

Preference should be given to the product that suits your situation, based on climatic conditions. There is no need to save money, but there is no need to overpay for a more expensive product. Contact representatives of official window companies in your region, and also talk to relatives and friends who have already installed plastic windows, this will help you decide on the number of cameras in the window profile. Approach the choice of a plastic window rationally and pragmatically.

Features of double-glazed windows

Translucent elements occupy more than 80% of the area of plastic windows. It is not surprising that the quality and design features of this element have a significant impact on the thermal and sound insulation characteristics of the window as a whole.

Depending on the number of glasses and, accordingly, cameras, double-glazed windows can be one, two or three-chamber. The latter option is relatively rare due to the complexity of production and high cost. The most preferable in domestic climatic conditions is the use of double-glazed windows. Single-chamber products are mainly used for glazing of non-residential premises or industrial facilities.

The number of chambers is not the only factor that determines the energy efficiency and degree of sound absorption of a double-glazed window. These characteristics are affected by the thickness of the glass, its composition and coating, the distance between the sheets and the filling of the chambers. The thickness and distance between the glasses is determined by the glass unit formula. For example, the formula 4/16/4/12/4 means that three sheets of the same thickness (4 mm) are used, the distance between which is 16 mm in one chamber and 12 mm in the other.

In high-quality double-glazed windows, with a high level of noise absorption and thermal insulation, different glass thicknesses and distances between them are used. The outer glass is usually the thickest (6-10mm), the other two are thinner (4mm). The distance frames, on the contrary, are wider on the inside. The difference in distance and thickness has a greater effect on noise absorption than on heat retention, which mainly depends on the number of chambers and their filling.

The following substances are used to fill the space between the glasses:

Dehydrated air. Cheap and easy to implement filling method.
Inert gas. Most often they are filled with argon, since it is the most affordable. Krypton is less common - its cost is higher, as are its thermal insulation qualities. The most expensive and rarely used gas is xenon. The energy efficiency of double-glazed windows filled with inert gas is 25% higher than that of products with dried air.
Sulfur hexafluoride. It is not used as often as the fillers described above, but has high thermal insulation characteristics.

Design and color

Standard plastic windows in the apartment are white. But in reality there are many more options.

You can stick a film of any color and texture onto the frame. For example, under a tree.

The frame can be divided into zones of different shapes. Make it triangular or round. This will add zest and make the design more reliable. The windows themselves can be arched or oval.

Glass tinting will add tint to your indoor space. At the same time, the intensity of ultraviolet radiation will decrease. And the room will not be visible from the outside.

You can make a stained glass pattern as a decorative element.

Mirrored glass, like tinting, will protect from sun exposure and prying eyes.

It is not used so often, but smart glass has already proven itself. The degree of transparency depends on the light intensity. A convenient alternative to curtains and blinds.

Choosing accessories

First of all, the fittings determine the method of opening the sashes and, depending on the type of window, the following options are distinguished:

Rotary. Conventional hinges for opening doors in the traditional swing way.
Folding. The sash, as in the first case, opens by turning, but not in the vertical plane, but in the horizontal.
Tilt-and-turn. A set of mechanisms that involves both swing and folding openings. High-quality products provide adjustment of the degree of pressure and several ventilation modes. Despite the complexity of the design, this is now the most common opening option, which is primarily due to its convenience and functionality.
Sliding. It is used on English-type windows in which the sashes open with an offset parallel to the plane of the block. There are also more complex, tilt-and-slide options with the ability to slightly open the doors by tilting them or open them completely by sliding them.

What determines the size of windows in a private house?

The basic rule that guides designers is: the window area should be at least 1/8 of the room’s floor area. For example: in a guest room of 10 m2. the window must be at least 1.25 m2. approximately 1000x1250mm (WxH). In a large living room of 40 m2. The minimum window size will be 2000x2500 mm (WxH).

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. Modern energy-efficient windows are rarely small; rather, on the contrary, they are becoming larger, trying to occupy the entire wall area. The article discusses all the important components for correctly calculating the size of windows.

Sealant

There is a rubber seal along the perimeter of the junction of the sashes to the supporting frame, in the mounting areas of double-glazed windows and on the glazing beads. Its main purpose is to ensure the required level of tightness of the structure and prevent the penetration of noise from the street.

A high-quality seal must have the following properties:

Maximum elasticity with sufficient strength.
Maintain properties in hot and cold.
The seal does not evaporate toxic substances and does not emit strong odors.
Does not fade when exposed to ultraviolet light.

For the manufacture of seals, materials such as:

Silicone. The most durable of those available on the modern market, does not lose its qualities at high or low temperatures, is resistant to abrasion, and does not interact with household chemicals. However, it is quite expensive, which is why it is rarely used by manufacturers of window structures.
EPDM. Cheaper than silicone and approximately comparable in characteristics, it is often used on mid- and premium-class products. Difficult to install on your own.
TPE. The thermoplastic polymer used in the manufacture of TPE seals is relatively inexpensive and easy to process, making it more affordable. However, this material becomes somewhat rough in the cold and softens in the heat.
Rubber. No worse than silicone in terms of quality characteristics, and at the same time significantly cheaper. The main disadvantage is the relatively short durability (5-7 years), since the soft material cracks due to temperature changes. However, rubber seals, like thermoplastic ones, do not create installation problems and replacing it yourself is not difficult.

Deciding on deadlines

If you have the opportunity to choose the time to install windows, it is better to do this process in a fairly warm season, preferably from May to September. However, it also happens that, for various reasons, it is necessary to install windows - for example, when moving to a new apartment - and in colder times. There is only one rule: the air temperature must not be lower than -5 degrees Celsius, and all installation work must be carried out in dry weather. However, you should not deal with new windows even in extreme heat - the consequences of such an installation can be unpredictable.

Rating of the best manufacturers

The quality of the window structure primarily depends on the profile used, the best manufacturers of which are listed below:

Rehau. A well-known German manufacturer, one of the most popular at the moment.
Kaleva. Russian company for the design and manufacture of metal-plastic profiles and finished windows.
Veka. Another German manufacturer of high-quality window structures, which has branches in many countries around the world.
Schuco. German company, manufacturer of aluminum windows and doors, as well as facade glazing systems.
KVE. German manufacturer of metal-plastic profiles, specializing in the production of plastics for the electrical industry.

Window sizes depending on the material of the walls of the house

In a stone house, the size of windows does not greatly depend on the material of the walls. You just need to take into account the height of the finished floor.

But in a wooden house, window installation has its own peculiarity. To prevent damage to the windows when the house shrinks, they are mounted in a casing.

Photo: on the left - the window opening is reduced by installing a frame; on the right, the window opening corresponds to its original size and does not require a casing. Casing box (jam) is a wooden frame that protects the window from the pressure of the upper logs when the house shrinks. The thickness of the box is 40-50 mm on all sides of the window, and 70 mm on top. These gaps must be added to the window opening so as not to end up with a window that is one size smaller.

Tips for choosing

Don't skimp on window profiles!
When choosing windows, you should first of all pay attention to the characteristics of the profile, double-glazed windows and fittings. Visually, the profile should be smooth (glossy products are easier to clean) and uniform in color. The presence of dark or yellowish spots on white plastic, as well as roughness and dents, indicates low quality or defective product.

For residential premises, you should not install windows with single-chamber double-glazed windows. The best option is a two-chamber one with different glass thicknesses and distances between them. The use of energy-saving film and filling the chambers with inert gas will significantly improve the thermal insulation and noise-absorbing qualities of the structure.

There should be no rust or damaged coating on the fittings. After installation, you should check the tightness of the window; the sashes should fit snugly to the frame around the entire perimeter, without any play or distortion.

Also, a useful video on the topic:

What kind of new product is this?

It’s difficult to call interior windows a novelty. Probably every Russian has encountered them. If not in the apartment of your parents or grandparents, then in the school cafeteria there is always a window for distribution and there is a classic example of an interior window.

It turns out that the “new product” has a long history, with different explanations for its appearance. The most popular version is to reduce the consequences of household gas explosions. Having knocked out the weaker frame, the blast wave extinguishes the energy in the bathroom, leaving the windows and walls intact. The most amusing one is for ventilation, despite the fact that the windows did not open (solid). Rather, those who claim that these are skylights are right. After all, they appeared long before gas and electricity, and helped to use the bathroom and toilet during daylight hours without lighting a kerosene lamp or candles.

“New” interior windows differ from their ancestors in functions, materials, and location.

Functions

Interior windows in the interior of an apartment solve functional and decorative problems:

increase the luminous flux into a darkened room;
improve communication connections between adjacent rooms;
allow redevelopment without loss of performance characteristics;
improve air exchange inside the apartment;
visually expand the area of the room;
change the look and style of the interior, introducing new colors into it.