Most of the planned work on replacing PVC windows takes place in the warm season - autumn or spring.
But what if you urgently need to replace a window in winter?
Many experts believe that such a window design can be installed at any time of the year, the main thing is to follow the technology and know the nuances for different installations. In this article we will find out what is the best time for installation and is it worth replacing windows in winter?
Installing windows in winter
At low temperatures, installation defects are easily detected. Blowing, freezing, and non-functional fittings are immediately noticeable. And most defects are instantly eliminated. On winter days, the demand for glazing is lower. And window companies devote more time to each order and offer significant discounts to customers. By replacing windows in December-January, you can save a lot. You just need to remember that installation work must be carried out at temperatures above −15 °C, using winter polyurethane foam.
There is no need to worry about hypothermia in the room during installation work. When glazing the opening, it is opened for no more than 10-20 minutes. Once you close the doors, the room temperature is restored in a couple of hours.
Filing a claim with the developer
The contractor is responsible for the quality of window structures and installation. The developer is required to solve the problem or provide monetary compensation. The shareholder has the right to apply for replacement windows. In this case, the letter is drawn up in any form. The only requirement is formal style.
Please include the following in your letter:
- full details of the contractor (construction company);
- personal data: full name, residential address, contact information (telephone, email);
- a detailed description of the defects and a link to the non-compliance of the design with GOST (photos showing the defects are used as an appendix);
- requirements for the performing company (eliminate defects, replace windows, pay monetary compensation);
- deadline for correcting defects;
- date.
The letter must be signed by you personally.
Do not forget. Attach copies of documents to the letter: agreement between the shareholder and the contractor, payment receipts, checks, statements and other documents that will help in resolving controversial issues.
Please review your consumer rights before submitting an application.
The letter of claim is drawn up in two copies. One is for the consumer of services, the second is for the performer.
There are two ways to submit a claim:
- By mail. Issue a registered letter with a simple notification.
- In the hands of the performer. Here the contractor is required to mark that he received the letter. If the performer refuses, witness his refusal. Invite a witness to the meeting. He must sign the document and write down his passport details, which will confirm the receipt of the letter.
If the construction company refuses to comply with the requirements, you have the right to contact Rospotrebnadzor and the judicial enforcement agency.
Please consider your complaint carefully. Make an action plan. Focus on the main problem. First talk with the team that installed the windows and state your complaints. If you were unable to achieve justice, write a statement.
Reasons for filing a claim:
- The contractor did not comply with the deadlines for completing the work. The dates are specified in the contract between the client and the contractor.
- The contractor refused to fulfill the terms of the contract.
- The construction company refuses to return money for poor-quality installation.
- The contractor infringes on the client's rights.
You may request:
- free replacement of windows or elimination of defects.
- monetary compensation, which should cover the consumer’s expenses for eliminating the defects on his own.
If the injured party makes a similar complaint to the window manufacturer, the client may also demand a reduction in the cost of the work performed.
Preparatory work
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This stage of glazing should be taken seriously. By well preparing the openings for installation, you can increase the service life of the window by 5-15 years. In most cases, it is impossible to glaze a loggia without first preparing the base. For example, before installing an aluminum “slider”, a masonry of foam blocks is installed or the existing metal parapet is strengthened.
It is more difficult to prepare a PVC profile for installation. It is necessary to carefully consider the heat exchange in the room. As a rule, plastic on a loggia is mounted on a support made of foam blocks. It perfectly holds large weights, protects from cold, and is resistant to strong winds. The disadvantage of foam blocks is their vulnerability to precipitation. Foam block masonry must be cleaned from environmental influences.
Materials and components
You can run into fakes and deception with almost every element of a window structure.
Profile
In advertising they like to talk about the German origin of the profile, because Russian consumers have only so-so confidence in domestic products. But let's think logically. What price will the window cost if a profile for it is made and delivered directly from Germany? This is not practical for either the company or the consumer.
What is a German profile in Russia?
German origin is nothing more than production using German technology in Russia. These factories may be officially listed as partners of the brand - in this case, they will regularly undergo control for compliance with the technology of production and assembly of products, receiving certificates of this brand for a certain period.
Here are the factories of the largest brands:
Don't let this fact scare you if the company you intend to deal with can confirm compliance with German requirements with a certificate.
All European manufacturers offer a high-quality product - the guarantee for this profile is at least 40 years, the material does not crack or turn yellow in the sun. But it’s better not to mess with Turkish and Chinese profile systems: different standards mean different quality, and the price is almost the same.
Before purchasing plastic windows, ask the company for a quality certificate!
Fake
Unfortunately, it cannot be done without fakes. They copy the profile or buy a cheaper one, and then change the protective film on the product, passing it off as a brand of a higher level. Often used for these purposes:
- BRUSBOX, MONTBLANC, PLAFEN, ARTEC - similar to REHAU profiles;
- NOVOTEX, KRAUSS, PROPLEX, WINTECH, EXPROF, RIGAP - similar to KBE.
A separate issue is the object profile intended for non-residential premises. Outwardly, it is indistinguishable from ordinary ones, but recycled plastic is used for their production, and the wall thickness is thinner than the required 3 mm. The cost of such a profile is lower, which is what the emphasis is on.
Poor quality window profiles
An unreliable company will keep silent about the real purpose of the product, and it is quite difficult to recognize the deception right away. There are usually no inscriptions on the protective film or there are the words “object”, “object”, “engine”, “tender” and similar in meaning. If this happens to you, do not agree to install such windows under any circumstances! The design is not rigid and strong enough, the thermal conductivity of the products does not meet the standard, and the plastic can emit an unpleasant odor - the object profile cannot be used for residential premises!
Saving on raw materials
Another way to reduce the cost of metal-plastic windows is to use inserts made from recycled materials in the design. You can notice their presence by the darker shade on the front surfaces. If recyclable materials were mixed at the plastic production stage, this is usually revealed by comparing the shades of the glazing bead and the profile. It is easier to mix recyclable materials during the production of glazing bead than in the main profile - the glazing bead will be darker or yellower. Normally, the elements should be identical in shade.
Accessories
The cost of fittings is a significant share of the price of a metal-plastic window. It is not surprising that due to it, companies save in their favor.
Substitution
The easiest way is to install cheap fittings instead of those promised in the advertisement. The difference in price between a cheap Turkish Vorne kit and a high-quality German Roto can reach 65% for one window. The Austrian brand MACO has a factory in China - only a professional can determine the country of origin. A company that installs medium-sized windows produces about 250–400 units of products per month - just imagine how much such illegal “savings” will generate! And clients will soon have to repair their windows. For their money.
If the brand of fittings used is not specified in the contract, they can supply you with anything. It is quite possible that the quality will differ from that stated.
It’s not difficult to determine the quality of a handle—try turning it. If this requires effort, and the mechanism operates with creaking or jerking, then such a part will not last long. The spring effect when locking indicates that the metal power elements have been replaced by plastic ones - they bend when the handle is turned. This may also be the cause of incorrect assembly or under-assembly - lack of screws.
Please note that the fittings are not only handles, but also other elements that protect the doors from sagging and the room from drafts. The service life of the window also depends on it.
What to look for
- Don't skimp on the number of doors you open. If there are a lot of them, you won’t have to endure the inconvenience and stress when washing the window unit.
- Don't go for cheap windows with wide sashes. They may sag after a couple of years of use. It is better to install standard size sashes.
- If you insulate the balcony yourself, warn the installers about this. They will include additional profiles in the estimate so that they can be used to later fix the insulation and perform finishing.
In what weather is it better to install plastic windows? To dismantle old structures, choose a calm day. It is better to install at temperatures above −15 °C. Do you install the profile yourself? Use gloves with polymer coating. Remove construction waste so that it does not interfere with installation work. Regardless of what time of year you glaze your apartment, we recommend entrusting the glazing to professionals. They know exactly all the nuances of installation work, installation requirements, and materials. You can demand that window companies eliminate possible defects under warranty.
Installation features
The construction organization must choose the technology for installing PVC windows and consumables depending on the season of work.
Manufacturers of PVC window blocks suggest installing them in the autumn-winter period, since it will be possible to immediately check the window for energy efficiency.
If during installation drafts or fogging of the glass unit is detected, the quality of the installation work is unsatisfactory, and the window leakage must be repaired by the company that carried out the installation.
During the cold season
Installation of PVC blocks in winter is complicated by negative temperatures and high humidity. In order to level out such negative conditions, installers use 2 methods of winter installation.
Winter installation of PVC windows in heated rooms:
To protect the workplace on the street side, a protective heat shield is attached, which retains heated air in the room, preventing the installed double-glazed windows from freezing and protecting them from moisture.- Frost-resistant polyurethane foam is used.
- The joints are sealed indoors.
- Inside the room, the layers of the seam are distributed in this way: silicone sealant, polyurethane foam and joint insulation.
- On the outside, all seams are covered with waterproof tape.
This method, as a rule, costs more than a conventional installation, but it is the one that can smooth out the influence of negative winter factors.
Winter installation of PVC windows in unheated rooms:
- Construction foam with frost-resistant characteristics is used.
- Turn on the heat gun.
- Warm up the outer layer of applied foam.
- Fill the gaps from the inside with foam. This method gives good results in filling all voids with foam.
- The mounting tape is fixed in warm conditions.
- During the installation process, the PSUL hydro- and vapor barrier tape is also heated by a “heat” gun together with the joint surface.
This method is one of the most labor-intensive “winter” options for installing PVC windows, but ensures high quality work.
In the warm
In the warm season, when sealing the installation seams of PVC windows, preparatory work is carried out to dismantle old blocks and prepare the surface of the opening.
In order to create an installation seam in three layers, you will need to purchase PSUL tape for the outer vapor-permeable layer, the central one is filled with summer or inter-seasonal mounting foam with a heat-protective effect, and the inner vapor barrier is made of waterproof tape. This protection design does not allow moisture and vapor to penetrate either from the room into the seam, or from the street into the room.
With this scheme, the seam can be ventilated from the street side, removing the moisture accumulated in it outside, and not inside the room.
Sealing seams when installing PVC windows:
- Paste the PSUL tape before installing the PVC frame, avoiding creases, and also make sure that no mortars get on it.
- Apply foam in a continuous line, leaving no voids or gaps.
- Excess foam is cut off to install vapor barrier.
- If the installation gap is very large, the foam is applied in layers, waiting for the previous layer to polymerize.
- On the room side, a vapor barrier tape is glued over the created seam, with overlaps in the corners.
When is it better to replace PVC windows - in winter or summer?
The choice of season for glazing is yours. Both summer and winter installations have their advantages. If you replace windows in winter, you can immediately understand exactly how high quality the new glazing is, quickly correct defects, and adjust the window.
When installing a profile in winter, take care of the thermal insulation of the openings. We recommend installing windows from the REHAU Geneo profile with i-glass. A thermally efficient double-glazed window reliably protects the room from the cold and retains heat much better than a standard double-glazed window.
Ordering plastic windows is cheaper in winter, more convenient in summer. It's up to you to decide what season to glaze your house. With the right choice of materials and contractor, high-quality glazing is possible both in winter and summer. Call or leave a request on the website, and we will calculate the cost of winter window installation in your apartment or house.
Is it possible to install plastic windows in an unheated house?
Plastic windows can be installed in an unheated brick room in winter. There is information that such windows can be installed down to -15 degrees. Where plastic windows are installed, the walls must be heated with a construction hairdryer, and then sealed with polyurethane foam.
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How long does it take to install a balcony?
Answer: It depends on the scope of work. Typically, glazing is installed within one day. Balcony finishing
or loggia is made the next day.
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Selecting the type of glazing
Before making a choice, experts advise identifying the problem that you want to solve with the help of glazing. The optimal profile material, the number of double-glazed windows, as well as the frame design will be different for each case. Everyone decides for themselves which windows to install on the balcony. So, glazing can be divided into “warm” and “cold”.
In the first case, the main goal is to create comfortable conditions in the home. A balcony reliably protected from the cold becomes an extension of the room, increasing the area of your apartment. Of course, you won’t be able to get a big increase in square footage, but it’s possible to create a comfortable area for year-round recreation.
The main requirement is low thermal conductivity. Otherwise, the heat from the room will go outside, which will make the heating ineffective. It is also worth considering that in order to completely solve the problem of heat leakage, you will need to insulate the floor and other surfaces.
Protection from rain and dirt
Cold glazing does not require major insulation work and, therefore, costs less. It is chosen when you need to protect the balcony from precipitation, street dust, and at the same time reduce the noise level. To save and reduce the weight of the structure, a durable aluminum profile is used. For the same purpose, the doors are equipped with the simplest single-glazed windows.
The small thickness of the glass and the high thermal conductivity of the aluminum frame do not contribute to heat retention. In winter or late autumn, it will be only 10-11 degrees warmer on the balcony than outside. It is very uncomfortable to be in such conditions for a long time. However, the presence of an additional air “barrier” between the heated room and the street helps save on heating costs. In winter, the glassed-in area can be used to store bicycles, unused clothes and other items.
In addition, lightweight aluminum structures do not create a significant load on the concrete base of the loggia. This advantage is often decisive for apartment owners in old buildings whose slabs are not designed for high pressure.
