Arched plastic windows: features of PVC structures, use in private and apartment buildings, installation, prices

Plastic windows are an integral element of comfort when operating a residential or public space.
In addition, modern PVC products are part of the facade of the building, and their design can satisfy any architectural requirements.

Arched plastic windows are in high demand when glazing attics or double-height spaces in a private residential building, and are also installed in apartment buildings with a high level of comfort.

What are these PVC windows?

Arched plastic windows are elements for filling openings in external walls, which consist of two segments :

A rectangular or square segment located at the bottom of an arched structure. It can be installed in a solid design or equipped with opening doors.
A radius segment, in the form of a half-circle or arch, usually without turning or folding sashes. In some cases, a transom is installed.

Arched windows fit into the attic space under a pitched roof, due to the absence of upper corners, they increase the glazing area, which significantly expands the scope of their application.

Where and when can they be used?

Arched window structures are used in the following residential or public facilities :

In private homes, if necessary, organize a two-light space.
Read also: Simple tips: how to lock doors that don’t have a lock
In the attics of buildings with pitched roofs, when the distance between the inclined planes does not allow installing a window of the correct shape.
When forming the architectural appearance of a building, according to the project, if arched structures are provided on the facade.
When replacing window structures in apartments of multi-storey buildings, provided that such a solution does not spoil the overall appearance of the building.
If it is necessary to increase the duration of normalized insolation of residential spaces.

At the same time, radius windows cannot be installed on civil or industrial facilities of the following types :

If the design of the external wall does not allow an arched opening.
In the case when windows of a non-standard configuration violate the architectural appearance of the building, which is especially important for the hysteria of the centers of large cities.
When replacing window structures, when expanding or modifying the opening is associated with the risk of collapse of the load-bearing elements of the structure's frame.
If the installation of arched windows is accompanied by a decrease in view area, which entails a decrease in the duration of standard insolation, this is relevant for kindergartens, medical institutions and other public buildings for special purposes.

Thus, before ordering, purchasing and installing arched windows, it is necessary to obtain approval from the management company of an apartment building, or to obtain advice from an architect when changing the design solutions of a private building.

Types of metal shutters

Blind structures are the most difficult to crack, even if you have the right tool for this.

Among modern iron shutters, two types of products stand out:

Solid or blind structures;
Shutters-blinds.

All features of the first type were described above. Among other things, metal shutters for windows are equipped with stoppers and platband.

External fastening can only be present in the presence of slopes, when the windows and walls are not in the same plane - in this case, a frame is placed on the outside.

For a dacha, you can install removable blind shutters - such protection can be removed in the summer. Elements of blind shutters are protected not only from burglary, but also from external influences.

You can improve the appearance and further enhance the anti-corrosion resistance through the use of primer and paint coatings. A solid surface can also be decorated with forged elements - in this case, the degree of protection will remain at a fairly high level.

Solid metal products can have from one to three doors

To summarize, the installation of solid structures is carried out if:

The house must be protected from daylight and the eyes of passersby;
You need maximum protection for buildings where you will be away for a long time;
You want to provide the best protection for your home at the lowest cost.

Shutters-blinds are completely similar to solid structures, except that instead of solid steel sheets, slats are used to form a translucent structure of the blinds.

Of course, such products are not as reliable as solid ones - however, cases of their hacking are rare. The slats allow air and daylight to pass into the room even when the shutters are closed.

As in the case of solid structures, the components of lattice structures are profile pipes with a cross-section of 4x2.5 cm. The main parts of the product are already hung on this frame.

Along with the shutters, the kit includes platbands, latches, locks, as well as devices to prevent accidental closing of the shutters. The lamellas on lattice types of products are designed in such a way that the penetration of moisture between them is completely excluded.

Double-leaf louvre-type structures made of metal

Metal shutters will be preferable in the following cases:

A high degree of protection for window openings is required;
You are going to be in the house and do not want to feel discomfort due to the lack of natural light;
Do you want to create an extraordinary decorative design for your windows?

For a detailed comparison with protective external blinds for windows, you can read individual materials and draw a conclusion which design will fit more successfully into the exterior of your building.

Requirements

Just like other translucent structures, arched PVC windows play not only an aesthetic role, but are also part of the external walls , and they are subject to a number of design and technological requirements:

Ensuring sufficient strength - windows must be securely fixed in the opening for safe operation.
Resistant to pulsating loads in gusty winds.
Tightness of seams and gaps to prevent drafts and penetration of atmospheric moisture into the used space.
Resistance to heat transfer to improve the energy efficiency of the room.
Easy to operate, the ability to adjust the fittings of the opening sashes.
Ensuring the required air exchange rate by opening flaps or installing window supply valves.
PVC profile materials, sealants and other polymer consumables must meet environmental requirements.
Pivot window sashes installed in residential buildings must ensure ease of cleaning, care and maintenance, without risk to the life and health of users.
Considering that the radius profile for arched windows is made by bending on rollers after heating, the temperature effect should not have a negative impact on the strength of the material and its thermal properties.

In the manufacture of arched windows, technology does not allow the use of reinforced profiles for lintels, which obliges installers to pay increased attention to the reliable fixation of this element in the opening to ensure reliability during operation.

Do-it-yourself metal shutters for windows - types and manufacturing technology

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DIY metal shutters for windows

Metal shutters are the most preferred option for protecting a residential building or commercial premises from breaking and entering.

Unlike wooden shutters, metal is a more durable material, which significantly affects the safety of the window and property inside the house.

Content:

This solution has a lot of positive aspects, since metal shutters are extremely difficult to crack. In addition, such shutters can be harmoniously combined with the facade of the building and fit perfectly into the surrounding architecture.

It is best to think about protecting windows from penetration in the first stages of construction, because this way you can choose the most optimal installation technology.

Modern iron shutters are available in a wide variety of variations - the designs differ in the number of shutters, their size, as well as the method of decoration. In most cases, the frame of the valves is made from profile pipes to which a steel sheet is welded.

With any design, shutters must be installed in such a way that moisture does not penetrate to the walls and window frame. Water entering through cracks in products will lead to the development of fungus or mold, which will gradually destroy the materials.

Metal shutters are the easiest way to protect your home from burglary

The problem is solved not only by ensuring the tightness of the seams, but also by using drains that remove moisture to the side.

If the house or country building is not planned to be used during the cold season, the best option would be to use removable metal panels. Fastening of such products is carried out using easily removable threaded connections.

Since there are no fastenings on the street side of the structure, metal shutters for a summer house are almost impossible to open. The only drawback of metal shields is their high weight, but this does not apply to products made of aluminum and other light alloy metals.

Separately, it is worth mentioning X-ray protective types - such products are required for installation in X-ray diagnostic rooms. Such products are made from thick sheets of metal with additional shielding inserts.

Characteristics

Arched windows are most often made according to individual orders, and the consumer has the opportunity to choose a design of any shape and dimensions , according to the technical specifications. At the same time, when manufacturing such elements for filling openings, manufacturers often use stocks and jigs, according to the recommended technical characteristics of windows:

Considering that rolling rollers have some technological limitations, semicircular arches can be manufactured with a diameter of 800 mm or more. In other cases, there is a risk of compromising the integrity of the profile.
When installing plastic radius windows in openings with a width of less than 800 mm, the final part is made in the form of a segment or an incomplete semicircle.
Considering that cold or hot deformations of the profile are accompanied by distortion of the structure of the PVC material, it is not recommended to use multi-chamber structures, since the internal sealed spaces are broken. The maximum profile thickness for an arched structure is 70-75 mm.
When installing a balcony door in the body of arched windows, it is necessary to ensure a minimum opening height of 1900 mm. If the configuration does not allow such a door to be made within a rectangular segment, a non-standard arrangement of imposts and complex glazing with mutually intersecting layouts are used.
When installing a folding transom in the vaulted part of the structure, a mechanical or electrical remote drive is used to open it.

In terms of thermal characteristics and damage indicators, arched windows do not differ from standard designs for filling openings, and the consumer has the opportunity to choose standard double-glazed windows that will be manufactured with the required radius.

Functionality

Functionality, first of all, depends on the type of frame, which are divided into two groups - blind and opening. The former are best used for decorative purposes and places where there is no need for ventilation. Openable, suitable for residential and public spaces.

It is important to know that the more profiles used, the lower the light transmission of the glass unit.

Often additional overhead or built-in thin sprockets are used. Thus, only the curved part is shaped, and the block looks original. For the same purposes, stained glass is used instead of ordinary glass.

Although arch windows are made using a different technology, just like classic frames, they have double or triple glazed windows, rotary fittings and an opening transom.

Window blocks of this type are also divided into sashes, and the location of the sections depends on the shape and size. Small ones have 1-2 doors so as not to interfere with the penetration of light.

The advantages are as follows.

The main advantage is aesthetic appeal. Houses and cottages with such design elements look presentable and elegant.
Increased light transmittance.
A variety of styles - English, pointed, Moorish, semi-circular arches.

There are also disadvantages:

High cost of the product. Due to the complex manufacturing process, there is little competition for the production of arched windows.
Restrictions on the parameters of non-standard products in the absence of a reinforcing profile in the design.
The minimum bending radius of the profile (frames - 350 mm, sashes - 400 mm), ordered window structures will also be limited in size.
Production of double-glazed windows for blocks is made to order only.

Varieties

All arched windows supplied to the market can be classified according to the following criteria:

By form:
Semicircular - as a rule, installed in attics or attics. The entire structure is made in the form of a semicircle with a certain radius, without a lower segment of the correct shape. Such windows can be equipped with opening sashes if the size allows them to be arranged taking into account blind segment zones at the edges.
Moorish arches - used when decorating a building or interior in oriental, Arabic styles. They represent a circle cut off in the second half of a semicircle. As a result, such windows take on a horseshoe shape.
Pointed arches are windows made in ethnic, Byzantine or Gothic styles. The termination consists of two radius elements joined to a bend to form an acute angle.
Arches made in the English style - a curved profile is arranged in the form of a segment, which contributes to the formation of an obtuse angle between the vertical imposts and the lintel.
By sash type:
With one leaf, driven in one or two directions.
With two sashes - as a rule, they are separated by a vertical impost in the central part, and both sashes are made in a rotary or tilt-and-turn version.
With three or more sashes - when installing window structures in rooms with a large area, according to an individual design.
By opening type:
Rotary.
Tilt-and-turn, with winter ventilation function.
Folding - without the possibility of rotation.
Sliding, on runners and roller mechanisms.
Folding - when there is no free space to open.
Rotating - open by sliding the sash relative to the fixed central axis of the fastening.

When using standard dimensions, the manufacturer offers arch widths of 800, 900, 1000 ... 2400 mm, heights from 900 to 2000 mm. in other cases, an individual design and installation of reinforced imposts are required.

Tips for choosing the right one

Before purchasing an arched window at a retail outlet, you need to consider a number of important nuances :

Profile thickness - despite the fact that radius structures with a thin profile are cheaper, you should not purchase products with less than 3 chambers, as this helps reduce heat transfer resistance.
When choosing the number of sashes, it is necessary to take into account that each rotary structure with a dimension of more than 900x1800 requires reinforced fittings, which can sag over the years.
If possible, a folding transom should be provided in the arched part of the window to ventilate the room.
Internal decorative layouts should not block the view and violate indoor insolation standards.
For a cold circuit, you should purchase windows with double-glazed windows.
If you are installing products in a private home, it is recommended to think in advance about the shade and texture of the lamination of window structures.
The best solution would be to choose a cold-deformed arched structure with reinforcement in the profile body. In this case, maximum strength and reliability of the window is ensured. This condition is mandatory when installing opening filling elements on the upper tiers of multi-story buildings, taking into account the pulsating component of the wind load.
When installing translucent structures on the south side, you should provide tinting in the mass, and also order a high-quality laminated film that will not fade in the sun.
When ordering, it is recommended to limit yourself to standard dimensions, since proven technology using jigs and templates greatly reduces the risk of manufacturing defects.

One of the main criteria when purchasing a window is the manufacturer’s reputation, as well as the presence of a large number of positive reviews about its products from satisfied consumers on the Internet.

How to measure?

To measure an arched window structure, you need to use your school knowledge of elementary geometry and perform the work according to the following algorithm :

If the window consists of two segments - rectangular and radius, the lower part is measured first.
To do this, you simply need to determine the width and height of the opening in the corners and central parts.
Read also: Work on replacing windows in a house or apartment: what you need to know when dismantling and installing different types of structures
For the convenience of taking measurements from the lower part, in the place of curvature of the opening, you should tighten a nylon cord, which will be the conditional boundary of a part of the window structure.
To measure an arch, you need to determine its type and calculate the radius.
If the arch is a regular semicircle, the width of the opening simultaneously serves as its diameter, or double radius.
To determine the circumference, you need to use the geometry formula L = 2pr, where r is the radius of the arch.
Next, you should check the correctness of the arch structure using masking tape, which is glued along the inner perimeter of the radius part of the opening, followed by measuring the length.
If the length of the arch coincides with the calculations, the circle in the construction design is made correctly and does not need to be adjusted.
When measuring an incomplete arch (circular segment), the best solution is to use the same flexible material with an adhesive surface.

When measuring an arch, you should also check its symmetry relative to the vertical axis by laying out identical segments at the same distance from this axis, on both sides of it.

Installation features

The installation of arched PVC windows is not much different from the installation of conventional opening filling elements. When installing, you should consider some subtleties :

If the height of the structure exceeds 2.4 m, then the window is supplied in segments - with a rectangular and radius part. Before installation, the parts are assembled into a single structural element on a horizontal surface.
When installing an arched window, it is necessary to pay special attention to fastening the curved part. At nodal points, fixation is carried out in two places at once - the anchor plates are placed no further than 50-100 mm from the edge of the vertical impost and at the same distance from the beginning of the curvature, on the arc.
Along the length of the arc, the anchors are installed symmetrically.
In addition to the top of the arch, the plates are attached along its length, after conditionally dividing the bent profile into segments with a length of the curved part of no more than 400-500 mm.
In the case when each half of the arch has a length of less than 800 mm, the anchor plates are installed strictly in the middle between the top and the beginning of the arch, at the point of attachment to the vertical impost.

After installation, the arched window is aligned with a level and plumb line both vertically and horizontally. If a distortion is detected, it is necessary to correct the position of the structure .

Manufacturing of metal shutters

For the manufacture of solid structures, it is best to use galvanized steel in sheets

Steel doors can be ordered not only from specialized workshops, but also from metal door production workshops.

If complex metal decoration is not required, then you can make shutters yourself.

To do this you will need the following supplies:

50th corner for loot;
Galvanized steel sheet 2-3 mm thick;
Angle, channel or square pipe to strengthen the structure.

Before starting work, it is important to accurately verify all dimensions. Do not use indirect calculations, be sure to measure each size directly - you will need the values of the vertical and horizontal sides of the window sill, slopes, lengths of diagonals and angles.

Corner 50×50 millimeters

The contour frame is welded from angle steel. Next, the steel sheet is cut to the required size and attached to the prepared frame. Fastening is carried out either by welding or with metal screws.

If self-tapping screws are used, the fastening pitch should not be greater than 50 mm. When the sheet and frame are fastened, all that remains is to treat all junctions with silicone sealant. Please note that the composition must be resistant to low temperatures and moisture.

For each sash, it is necessary to make stiffening ribs - they are attached horizontally or in the shape of a cross.

Holes for the hinges are drilled on the vertical parts of the frame. The hinges themselves are fixed using bolts or self-tapping screws. On the slope side it is preferable to use anchors.

If necessary, you can install metal sheets on the inside - for this it is better to use aluminum shutters, as this will significantly reduce the overall weight of the product.

Advantages and disadvantages

Installing arched window structures gives the owner of the premises many undeniable advantages:

Increasing the duration of insolation of exploited spaces, which contributes to the disinfection of premises.
Wide viewing angle when the apartment is located on the upper floors.
Possibility of unhindered installation of a translucent structure in the attic, in the plane of the gable under the roof.
Compliance with individual architectural solutions without disturbing the appearance of the building.
The ability to form lintels on load-bearing walls, without the occurrence of edge stresses, which significantly increases the load-bearing capacity of vertical structures.

At the same time, in addition to the advantages, such designs have some subjective disadvantages:

An increase in the price of a window based on the cost per 1 m2, due to the need for additional processing of the profile using specialized equipment, as well as cutting the glass along a curved line.
The risk of incorrect installation of the window structure, which is accompanied by the appearance of cold bridges and a decrease in the energy efficiency of the space being used.
If it is necessary to repair window structures, it is necessary to place an individual order with a long wait for delivery.

Despite minor drawbacks, arched windows are in high demand among consumers, and their popularity is only growing over the years, since the installation of such translucent structures undoubtedly emphasizes the social status of the owner of the property.

Price

The market offers a wide range of arched windows from different suppliers, actively competing with each other. Below we describe in detail the average prices for finished products, as well as for their installation work.

Prices for structures

The price of arched plastic windows can vary several times, depending on the following factors :

Profile thickness, number of internal chambers in a PVC structure.
The number of cameras in a double-glazed window.
Dimensions of the arched product.
Radius of curvature.
Availability of profile reinforcement.
Number of opening sashes and type of fittings.
Availability and lamination area of PVC profiles.
Presence of tinting on windows.
Complexity of installation, location of the facility and other indirect factors.

When ordering window structures without installation at authorized dealer centers from factories, consumers are offered the following prices:

Standard window designs in an arched design with double-glazed windows - from 7-8 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
Products with tilt-and-turn sashes and transoms - from 8-10 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
Comprehensive supply with laminated profiles and premium fittings - from 11-13 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
Blind attic arched windows - from 6-7 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.

When ordering a window, the sales representative takes into account all the factors described above and draws up an estimate based on the content of the technical specifications from the client.

For installation

When ordering installation services for already purchased plastic windows, the best solution would be to contact the same company that manufactured the structures .
If this is not possible, you need to find many accredited installation companies online that are engaged in the installation, repair and adjustment of PVC windows of any complexity.

Average installation costs are:

Standard fixed arched windows - from 1-1.5 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
Window designs with opening sashes, including adjustment of fittings - from 1.5-2 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
Complex composite structures with non-standard dimensions - from 2.5-3 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
Replacement of a window with dismantling, without adjusting the opening - from 2 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
Replacement of windows, if necessary, adjustment of openings in external walls - from 3 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.

The above prices may vary, depending on the complexity of the work and the internal pricing policy of the installation organization .

Search for options

I liked the idea with the round window, but where can I order the window itself?
An Internet search produced results that were not entirely suitable. All companies make windows from PVC profiles and wood, but no one wants to take on a small size. Or the price is said to be inadequate for such a simple product. The search did not lead me to a ready-made hatch window; there was nowhere to buy one, and then the idea arose to make it with my own hands. The room is attic, not heated, there is a window under the roof, double glazed windows and the tightness is not important. You will learn how to make a simple round hatch window by reading the article to the end.