PVC profile lamination as a modern way of window design

Many of us have formed a strong association between plastic windows and the snow-white coating of their profiles.

However, this boring trend can be broken with modern decoration technologies that can brighten up the mediocre appearance of standard windows.

This opportunity opens up freedom for new design solutions and allows you to give the profile a unique style, thereby fitting it favorably into the overall concept of the interior of the room.

Features of lamination film

The film can be either monochromatic or exactly repeat the structure of certain materials, for example wood. To date, more than one and a half hundred options have been produced: in addition to simple shades like blue, yellow and green, more exotic colors like “green spruce” or “marbled” are available.

The outer side of the film is highly resistant to atmospheric factors, as well as ultraviolet radiation, so the coating does not lose color saturation for a long time.

Advantages and disadvantages of window film

The technology for restoring windows with vinyl does not require major investments. Its advantages are not limited to this.

Main list of positive characteristics:

1. Rich color palette, variety of decor. Manufacturers of vinyl films regularly update product collections. In addition to the classic white color, you can choose a film of almost any shade, including imitation marble, wood, and granite. Films also differ in texture: there are smooth, rough, and glossy options.
2. Excellent technical and operational parameters. Vinyl lasts up to 30 years, does not deteriorate from temperature changes within -50...+130 degrees, and is not afraid of moisture. Compared to paint, it is more resistant to mechanical stress.
3. Simplicity of finishing. Restoring windows with vinyl can be easily done with your own hands; no special knowledge is required. This technique is not complicated, and it does not take much time to complete.

Samples of vinyl film for lamination

Are there any disadvantages?

If certain rules are not followed during lamination, the film may begin to deteriorate within a few months. This will lead to unpleasant consequences, and all the work will have to be done again. If the film strips are joined inaccurately, unsightly gaps may remain and the aesthetics of the frames will be greatly compromised.

Important! If lamination is ordered at a factory, this will inevitably increase the cost of the order, although home restoration with vinyl is a fairly cheap procedure.

Lamination technology

Its principle is extremely simple. The lamination process is preceded by the application of a primer - a priming composition - to the profile, after which the component of the future window is sent to the machine.

A film is glued to the workpiece moving along the guide slide, which is accompanied by exposure to high temperature.

Next, special rollers compress the profile in order to fix the material as best as possible.

This is followed by cooling of the finished element. This does not involve any additional actions other than waiting for the adhesive layer to harden. This stage lasts at least a week.

As a rule, if the customer has chosen wood lamination, the profile is pre-painted in bulk so that it acquires a dark brown, caramel or other shade and does not fall out of the overall composition.

What is the point of technology?

Laminated is a window profile that is lined with decorative film. This operation is performed using special laminating equipment using glue that is safe for humans. After applying the film, the glass unit will be protected from external influences and will acquire a beautiful appearance and gloss.

On a note! The service life of laminated windows will remain approximately the same as that of basic white plastic structures.

To ensure that vinyl (PVC) film lasts for a long time, the production process strictly follows its installation technology. The surface of the frames is degreased and cleaned, then a primer is applied and only then PVC, previously coated with glue, is applied. The average film thickness is 50-75 microns, the thickness of the adhesive layer is 80 microns.

PVC profile lamination equipment

Next, the machine processes the windows with pressure rollers, as a result of which the vinyl film is imprinted into the surface. At home, such manipulations are, of course, difficult, but the use of simplified lamination technology is quite possible.

Lamination methods

The following types are used:

• External. Inside, the window is made in a simple color, and on the street side the texture of the profile matches the exterior of the house, for example it imitates wood, which is important for country cottages;
• Internal. In order to preserve the façade style of an apartment building, the outer plane of the window is left untouched, and the inner covering is selected to match the decoration of the room;
• Two-way. Suitable for clients who want to emphasize the individuality of both the interior and exterior of their home.

How to apply vinyl yourself

The process of laminating an already installed window is much more complicated than processing the product before its installation. That is why it is recommended to disassemble the old frames, because this way all the work will be done more efficiently and effectively. At home, you can restore both plastic and wooden windows - the technique will be the same.

Types of lamination

First, determine the type of lamination that will be applied to the windows:

1. One-sided internal. Used to update frames from inside the room, including when changing the interior.
2. One-sided external. Usually carried out when refreshing the facade or when repairing old windows in private houses.
3. Double-sided. In this case, vinyl film is applied on both sides of the frame, and you can choose either the same or different materials.

One-sided internal window lamination

Tools and consumables

To work, you need to prepare a sufficient amount of vinyl film. Accessories list:

• tape measure and ruler;
• sharp knife;
• construction hair dryer;
• rubber spatula;
• smoothing scraper or roller;
• sandpaper;
• putty;
• marker of the desired color;
• degreaser with added antistatic agent.

Metabo construction hair dryer

Preparation

Old frames are thoroughly cleaned of coating, chips and scratches are carefully covered with putty (it can be replaced with liquid plastic). All surfaces are treated with a degreasing compound.

Working with film

The self-adhesive PVC film is cut according to the measurements taken, with at least 2 cm of overlap added in width. The film is not applied at the joints of the frame, so to improve aesthetics, a special tint marker is used that ideally matches the color of the coating.

Use a hairdryer to warm up the film and base well to +60…+100 degrees. Gradually removing the protection from the adhesive base, apply PVC along the profile. Roll each section with a pressure roller or iron it with a scraper. All excess is cut off with a sharp knife.

When caring for the film, do not use aggressive or abrasive compounds. For cleaning, you should use soft cloths and napkins soaked in a soap solution, and for shine, rub the coating with polishes with an antistatic agent. This will allow you to maintain the beautiful and stylish design of double-glazed windows for a long time and seriously save on their replacement.

Applying the company logo to the film

Packaged products can also provide free advertising. Film stamped with the name of the manufacturer attracts the attention of buyers and increases the percentage of orders. This is a convenient and cost-effective marketing option that guarantees the authenticity of the product and leaves the customer in no doubt that the purchase is of high quality.

Biopak delivers orders of the required volume throughout Russia and the CIS within the terms specified in the contract. Managers will advise on the thickness and color of the film and branding.

Prices for window lamination

How to avoid problems with protective film?

Avoiding difficulties when removing protective film from PVC windows is quite simple - you just need to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations in a timely manner.
The operating instructions for window systems, as a rule, state that the protection from the profile must be removed within 10-12 days after installation of the structures. If it is not possible to do this yourself, you can ask the installers to do the work, writing this clause in the contract in advance or making a private agreement with the installers. In any case, when making such a valuable purchase, you should not ignore the manufacturer’s instructions - this will help maintain the impeccable appearance of the products without wasting extra money and energy.

Recommendations for caring for laminated windows

Since the basis of decorative films is the same polyvinyl chloride that is used in the manufacture of white profiles, laminated windows are cared for according to the same rules as standard models:

• cleaning is done with soft flannel cloths soaked in warm soapy water;
• do not use abrasive powders or aggressive chemical compounds (solvents) under any circumstances;
• use a polish for plastic surfaces with an antistatic effect - it will not only clean the surface and prevent the accumulation of dust, but also give the profile a spectacular shine.

When using laminated models, it is recommended to always have a marker on hand to match the film. It is necessary to periodically “refresh” the camouflage at the joints. If all technologies are followed when applying high-quality film, the service life of such windows does not differ from the durability of basic white models and, depending on the type of profile, is 30-50 years.

Lamination process for PVC window profiles

To begin with, it’s worth understanding what the process of transforming ordinary white profiles into laminated ones is.
The first thing to do is to treat the surface of the product with a special composition, after which the profiles are placed in a lamination unit, where an acrylic film is applied to it using the thermal activation method. To top it all off, the product is processed using a system of rollers with different pressing forces, aimed at ensuring that the film adheres to the surface as firmly as possible.

Lamination of plastic windows does not affect their quality and service life, since the acrylic films used in the work have excellent performance characteristics:

• Resistant to temperature and humidity changes;
• Resistant to precipitation and ultraviolet rays;
• They are highly resistant to mechanical damage;
• Not subject to peeling from the profile;
• They do not require cosmetic touch-up and do not lose their color saturation for a very long time;
• They do not require special cleaning agents; they can be washed with ordinary soapy water;
• They have a pleasant rough texture, which, in addition, will hide small scratches and fingerprints that will inevitably appear over time.