Modern homeowners are increasingly choosing to install high-quality premium windows from the manufacturer Schuco. This is not at all surprising, because these products are distinguished by exceptional reliability, functionality and excellent aesthetics.
The Schuco company is a recognized world leader in the production of components for translucent structures and unites 12,000 partner enterprises in 80 countries. Schuco's headquarters are located in Germany in Bielefeld. Russian structure. The use of aluminum in the production of window structures allows us to produce products in almost any format, while maintaining an optimal level of insulation. Shuko aluminum systems emphasize the individual style of housing construction, ensuring maximum light flow into the premises. In addition, they fully meet modern strict quality requirements, possessing an impressive list of advantages, including:
- Shuko's innovative technologies
- Theoretically, the size of the glazing is limited to the size of jumbo glass 6000x3210mm.
- Variety of color options
- Small width of the visible part of the profiles 50 and 60 mm.
- Safe and vandal-proof double-glazed windows made of tempered glass and triplex glass
- The thickness of glass in double-glazed windows is up to 12 mm.
- The advantage of Schuco aluminum: quality, durability, strength
Elite windows Shuko - individuality and style
Today, the Shuko brand stands as a symbol of incredible production quality, optimal processing and installation. Window structures made of aluminum provide incredible living comfort for decades. High-quality aluminum window systems Shuko are the best choice. Special Shuko aluminum profiles, complete with properly selected double-glazed windows and fittings, provide exceptional protection against a variety of external influences of the atmosphere, noise penetrating from outside, as well as the likelihood of burglary.
Elite Schuco window profiles can be painted in any shade on the RAL scale, and can also be decorated to match various natural textures: wood, stone, textiles (with photographic quality).
Schuco structures can be used in new buildings and during the reconstruction of old buildings. The aluminum profile is characterized by a relatively small width of the visible part, which ensures an increase in the glass component, allowing you to bring comfort and a lot of light into the room. The attractiveness of the look is individual for everyone, so the systems are presented in a wide variety of colors. In addition, they can differ in their own contours, being made in classic, stylishly elegant, rounded designer and other options. The Yarmak company offers three main Shuko window systems:
- Schuco AWS 90.SI+ - luxury windows with passive house standard thermal insulation;
- Schuco AWS 75.SI+ - classic profiles with increased thermal insulation;
- Schuco AWS 70.HI - optimal for the Moscow climate
Which windows are premium and where are they usually recommended to be installed?
When determining the class of structures, first of all, pay attention to the brand of the system from which they are made. Elite windows include products assembled from profiles from Rehau, Salamander, Veka, Slidors, Schuko, KBE and other well-known brands from Europe. This classification can be considered partially correct.
All of the listed brands are offered for sale in several series of systems with different characteristics. Among them there are economy or standard class profiles, so you should not focus exclusively on one brand. In addition, many other components are used in the manufacture of windows. To determine their class, it is necessary to consider quite a lot of factors.
It is advisable to install luxury windows in private cottages, openings with a large glazing area and on the upper floors of high-rise buildings. However, this is only a theoretical application. In reality, they are recommended to be used wherever it is necessary to create the most comfortable conditions for life, business, study or work. Today, premium windows can be found not only in apartments or offices, but also in medical, preschool and municipal institutions.
When ordering premium models, you need to be guided solely by the economic benefits and comfort that their operation will provide.
Exceptional energy efficiency of luxury Shuko windows
Premium Schuco windows provide an exceptionally high level of thermal insulation. In the case of a correctly selected combination of installed windows, doors, and sliding elements, the energy potential of the building is used as efficiently as possible. The result of such a step will be a reduction in energy consumption costs. When creating structures based on the Schuko AWS 90.SI+ aluminum system, the glazing characteristics approach modern “passive house” standards (energy losses tend to zero). The best proof of the excellent thermal insulation properties of the Schuco AWS 90.SI+ aluminum window system is the use of this system during the construction of a research base in Antarctica.
The moment of construction of the South Korean research station “Jang Bogo” in Antarctica. Windows Schuco AWS 90.SI+. Facade Schuco FW 60+.SI. The project was developed by Space Group together with the Korean institute KOPRI.
How to choose an expensive window?
Some manufacturers produce only products in the mid-price category and, in order to retain the client, are ready for a little deception. The company manager will offer the buyer the best of what they have, but these will still be standard-class components. To insure against such a situation and order premium windows, you need to know what components are used to assemble them.
Profile
The minimum installation depth of premium plastic systems is 80 mm. If a seller offers 70 mm profiles as elite, he is being disingenuous. Such systems were previously considered premium, but over time, the requirements for structures are increasing. Today, 6-chamber windows with an installation depth of at least 80 mm are considered elite. The thickness of the outer walls of premium profiles is 3 mm.
Double-glazed windows
The glass thickness for premium models must be at least 40 mm. To manufacture these elements of window blocks, special glass with a multifunctional coating is used and inert gas is pumped into the chambers. In order for double-glazed windows to better block noise, they must be double-chamber, since it is this design that absorbs sound waves well. However, the last condition is relevant mainly for those cases where the windows are planned to be used in noisy areas.
Premium window fittings
Fittings for luxury windows must withstand intense loads, have a high level of anti-corrosion protection and be designed for a large number of operating cycles. The warranty period for such systems is usually at least 10 years. In Russia, premium series of fittings from several brands are usually used to complete such models:
- Winkhaus activPilot;
- Roto NX;
- Roto NT;
- Maco Multimatic;
- Internika;
- Siegenia Titan AF.
When equipping premium windows, you need to take care of child safety. Read about how to protect your child from possible injuries and insure against accidents on OknaTrade. If profile structures are equipped with double-glazed windows with triplex, special attention should be paid to the reliability of the hinges.
Seals
Manufacturers of luxury windows traditionally offer customers a choice of seals in different colors - white, black, gray. However, the aesthetic component when completing such structures is of secondary importance. The material of manufacture and the number of contours are more important. It is optimal if the profile systems have 3 sealing contours, which are made of elastic, wrinkle-resistant material. Seals must withstand severe frost and heat well. Usually, a modern rubber substitute EPDM or special silicone is used for their manufacture. These materials, if properly cared for, practically do not wear out or crack for ten years or more. EPDM retains its characteristics at temperatures from -60°C to +120°C, and silicone from -80°C to +200°C.
The comfort of luxury windows with Schuco TipTronic fittings
Any modern building can be automated. Original Schuco technologies allow you to solve various problems aimed at increasing the comfort of your stay. Owners of housing construction have the opportunity to electronically monitor the current state of window and door structures, organize natural and automatic ventilation, and control sun protection and shading systems.
The presence of such electrically controlled windows is a “smart”, reliable and practical solution. Among the priority tasks of the manufacturer Shuko is the integration of existing active elements in the building shell with automatic control of them.
- Magnetic sensors for combined monitoring of the open or closed state of an element
- Connection to security alarms, smart façade control systems and heating devices
- Sensors for determining weather conditions (wind, rain and temperature)
- Internal temperature sensors
- Determination of CO₂ concentration and indoor air quality
- Presence/motion sensors
The installation of weather sensors ensures that windows are closed, and CO2 sensors ensure that an optimal microclimate is maintained. These details allow you to feel as comfortable as possible indoors at any temperature and weather conditions outside the window. Read more Schuco TipTronic...
Table of advantages and disadvantages of plastic and wooden windows
| Window type | Advantages | Flaws |
| Plastic | + excellent noise and heat insulation + attractive appearance + ease of maintenance and use + no need to apply protective coatings + maintainability + durability | — high dependence on the quality of installation - the difficulty of restoring defects with your own hands - unique fittings are used - in cold weather additional insulation is required |
| Wooden | + environmental friendliness + high decorative properties + possibility of self-repair + any fittings can be used + good heat and sound insulation | — the need to apply and update impregnations and varnishes to protect against atmospheric influences - requires periodic maintenance |
Double-glazed windows for luxury windows
Single-chamber and multi-chamber double-glazed windows for Shuko windows can consist of heat-saving K and I glass, durable tempered, reinforced, multi-layer triplex glass, sun protection glass, patterned and painted glass. In order to avoid accidents, luxury windows are made of Triplex glass or tempered glass. These glasses can withstand quite strong impacts on the plane of the glass, and in cases of a strong impact, they will become covered with a network of cracks or crumble into small, injury-proof pieces. It is not possible to cut yourself with this glass.
Our company provides thermal and sound insulation and other characteristics of double-glazed windows: transmission of visible light and UV radiation, solar factor, sound insulation and heat transfer coefficients and others. Read more about double-glazed windows...
Additional options and accessories that affect the price
The concept of “premium class windows” includes much more than just structures assembled from elite profile systems, selective double-glazed windows and expensive fittings. Such models should differ from products of the economy and standard categories not only in thermal insulation, noise absorption, environmental friendliness and reliability. Truly elite windows are as convenient to use as possible. To do this, they are equipped with additional devices that significantly improve the characteristics of the products.
Window automation
Automatic opening systems for active flaps not only allow you to remotely control ventilation. Today, such devices are part of the Smart Home control complex. Window automation is connected to sensors for rain, wind, sun and the central panel, resulting in additional capabilities:
- protecting the room from overheating;
- closing the doors during rain, hail and strong winds;
- the ability to maintain an optimal level of humidity in the premises.
That is, automation almost completely eliminates the need for a person to control windows and quickly performs all necessary operations. Thanks to modern applications, luxury models can now be controlled remotely using a smartphone.
Some types of electric drives (rack and pinion, rod) additionally protect against burglary, since they reliably hold the active shutters in the closed position.
Innovative double glazed windows
Although elite models are mainly equipped with selective double-glazed windows, other innovative developments are increasingly being used to complete them:
- electrochromic double-glazed windows – capable of changing their transparency, providing protection from prying eyes;
- heated double-glazed windows - powered by electricity and help maintain the set temperature in severe frost;
- self-cleaning double-glazed windows - independently, with the help of sunlight and rainwater, they decompose and wash away organic deposits on the glass from the street side.
The listed innovations have an important additional advantage - it is possible to combine different functions in one product. You can learn more about these models from thematic reviews on OknaTrade. Such double-glazed windows further enhance the status of window and door units.
Thermal curtains
When glazing openings with a large area, it is recommended to use special devices that create a continuous flow of heated air. Such a curtain helps to retain heat indoors longer.
Ventilation devices
To organize a continuous supply of fresh air and minimize heat loss in winter or autumn, windows must be equipped with fresh air ventilation valves. They are neatly integrated into the plastic profile and provide complete ventilation. There are several modifications of such devices, but it is recommended to equip luxury windows with valves with built-in sensors according to their status. Such models independently control the microclimate in the rooms and regulate the amount of incoming air.
Blinds, roller blinds, awnings
To control the intensity of natural light, the reflective surface of the glass unit may not be enough. In such cases, it is recommended to use auxiliary devices - awnings, electric roller blinds or built-in blinds.
In order for premium PVC windows to meet their elite status, the best components must be used for their assembly. These designs have no secondary elements. You cannot skimp on either seals or fittings, which often happens. After all, there is no point in using expensive profiles and double-glazed windows if the sagging sashes are not fully pressed to the frames, the cheap seal is covered with cracks, or problems arise when opening/closing the windows.
Pros and cons of PVC products
The Rehau company supplies its products to all regions of the country, and the consumer receives a lot of advantages :
- A wide variety of profile systems allows you to select structural elements that best satisfy the space-planning parameters and functional requirements of the room.
- A rich collection of color and texture solutions, cross-sectional shapes of curly glazing beads.
- Premium fittings that ensure many years of trouble-free operation of the window structure.
- Easy to adjust windows with your own hands.
- Availability of energy efficient double glazed windows.
- Reinforced structures for the manufacture of windows of increased dimensions are available for sale.
At the same time, the company's products have a number of disadvantages :
- Overpriced for premium products.
- The reinforcing profile reduces the thermal characteristics of the product.
- The rubber sealing tape does not withstand frosts below – 30 °C.
- When installing energy-efficient double-glazed windows, reinforced loop hangers are required.
Reference. Despite minor subjective shortcomings, the product remains a sales leader in the consumer market and has been repeatedly awarded with prestigious awards at international competitions and construction exhibitions.
User reviews
Over many years of operation, thousands of customers leave reviews about the brand’s products, noting both the positive and negative aspects of the products :
Increased durability of profile systems.- Regardless of the humid environment, mold does not develop on the surface.
- High cost of Geneo Rau-Fipro X and Intelio-80 products.
- The white frame does not turn yellow even after 5 – 7 years of use.
- Poor vapor permeability of sealing materials – increased formation of condensation in winter.
- Attractive design, impeccable quality, but high cost of casement windows.
- The work is not always of high quality.
- Many consumers note high quality, reliability and durability compared to competitors.
Real reviews from buyers and owners of residential spaces can be found here, here, here and here.
The best manufacturers of plastic windows in terms of price-quality ratio
The average domestic consumer selects plastic windows in the budget or mid-price range for their home. It is worth noting that thanks to the creation of joint production facilities in Russia, windows from leading foreign brands have become available. Experts highly rated the products of the following manufacturers.
VEKA
Rating: 4.9
The leadership in our rating was provided to the German company VEKA by several advantages over its competitors. First of all, it is worth noting the dynamic increase in volumes on the Russian market. The company came to our country in 1999, but in such a short time it managed to bypass experienced manufacturers. It was possible to win back part of the domestic market through the use of high-tech equipment, strict control at all stages of production and cooperation with Russian partners.
The logical result was the receipt of the European RAL certificate, which confirms the high quality of the products. Now the company has focused on producing Class A window systems. The entire range is reliably protected from any weather conditions and is suitable for any climate.
Advantages
- dynamic promotion;
- high-tech production;
- quality products;
- acceptable price.
Flaws
- not detected.
Specifications
There are 8 collections of Rehau profile systems on the market, which differ in strength, energy efficiency, appearance and, accordingly, retail cost.
Basic technical characteristics of brand products:
PVC profile width – depending on the model, from 60 to 80 mm.- The maximum permissible glass thickness is from 32 to 50 mm.
- The number of closed chambers inside the profile is from 3 to 6, which satisfies thermal requirements.
- The thermal conductivity coefficient, which characterizes the ultimate resistance to heat transfer of the enclosing structure, is from 0.70 to 0.98 m2* oC / W.
- Frost resistance of the structure is from -50 to + 60 °C.
- The service life declared by the manufacturer is up to 50 years for the profile system, up to 10 years for fittings, up to 25 years for double-glazed windows.
- The number of contours along which the sealing tape is fixed is 2.
- The number of chambers in a double-glazed window is 0 (single glazing), 1 (single-chamber double-glazed window) or 2 (double-chamber double-glazed window).
Note. The production capacity of the plant, as well as the availability of machines with CNC modules, make it possible to produce windows of almost any size.
The company often supplies products for standard housing construction, as well as goods for free retail sale with the following standard dimensions :
- 570 – 870 x 1470 mm – in single-leaf version.
- 870 – 1770 x 1470 mm – in double-leaf version.
- 1470 - 2370 x 1470 mm - with three doors, each of which has a tilt-and-turn mechanism, or a combination of opening systems, depending on the technical specifications.
- The minimum possible size of solid full glazing is 270 x 270 mm, which is suitable for filling an opening in a technical room with linear dimensions of 300 x 300 mm.
Thanks to such excellent technical characteristics, combined with a moderate retail price, the Rehau company has repeatedly won large government tenders, as a result of which many homeowners use windows from this brand immediately after moving in.
Cost calculation
When ordering Rehau window structures, the unit cost of 1 m2 depends on the number of chambers in the double-glazed window, the class of fittings, and the type of profile. In our country, these window units can be purchased at the following retail prices :
- Blitz – from 2.6 to 3.0 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
- Thermo Design – from 3.0 to 3.5 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
- Grazio – from 3.1 to 3.7 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
- Delight Design – from 3.5 to 4.0 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
- Brilliant Design – from 3.6 to 4.2 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
- Intelio-80 – from 4.0 to 4.5 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
- Geneo Rau-Fipro X – from 5.0 to 6.0 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
- Selected – from 4.0 to 4.5 thousand rubles. for 1 m2.
Note. Prices may vary slightly depending on the order configuration, seasonality, delivery range and internal pricing policy of the retail outlet.
Rating of the best manufacturers of plastic windows
| Nomination | place | Name of product | price |
| The best manufacturers of plastic windows in terms of price-quality ratio | 1 | VEKA | 4.9 |
| 2 | Rehau | 4.8 | |
| 3 | KBE | 4.7 | |
| 4 | Proplex | 4.7 | |
| 5 | Trocal | 4.6 | |
| The best manufacturers of plastic windows in the premium segment | 1 | MONTBLANC | 4.9 |
| 2 | Deceuninck | 4.8 | |
| 3 | Plafen | 4.8 | |
| 4 | Salamander | 4.8 | |
| 5 | JUICE | 4.7 | |
| 6 | WDS (Window Door Systems) | 4.6 | |
| 7 | Panorama | 4.5 | |
| 8 | Kaleva | 4.5 | |
| 9 | Krauss | 4.4 |
