We will analyze each type of profile, and also describe the properties in more detail, so that you can make the best choice and so that plastic windows will delight you for many years.
Many people have realized the advantages of modern plastic windows over former wooden structures. Plastic windows are incomparably more airtight than wooden ones, which ensures good thermal insulation and sound insulation of the window, and unpleasant odors from the street do not get inside.
Even double-chamber plastic windows are much warmer than wooden ones; their installation will lead to a significant reduction in heat loss, which means savings. How to choose the right window profile and purchase the best windows so that the price matches the quality. This article will help you understand this issue.
RECOMMENDED ON THE TOPIC
- Slopes for plastic windows…
- Which foundation is better for a house made of timber?
In addition, the preservation of heat in the apartment, of course, depends on the plastic window itself, namely on its quality. However, the installation of PVC windows also plays an important role.
Structure of a plastic window
First of all, you need to understand the structure of a plastic window. A plastic window consists of a profile and air chambers. A profile is the name given to the sashes and frames of a window structure, i.e. the very base of the window. Most often, profiles are made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride).
The air chambers are located inside the window profile. According to Russian technical standards, a plastic window should not have less than two air chambers. Nowadays, three-chamber and even five-chamber profiles are often used.
If we compare these profiles, we can note that the five-chamber profile is 1.5 times warmer and stiffer than the three-chamber one. Often in three-chamber profiles in very cold weather a cold bridge is created near the hinges. Five-chamber ones are protected from this drawback by a design feature. But of course there is a price difference between these profiles, although not so significant.
Profile properties for plastic windows
Tangible advantages of plastic windows also include their durability, reasonable prices and ease of maintenance. In addition, wooden windows require regular painting, which in itself is a significant disadvantage. Therefore, plastic ones are now in great demand.
There is a variety of plastic windows on today's market, among which, unfortunately, there are not very high-quality options.
The main secret is that the window profile, namely its quality, practically does not depend on which manufacturer it was made by. Moreover, the quality of the window profile does not even depend on the material from which it is made. In general, a good plastic window depends 80 percent on the type of sealing of the glass unit itself and on high-quality fittings. The window profile itself must meet the following characteristics:
- Thermal conductivity must be low, otherwise the cold will flow through the frame in winter, and the profile will overheat in summer.
- Thermal expansion, its coefficient should approximately coincide with the glass itself. This will ensure the longevity of all seals.
- The higher the elasticity, the better, since the frame itself will mainly work on torsion and bending. Simply put, to prevent the wind from twisting the glass unit out of the window frame.
