What types of plastic windows are there: profile, glass unit, fittings

What are the profiles of plastic windows?

For glazing heated objects, A-class window plastic with an outer wall of 2.8 mm and an inner wall of 2.5 mm or more is suitable. It does not deform during use. High-quality PVC window materials do not smell, retain their original color for years, and are easily cleaned from dirt. The environmentally resistant profile is produced by REHAU. The special structure of polymer particles makes it perfectly smooth. Therefore, dust does not cling to PVC, dirt is easily washed off.

What thickness and colors are plastic windows? The installation depth of modern profile systems is minimum 58 mm, maximum 90 mm. They are produced from white and colored plastic, covered with laminating film. You can choose lamination to match metal or wood. A wider system has more air chambers and higher sound and heat insulation. A larger width glass unit can be built into it. But it also weighs more. To keep the load on the walls to a minimum, you can order the REHAU GENEO PVC profile reinforced with RAU-FIPRO® fiber fibre.

One or two cameras?

When choosing windows for their home, buyers often wonder what is better - single-chamber or double-glazed windows? To answer this question, you need to study what differences the products have and for what operating conditions they are intended.

A single-chamber double-glazed window is quite thin and freezes at temperatures above -15 degrees. In addition, it cannot provide sufficient retention of warm air in a room that becomes cold due to serious heat loss. It is most often used for non-residential premises and balconies. The two-chamber design copes better with retaining heat in the room, is used for heated houses, and insulates noise well.

Single-chamber energy-saving double-glazed window

The main difference between single-chamber and double-chamber double-glazed windows is that the double-chamber design is more frost-resistant, it copes better with different climatic conditions, retains heat and noise. The profile is usually insulated, which is often absent in single-chamber double-glazed windows, since this is the most budget option that developers can use or if the amount of funds for building a house is strictly limited, but some windows need to be inserted.

That is why owners of a single-chamber design often want to replace it with a two-chamber one. However, is it possible to change a single-chamber double-glazed window to a double-chamber one without completely changing the window? Technically, this procedure can be performed. It depends entirely on the width and functionality of the profile; some allow you to place a thicker glass unit in them. If you are lucky and the profile is just like this, then you just need to pull out the single-chamber structure and insert a two-chamber one instead. In order to determine whether this can be done, you need to consider the following:

Profile thickness. The greater the installation depth, the greater the likelihood that a two-chamber design is suitable for such a profile. You can find out the exact numbers from the technical characteristics of the profile; in extreme cases, you can remove the glass unit and measure the width.
The strength of the profile will also need to be taken into account: a thicker double-glazed window weighs more, and therefore will place an increased load on the sash. It may warp if the profile is not reinforced enough.
You may have to replace the fittings with something more durable and of higher quality.

Another important difference between a single-chamber double-glazed window and a double-chamber one is the thickness of the air chambers themselves. If it is small, then the buffer between the street and the room will not give a good result. Two thick chambers retain heat well, especially if they are not just sealed, but filled with argon. If a double-glazed window is depressurized, it will be no more useful than conventional cold glazing.

You can replace a single-chamber double-glazed window with a double-chamber element if you use a design with sufficiently thin glass, however, as practice shows, such a replacement will be little noticeable, unless it makes you feel more morally comfortable. The heat will increase a little, so if the thickness of a single-chamber double-glazed window was 24 mm, and a double-chamber one becomes 27, you will only waste time and money. The resistance coefficient will change from 0.32 to 0.42, which in practice will hardly add several degrees of heat to the room.

There is another solution to the problem - using energy-saving double-glazed windows. To do this, you need to compare which is better - a double-chamber double-glazed window or a single-chamber energy-saving one. Energy-saving windows are covered with the thinnest metal film. It significantly improves the physical properties of a double-glazed window, since the membrane repels warm air, forcing it to remain indoors, and does not let cold air in from the outside.

If you compare a thin double-glazed window with a standard thickness single product, but using this technology, there will be a noticeable difference in favor of the second one, since the room will be several degrees warmer. Therefore, in many cases it is more profitable to use energy-saving double-glazed windows than to try to install thicker ones. Their advantage is that you can install a double-glazed window of the same width as it was and you won’t have to change the entire window, but the desired effect will be achieved.

Double-glazed window

What types of double glazed windows are there for plastic windows?

A glass package is called several hermetically combined glasses. The interglass distance (chamber thickness) is adjusted by a spacer frame - aluminum or plastic. The absorbent in the frame absorbs moisture and prevents condensation inside the glass unit. Its chambers are filled with dry air or inert gas. The second solution increases the sound insulation of the glazing. Double-glazed windows with different numbers of chambers insulate noise and heat with different efficiencies. In central Russia, it is better to glaze residential buildings with two-chamber packages, in the north of the country - with 3 or more cameras. Single-chamber systems with low thermal protection are best installed on unheated balconies and loggias. The more glass a glass bag has, the more airtight, more expensive, and heavier it is.

What is the thickness of double-glazed plastic windows? For single-chamber systems from 14 to 32 mm, for two- and three-chamber systems - up to 58 mm. A typical 2-chamber system, 38 mm thick, with three 4 mm glasses, provides moderate noise insulation. If you require high sound and heat insulation, install products with a larger number of chambers and thicker glass.

Which is better to choose?

Taking into account the above classification, as well as the requirements for profiles for plastic windows, when equipping a typical home, experts recommend paying attention to the following types of profiles:

Width – at least 70 mm.
The number of chambers is from 4 to 6; before choosing, you should study a sample of the cross-section of the profile so that all the chambers are located one behind the other, which ensures that the entire product is included in the work.
Wall thickness - class A.
The permissible temperature difference is no less than -30 to +50 oC.
Guaranteed service life – from 25 years.
Reinforcement - steel U-shaped channel. When installing a window on a balcony, it is better to avoid reinforcement, as it reduces the thermal parameters of the structure.
The width of the landing plane is not less than for a 2-chamber double-glazed window.

One of the most important criteria for choosing a PVC product for a window block is the popularity of the brand, the year the manufacturer was founded, which determines the work experience, as well as the presence of positive reviews from satisfied consumers on online forums.

Rating of the 5 best manufacturers

There are many profiles on the market for the manufacture of PVC windows from manufacturers who compete fiercely with each other in terms of quality and optimal price.
Each consumer can make a mistake in their choice, which will affect the operation of the installed structure.

To help property owners, below are the names of the most popular manufacturing companies on the market that produce plastic window profiles.

As a rule, individual profiles are not supplied for retail sale from the factory, since these enterprises work under contracts with window companies. Thus, the prices given below are indicative and may be adjusted depending on the number of products ordered, the dealer’s internal pricing policy and other parameters.

Montblanc

The plant is based in Elektrostal, Moscow region, the company has been supplying products to the domestic market since 2001 . The range includes standard products with a width of 58 and 70 mm, with 3, 5 or 6 chambers and U-shaped channel reinforcement.

Average retail price - 450 - 500 rubles / m.

Salamander

The brand was founded in the 70s of the last century in Germany. For more than 12 years, a plant producing plastic window profiles of this brand has been operating in our country. The company's assortment includes most types of products with a thickness from 58 to 90 mm.

Average retail price - 520 - 570 rubles / m.

KBE

Also known throughout the country, the company has been supplying raw materials and finished window structures for civil facilities for more than 20 years. The company specializes in the production of economy-class profile products for glazing of warm or cold contours.

Average retail price - 400 - 480 rubles / m.

Rehau

A German company that over the past 20 years has made successful investments in the construction of several factories in the Russian Federation, including in the Moscow region.
The company's products are in high demand from window manufacturing companies, as well as individuals and sales agents.

Average retail price - 450 - 600 rubles / m.

Full information about Rehau windows here.

VEKA

The Russian enterprise, known throughout the country, was founded more than 15 years ago. It has its own full-cycle production facilities, including an extruder for profiles. The plant specializes in the production of mid- and high-price products.

Average retail price - 550 - 700 rubles / m.

Read more about Veka windows in the article at the link.

What types of seals are there for plastic windows?

High-quality PVC glazing has at least a couple of sealing contours. They are fixed along the junction of the double-glazed window and the profile around the perimeter of the window to maintain the tightness of the system. The seal is made from rubber, silicone, rubber. The best material for such a part is natural rubber. It is more expensive, but withstands temperature changes and does not deform or crack for years. The industry standard sealing rubber is produced by the German concern REHAU.

What are the types of fittings for plastic windows?

Do you want the sashes to work properly for years and move freely in the opening? Don't skimp on accessories. Don't settle for cheap Chinese fasteners. This is the case when the stingy pays twice: you have to overpay for window repairs, alignment of sashes, replacement of handles. It is better and more profitable to immediately install high-quality fittings from proven European brands Roto, Winkhaus, Siegenia in the opening. It is usually completed with REHAU profiles. It can serve for decades while maintaining its original functionality.

What are the types of slopes and window sills for plastic windows?

The finished look of the glazing is given by the slope and window sills. They increase the moisture and heat protection of the opening, hide the installation seams and the niche above the radiator, and visually increase the space of the room. Only plastic slopes are suitable for PVC glazing. Forget about crack-prone plaster. PVC slopes must have the same thermal expansion index as the frame.

The most popular PVC window sills manufacturers:

“Stained glass” - with protective and decorative film;
Möller - with an extended form-supporting profile; they are stable, withstand loads, do not deform at low temperatures, are covered with Elesgo-Plus on top ® film, which reliably protects the base from scratches, dirt, and exposure to the sun;
Crysta llit - designed for 70 years of operation while maintaining the original properties, made of PVC without harmful substances, and looks modern.

Design Features

The design of plastic windows is a profile made of a polymer based on chloride and ethylene - this polymer is called polyvinyl chloride. The ingredients, which are in powder form, are heated, pressed, and then the white frames of future windows are formed. Also, the substance from which the profile is made is supplied with stabilizers, plasticizers and modifiers. A metal profile is inserted into the window system, then the component parts are soldered using thermal soldering.

If a colored frame is required, a special pigment is added to the material for plastic windows at the stage of producing the profile.

To select a suitable design, it is worth considering the number of chambers in the profile (a chamber is the space formed between two plastic jumpers, which are located along the entire profile):

three-chamber. The system is installed where the room does not need heating.
five-chamber. Ideal for our country.
six-, seven-chamber. Such systems are commercially available, but we do not recommend installing them, since the thermal conductivity effect will be comparable to a five-chamber system.

Type of opening and number of leaves

Rotary - a standard and not the most convenient solution. With rotating shutters, you have to vacate the window sill and leave the room when ventilating; it is unsafe to leave children and pets in the room.
Swivel and tilt . Most in demand. Open along a vertical or horizontal axis. They recline for ventilation, even if the window sill is occupied by things, flower bowls.
Sliding . Window sashes move along the guide rails and save space. They take up minimal space and are especially convenient on a balcony or loggia.

Window companies order windows with 1-3 sashes, which can be hinged or fixed. French or panoramic glazing from floor to ceiling is becoming more popular. This is the choice of aesthetes and those who want to let maximum light into the apartment.

Knowing now what types of plastic windows there are, you can choose a solution that best meets your requirements. Among modern profile systems you can find the best option for all the mentioned criteria. If you find it difficult to choose or want to save time, contact our specialists for a free consultation.