Plastic windows: what is the best choice for the house, what you need to know

It seems that plastic windows are all the same: white plastic and glass. In fact, while they look similar, they can differ significantly in design and quality. This affects how much the windows will protect against cold, drafts and noise. Choosing PVC windows for the house, pay attention to the device and composition of the main parts and mechanisms.

Type of opening windows

This is an indicator of how many sashes will be movable and how they will open:

• Windows that do not open. Installed in small rooms or as additional windows for natural light. Usually in private homes so they can be cleaned from the outside.
• Tilt-and-turn mechanism is the most common. Sash opens completely along the vertical axis, or opens the top slot for ventilation. This mechanism is suitable for all shapes of windows - rectangular, arched, square or trapezoidal.
• Windows with transom - opens the upper part of the window, tilting down.
• Sliding windows - the sash opens along the window, but not along the vertical axis. A variant for tight spaces.

Double-glazed window .

In terms of area, it occupies about 70% of the window. The panes are firmly fixed in the glass unit, their parallelism is regulated by a spacer bar. An air chamber is formed between the panes. Some plastic windows have a silicate gasket that absorbs moisture.

Most of the heat is lost through the insulating glass unit. For air tightness to be high, their design must meet these parameters:

• Glasses are strictly parallel to each other.
• High-quality seals fit tightly.
• The spacer bar corresponds to the number of panes.

The window glazing has a minimum of two panes. Three glass is the average option with increased insulation. The most hermetic models with five panes. They save heat in dwellings where there are severe frosts, they have good soundproofing.

Manufacturers increase the thermal insulation of plastic windows by filling the chamber between the panes with argon gas. A coating of silver ions also contributes to energy savings. The heat is retained up to 1.5 times better than with conventional insulating glass units.

Window profile

A window profile is the frame into which the insulating glass unit is inserted. Plastic window profiles are made of PVC, a strong material that does not emit harmful substances. Inside the window profiles there are metal stiffeners and airtight cavities filled with air. The more such chambers, the better the window retains heat.

The minimum thickness of the reinforcing frame in the window profile is 1.5 mm. Such a base makes the construction of the window stronger and is necessary, if you are to install anti-burglary hardware.

Fittings

Additional accessories of plastic windows include: handle, the system of opening and closing the window, hinges. The internal parts of the fittings are made of metal. The most durable parts are made of alloy steel. The stroke of such hardware elements is smooth, you do not have to exert much effort to turn the handle.

Additional accessories:

• Microlift - a limiter that prevents the sagging of the sash.
• Blocker - a mechanism that prevents the handle from turning when the window is in ventilation mode. If the lock is not installed, then when you turn the handle on the window in the ventilation mode is activated and the tilt mechanism. Window sash from the frame, and then it is difficult to set it back.
• Micro ventilation fixes the window to air through a narrow slit. Then the air from the street comes in a small stream.

The design of plastic windows can be made individual by ordering the lamination of the window profile. Externally, windows can be almost any color: classic white, brown or the color of wood. The main thing is that the decorative design fits in with the style of the house.