What is the difference between plastic windows (PVC profile)

Now many people are faced with the choice of replacing old wooden windows with modern metal-plastic windows. And they wonder which windows to choose, what is the difference between pvc windows, and which is better?

When choosing new plastic windows, you need to decide for yourself whether you are ready to pay for a quality product, or whether you will be satisfied with any metal-plastic windows, the main thing is that the price is not high. Today there are dozens of companies producing plastic windows on the market. It should be borne in mind that there are only three real companies engaged in the development and evolution of the window industry. These are well-known German companies VEKA, Rehau, KBE.

As you might guess, other companies producing plastic windows are enterprises that purchase patents and manufacture PVC products under their own label. And it seems that it doesn’t sound bad, if you copy the products of famous companies, the output should be no worse, the difficulty is that the production of the dough itself from which PVC products are made is a rather complex and very expensive process, and not everyone can vouch for the quality and environmental friendliness. Don't forget about plastic window fittings

, it determines how the opening, tilting and locking of the window will function. German companies such as Siegenia and ROTO are also leaders in the window fittings market. And to make it easier for you to choose a window, we have prepared small introductory articles about the leaders of plastic PVC windows, according to which we can assume that the window good quality

and will serve you for a long time without failures.




And so, let’s briefly try to get acquainted with the pioneers of the window industry. KBE. Today the KBE company is considered a leader in Russian market





among manufacturers and suppliers of metal-plastic windows and doors. Many people mistakenly believe that KBE is a Russian company, but I can assure you that this is not the case. The KBE company has been on the world market for 30 years, when in Russia they didn’t even know about plastic windows. In the product line, KBE has profiles of 58mm, 70mm and a new premium system with a width of 88mm. Knowing the difference between plastic windows what function will your window perform?: Heat insulation, elegant appearance, sound insulation, etc.

• Thermal insulation

  For this, a double-chamber double-glazed window (3-glass) is selected, there is energy saving double glazing with silver atoms applied to the glass and sealed with argon gas, it is also important how many air chambers are in the frame profile itself - the more, the warmer.

• Elegant appearance

  Here it is important to understand that for reputable companies, the entire design was thought out by specialists and combines not only beauty, but practicality. There are very white profiles or glossy or matte surfaces. It depends on the composition of the profile. As elsewhere, it is better to choose a middle ground here.

• Noise insulation

  For this purpose, glass is chosen not with a standard thickness of 4 mm, but thicker - 6 mm, thereby the barrier will prevent greater penetration of noise - this is a sound-insulating double-glazed window.

Continuation of the article

From the article you will learn:

Before you go shopping or order new windows for your home, it wouldn't hurt for buyers to learn what design features affect them and should include a quality, reliable product.

The text of this article will help readers become familiar with the main differences between plastic windows different types and learn about manufacturers considered the best on the Russian market. Useful tips will help you make a more conscious choice when purchasing and navigate among the many models on the market.

So, let's move on to the differences:

First - profile view

The profile is rightfully considered the basis of the window - it is the frame for the double-glazed window and must ensure its reliable retention throughout its operation. Profiles consist of one or more cameras. Products in which there are more than three of them are considered high-quality. The insulating characteristics of the window (heat and noise) depend on it - the more chambers, the better the window retains heat in the room.

The materials from which they are made also differ. window profiles. They may be based on:

• wood;
• aluminum

When we're talking about about the difference between plastic windows from each other, most often it is the difference in the materials used to produce their profiles that is implied. In Russia, in addition to domestic brands, buyers give preference to such well-known foreign brands as Veka, Rehau and KBE.

Read also: What is between the glass windows?

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The second is the type of glass unit

The second most important place in the window design after the frame is occupied by a double-glazed window. It is larger in area than other window fragments (up to 90% of the entire product) and consists of glass and inert gas filling the space between them. Any double-glazed window has at least two glasses, which are located at some distance from each other. The space between the panes is called a chamber, and its presence plays an important role in the window's ability to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room.

The main difference between double-glazed windows concerns the number of their chambers, as well as the thickness and properties of the glass from which they are composed. In the majority modern houses windows with one, two or three chambers are used - this number optimally combines the insulating characteristics and cost of the structure. Of course, it will better protect the room from noise and street cold, however, its cost is incomparably higher than that of a single-chamber analogue.

Third - inert gas used to fill the chambers of the glass unit

To reduce the thermal conductivity of plastic windows, the chambers of their double-glazed windows are filled. It increases the insulating characteristics of the structure by 5-10%. The value, of course, is small, but in regions with severe frosts even such insulation plays an important role.

Read also: The plastic window does not close well. How to fix and adjust

The amount of increase in heat capacity depends on what kind of inert gas is pumped into the glass unit. Modern manufacturers use three main varieties:

• argon
• xenon
• krypton

In the manufacture of standard windows, argon is usually used - its cost is relatively low, but its insulating characteristics leave much to be desired. Xenon has the maximum heat capacity, but it is an expensive substance, and therefore is used only for custom-made plastic windows or for VIP models.

The chambers of inexpensive windows for standard buildings are often filled with ordinary compressed air.

Fourth - accessories

The differences between plastic windows include what fittings they are equipped with. The group of window fittings includes a solid list of mechanisms and components that facilitate the use of the structure or its configuration. Both Russian and foreign companies produce window fittings, but today the most reliable and high-quality products are considered

Today, the problem of energy saving is very acute, and therefore it remains urgent to replace or install new windows that will reduce heat loss in your home, being more airtight compared to traditional wooden ones. At the same time, it is desirable that they have beauty, ease of use, practicality and quality. Today, many companies offer windows of different designs, materials, purposes and prices.

A good plastic window should protect from cold and noise, and be not only beautiful, but also reliable. And, definitely, the window should last a long time.

So how do plastic windows differ from each other and from other windows?

Plastic device

The window consists of:

• frames;
• double-glazed windows;
• accessories;
• window sill;
• drainage

Frame

In the southern coastal climate with fairly strong seasonal winds, especially for multi-storey buildings, the use of windows with a profile thickness of less than 60 mm is not recommended.

The frame makes up 20-30% of the window area and is made of a plastic profile reinforced with metal. The profile can be three- or five-chamber with different configurations and relative positions of the chambers. Moreover, its width is either 58 mm or 70 mm (for the northern regions of the continent it can be thicker). Chambers are formed inside the profile by partitions so that air rollers are placed around the perimeter of the frame, which help achieve high sound and thermal insulation, and affect the strength and rigidity of the frames.

In addition, frame profiles differ in the thickness of their walls, material and reinforcement technology. The profile can be reinforced on all 4 sides of the window or only on 3.

IN inexpensive systems To save plastic, sometimes the thickness of the walls of the chambers is reduced, which leads to a decrease in strength and frost resistance. The outer surface of the frames can be glossy or matte.

Double-glazed windows

Double-glazed windows are a structure 34 mm or 44 mm thick, consisting of several glass sheets connected along the edge, between which the space is filled with rarefied air or argon (which does not greatly affect their thermal conductivity). They come in one-, two- and three-chamber types with chamber thicknesses from 6 to 16 mm and are differentiated depending on the severity of the climate. The quality and thickness of the glass in the package varies (from 4 to 7 mm), as well as their properties: ordinary glass, energy-saving K-glass or I-glass (with silver ions deposited on their surface). For the best sound insulation and for various climate zone The thickness of the glass in the package is combined.

Accessories

The picture shows: handles, lifter blocker, micro-ventilation function, adjustable locking trunnions, built-in lock, clamp of the lower hinge of the sash.

Fittings are locks, hinges, handles, that is, all those mechanical elements thanks to which windows are able to open and close and on which ease of use mainly depends. They are resistant to wear, stress and safety. Windows in the direction of opening can be rotary or tilting with or without the possibility of slot ventilation. The systems also allow you to install: mosquito nets, blinds, ventilation systems etc. Recently, in the manufacture of plastic windows, they began to install climate control, which smoothly regulates the flow of fresh air without dirt and dust. The hinges of cheap fittings do not have the ability to adjust them, which can lead to unadjustable gaps, which will lead to additional loss of thermal energy.

Window sills

Window sills are a section of a special plastic profile with special plugs. The main requirement for them is their strength, which depends on the thickness of the walls and the number of internal partitions. Their appearance depends on the material of manufacture.

Aluminum

Windows whose frames are made of aluminum alloy (and not pure aluminum, as some may think) are widely used windows. The aluminum profile is similar to the plastic one: it has internal chambers, places for installing double-glazed windows and seals.

Differences from plastic

Thermal conductivity of frames

Aluminum windows are more expensive than others, but they are durable, have great thermal conductivity, are easy to clean and can have any complex shape.

Aluminum's ability to transfer heat is much greater than that of polyvinyl chloride, so frames made of aluminum must have more cameras and special insulating fillers. Aluminum profiles There are “cold” and “warm”. “Cold” are profiles with a small number of chambers (about two), designed for installation in places where there is no need for thermal insulation (indoors, balconies, technical buildings). There are many “warm” cameras and they successfully compete with plastic ones. In addition, in aluminum profiles, in order to avoid the appearance of a thermal bridge, walls made of a special polyamide material are inserted along the contour - a thermal break is installed.

Frame stiffness

Plastic is softer than aluminum, and to increase the rigidity and strength of frames made from them, they are reinforced with metal, eliminating this difference.

Durability

It is clear that metal retains its neat appearance longer. Aluminum window profiles remain attractive almost twice as long as plastic ones. In addition, if aluminum frames are damaged, the profile can be restored or replaced, which cannot be done with PVC frames. But scratches on metal are more clearly visible, and it is almost impossible to eliminate or disguise them.

In case of fire, the aluminum window is resistant to high temperatures, but plastic is not.

Very large windows can only be made from aluminum. In addition, aluminum is absolutely fireproof.

Light conductivity

Due to the greater strength of aluminum windows compared to plastic ones, they have thin frames, which increases the glass unit area, so more light will enter the rooms.

Environmental friendliness

Plastic profiles contain chlorine derived from petroleum, which turns into dioxins when used windows are burned, and aluminum alloys easy to recycle.

Sound conductivity

Of course, plastic window systems have greater resistance to sound penetration than aluminum ones.

Price

Plastic profiles are much cheaper than aluminum profiles, which attracts the average buyer and is the key to their popularity.

Every day the construction services market is filled with various innovative developments. Starting with professional tools and ending with structures and fittings. For example, a couple of decades ago, each of us had standard wooden windows installed, then the era of plastic windows came, and now all this is considered a relic of the past. Currently, frameless glazing technology is enjoying great success, displacing the classical technology of installing frames and vertical racks. Plastic windows have been replaced by metal-plastic ones, which are characterized by increased wear resistance and reliability.

At first glance, not everyone will be able to distinguish metal-plastic windows from plastic ones; outwardly they are identical, since they both use plastic on the outside. But they have been significantly modified design features. In the production process of metal-plastic windows, metal frame reinforcement is used to PVC profile. As a result, even under the scorching rays of the sun, the frame and fittings are not deformed.

If you analyze and compare metal-plastic windows with plastic ones, you can highlight common functional properties - excellent sound and noise insulation, as well as burglary resistance. But, there is an undeniable advantage of a metal-plastic profile; if you wanted to glaze a balcony with windows in the form of an arch or some other shape, then plastic windows will not suit you, since they are produced only in a simple rectangular shape.

It is important to consider that a metal-plastic profile is much more expensive than a plastic one, but quality is never cheap. Among the leaders in the field of window production are the European companies Rehau and Veka; they have been operating in the construction market for several years and have positive reviews among potential consumers.

The first thing you need to start with is to pay special attention to the choice of thickness and material of the reinforced frame. After all, the level of corrosion exposure depends on it. The most acceptable thickness is from 1.5 mm, material is galvanized steel. Also in the construction services market there are more cheap option frame, which is made of ferrous metal. It has an undeniable disadvantage - it can quickly begin to rust, causing marks in the area of ​​​​the drainage holes.

Choosing a metal-plastic window is no different from a regular plastic one, here everyone chooses what they want, the number of cameras, double-glazed windows, fittings, profile thickness, etc. But it is important to take into account that the classic plastic profile is mainly chosen for installation in apartments, dachas, and country houses. Metal-plastic windows are installed mainly in rooms where high dynamic loads are common, sharp changes climate, heavy winds, etc.

Of course, not all manufacturing companies strive to reduce the cost of the profile by using low-quality fittings and reducing the thickness of the profile, but there are some. In this regard, take into account the market cost when ordering the installation of metal-plastic windows, because reducing the wall thickness leads to a decrease in strength and durability. Also choose a profile with closed metal reinforcement; it can easily withstand sudden changes in dynamic loads.

Window selection video

Don't forget that even the best and most expensive windows can be ruined, unprofessional installation. Choose only trusted window installation companies, because their durability directly depends on the craftsmen.