Plastic windows: pros and cons

Modern metal-plastic windows have a number of advantages that explain their advantages over aluminum or wooden structures. It is these advantages that explain the dominant position of products based on PVC profiles in the market of translucent structures.

However, metal—plastic windows also have disadvantages - they also need to be analyzed when making a purchase decision. It is the balance of pros and cons that determines whether the installation of a plastic window in a given situation will be the optimal solution.

Arguments "for"

When glazing residential premises (private houses and apartments in high-rise buildings), commercial facilities, office buildings, etc., metal-plastic structures are actively used today. Their configuration may differ, and this is the first important advantage of plastic windows. You can choose the optimal solution for almost any situation — the use of various profile systems, double-glazed windows and accessories allows you to adjust any consumer properties and characteristics of the window.

What advantages will be common to all PVC products?

• High energy efficiency indicators. The use of a multi-chamber plastic profile, the installation of sealed double-glazed windows with energy-saving glazing and the effective pressing of the sash to the frame allows to reduce heat loss through the window to a minimum. Moreover, energy efficiency can be improved — for example, by replacing a single—chamber double-glazed window with a two-chamber one or by filling the chambers with argon gas with lower thermal conductivity.
• Comfort in use. The functional fittings of the metal-plastic window not only ensure its tight closure. She is also responsible for opening the structure in various modes. Folding, micro-slit or stepped ventilation are used to select the optimal ventilation mode of the room. The accessories also include additional elements that increase the comfort of using the window (microlift, lock) or additionally protect against unauthorized opening of the sash (anti-burglar trunnions and counter slats, child safety lock).
• Sound insulation and sun protection. Installing a plastic window with a multi-chamber double-glazed window significantly reduces the level of outdoor noise. You can provide additional protection from loud sounds by installing a double-glazed window with different widths of the distance frames or using thicker outer glass. To protect against bright sunlight and overheating in the summer heat, the double-glazed window is equipped with sunscreen, reflex or multifunctional glass.
• Ample opportunities for design. A metal-plastic window can be completed in such a way that it fits into the design of the room as organically as possible. For this purpose, profile lamination is used, designer double-glazed windows with tinted or embossed glass are installed. In addition, the design can be supplemented with decorative pens, sprats, sandblasted drawings on glass, UV photo printing or other decorative elements.

Besides:

Plastic windows can last several decades. A properly installed window requires a minimum of attention — about routine maintenance on metal-plastic windows (cleaning, lubrication, adjustment of fittings) we have written in other articles of our blog.

Plastic windows do not need to be painted, and it is very easy to keep them clean. Care of a plastic window will not be burdensome — and another article is devoted to the procedure of cleaning the profile and double-glazed windows.

Disadvantages to consider

Most of the disadvantages of metal—plastic windows are very conditional. But they need to be remembered when making a decision and when choosing the optimal configuration. What disadvantages should be taken into account?

• Tendency to temperature deformations. Plastic is subject to thermal expansion, therefore, the dimensions of a metal—plastic window — especially a large one - can change significantly with temperature changes. If you do not take into account the temperature deformation during the manufacture of the window, and most importantly — during its installation, then problems are possible. The most common are deformation of the shutters and frames, difficulties with opening and closing, the appearance of cracks at the corners and even cracking of the double—glazed window.
• A large mass. A window made of a wide multi—chamber profile with a double-glazed window weighs a lot - and this should be taken into account not only during installation. The load on the supporting base and fasteners will be serious. Therefore, sometimes plastic windows simply cannot be installed where you plan — for example, on an old balcony fence. Almost always the problem can be solved, but the solution may be associated with additional costs.
• Tightness. Installing a metal-plastic window instead of an old wooden one violates the natural air exchange of the room. If earlier moisture came out through the pores in the wood and the gaps of the mounting seam, now almost all the moist air will remain inside. To avoid excessive condensation and the appearance of mold on the slopes, it is necessary to control the humidity of the air, providing ventilation.

Important! It is also possible to avoid the problem of excessive condensation by installing plastic windows according to the DSTU. The formation of a three-layer mounting seam with the use of vapor barrier and vapor permeable mounting tapes makes it possible to maintain natural ventilation and normalize humidity.

What should I pay attention to?

If we have given a list of disadvantages above, then in this section we will focus on factors that cannot be unambiguously attributed to disadvantages. And yet it is simply necessary to take them into account:

• The price of a plastic window can be quite high. The final cost of the structure depends on the configuration, but if we are talking about a window with maximum thermal insulation, an original design or a non—standard shape, the amount will be quite a lot. In our blog, we talked about how to save money when ordering windows without compromising quality — in this article, the pricing issue is analyzed in more detail.
• The effectiveness of a metal-plastic window depends not only on its configuration, but also on the quality of installation. It is optimal if the installation is carried out according to DSTU standards by a professional installation team. Otherwise, the consumer characteristics of the design may decrease, and gross errors during installation will lead to serious problems during the operation of the product.

An extensive list of advantages explains the high popularity of metal-plastic windows. But such products also have disadvantages — they need to be taken into account when choosing a complete set and, if possible, compensated for by professional installation.

You can order a high-quality professional installation of metal-plastic windows by following the link