Dacha. For many amateur gardeners, this word caresses the ear, as well as for those who love just relaxing in nature, to the singing of birds, the rustling of the wind in the crown of trees. Comfortable living largely depends on the condition of the building, on how warm and comfortable the house is. One of the criteria for comfort are windows that give the building an aesthetic appearance. And, of course, energy saving and thermal conductivity should be mentioned as important factors of glass structures.
Plastic windows: device
In the era of modernity, old, inconvenient, uncomfortable wooden boxes with frames are replaced by new, modern ones - using PVC. A plastic window for giving, as well as for any other room, is the most original solution. This option successfully combines price and quality, design and comfort. What is a plastic window? For a summer residence - an irreplaceable option. The frame is made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) profile.
Types and characteristics of PVC profiles for plastic windows
Profile is a structure molded from PVC plastic. Equipped insidepartitions forming several independent parts-chambers, the number of which determines the thermal conductivity of the frame. The more such sections, the less heat will be conducted to the outside. The number of cameras in a profile is from three to eight. Separate profile elements are welded into a closed loop (frame) using special devices, which can be divided by partitions into two or more parts. Of these, at the choice of the customer, some will be deaf (not opening), while others will open with the help of fittings. According to the thickness of the walls of the chambers, the profiles are conditionally divided into three classes:
- Class A - with inner wall thickness from 2.5 mm, outer wall thickness from 2.8 mm. It has optimal thermal insulation and is the most sought after.
- Class B - inner walls from 2 mm, outer walls from 2.5 mm. Windows made of such a profile keep the heat in the room worse (by 15%), have less resistance to deformation.
- Class C - all the rest that do not meet standards A and B. There are no strict requirements for those.
Be sure to mention the profile for "objects". This option is used for the manufacture of windows installed in non-residential industrial premises. Due to the thin walls, the structure is not resistant to deformation, and does not contribute to the preservation of heat in the room. At first glance, it is very similar to the option for residential premises. Sometimes it is possible to read the characters object on the profile protection film. It is not uncommon for dishonest companies to offer products to customers at underpriced prices. They can just be made fromthis profile.
Selecting a profile for the future window
Choosing a high quality profile is not easy visually. But still there are signs according to which it becomes realistic to determine its reliability. The rough surface of the plastic indicates artisanal production methods, such a product is considered a cheap fake. The surface of a quality plastic should feel flat, smooth, and free from streaks.
Important: in order not to stumble upon a fake profile, it is worth considering the manufacturer's marking on the inside of the frame. The presence of the corresponding brand, production date, and other data indicates the authenticity of the product.
Selection of profile width and thickness
The most widely used option for windows is the classic profile for residential premises with a width of 58 mm. In especially harsh climatic conditions, a material with a parameter of 70 millimeters is in demand. And, finally, the profile of the "premium" group has the highest characteristics of sound and heat insulation. But few manufacturers use such products in their work.
The profile is selected according to the thickness from 2.5 to 3.0 mm. However, it is unsuitable for weighted window structures, since the welding site will turn out to be weakened. Accordingly, the whole frame will be less reliable strength.
Profile cameras
The number of chambers determines the width of the profile. Designs using a 58 mm product are characterized by a maximum number of 3 chambers. This is enough forkeeping warm. For 70mm - four and five cameras. This type is the most popular for residential premises. The 90 mm contour has 6 or more partitions. The more partitions and air voids in the structure, the more heat and sound insulation the window unit has.
Glazed windows
Very often, users confuse the number of profile air chambers with the number of double-glazed windows - structures made of several glasses assembled using a sealant and a frame in a package.
Between the sheets of glass is a space filled with air. In some products, gas is pumped instead of air, which significantly reduces the thermal conductivity of the unit. Thus, in a single-chamber double-glazed window there are two glasses (one chamber). This design is characterized by low weight, but does not retain heat well. Single-chamber plastic windows for summer cottages can be used, provided that this room is used only in the warm season. Very often, summer cottages are simply locked up for the winter and put on an alarm until the next warm season.
For an apartment, a house, a heated cottage, the installation of two-chamber plastic windows is required.
This package contains three glasses and, accordingly, two cameras. Three-chamber packages are used much less often. These structures are heavy and let in less light. Their use is justified in harsh conditions, at ambient temperatures below -35°С.
Important. When choosing a profile, you should pay attention to the seal. Less than two is not allowed. In this case, condensation may occur and, as a result, the occurrence of fungus and mold.
Window selection
For the right choice of a plastic window for a summer residence, you need to understand the conditions under which it will be used. If the house is planned to be heated in order to live in it during the cold season, then you will have to opt for an expensive high-quality profile and a double-glazed window. Such a window will better contribute to the preservation of heat in the room. If living in winter is completely excluded, you can save money and choose an economy class plastic window, that is, a single-chamber window with a cheaper profile. If there are several windows in the house, it is worth considering which of them will be deaf and which will open. Deaf ones are much cheaper. They do not have to buy mosquito nets. For high-quality ventilation of the room, one open window may be enough.
It is necessary to first determine the size of the window sill. Pots with flowers and, maybe, some design elements will comfortably fit on a wide surface. The cheapest plastic windows for summer cottages will meet the following criteria:
- cheap profile with few cameras;
- single-chamber double-glazed window;
- cheap fittings (handles, air curtains, microlift, striker).
You can save a lot on buying a finished window. Similar designs are always available from the manufacturer and from companies that install windowblocks. Often there is a situation when the window did not fit the customer, or he for some reason refused it. Such products are significantly cheaper and put up for sale.
Windows made to order will be much more expensive. The non-standard shape will also increase the cost of the window block. An example is a triangular plastic window for a summer house, designed for an attic space.
Window dimensions for giving
If for some reason it was not possible to choose a ready-made plastic window for giving, you will have to order it according to the measurements taken. For such actions, you can invite a representative of the company that installs the blocks. If the owner has enough experience and is able to install the window unit himself, then it will not be difficult to make the appropriate measurements either. The size of a plastic window for giving depends on the desire of the developer or on the size of the existing window, if it is being replaced. The measurement is made using a tape measure. You should take into account the size of the gaps for installing a plastic window. When measuring the window opening from the outside, it is necessary to leave a gap between the frame and the opening of 4 cm in width and 2 cm in height. Inside the room, from the installation site of the window unit, the length and width of the window sill are measured.
When placing an order, you should pay attention to the components of the fittings. Cheap parts of low quality will affect the life of the structure. Do not forget about such an important element as a mosquito net, the presence of which will protect the inhabitants of the cottage from invasionblood-sucking insects. The mesh can be made at the request of the customer on curtains (attached directly to the frame) or on metal spring latches. These are attached to the mesh frame and are simply inserted into the window opening.
Installing a plastic window
In this process, 2 actions should be noted:
- Dismantling the old one (when replacing).
- Installing a new one.
You shouldn't dwell too much on dismantling the old window. After removing the frames with glasses from the wooden box with a hacksaw, the old frame needs to be cut in 2 places. Carefully remove the box from the window opening with a crowbar.
To install a new frame you will need:
- Punch.
- Screwdriver.
- The level is horizontal.
- Plummet.
- Mounting foam.
- Dowels and screws.
First, you need to clean the niche for the window from the old plaster, sealing elements (tow, rubber), and then you can proceed with the installation (installation) of the plastic window. To do this, it is first necessary to lighten the entire structure by removing the double-glazed windows (the method of installing a window with unpacking). Only the profile is mounted. Using a plumb line and a level, mark the location of the window in the niche. Using a perforator, prepare holes for anchors (diameter 6-8 mm) or dowels with self-tapping screws. The distance between the anchors should not exceed 70 cm. Set the above clearances in width and height. Fasten the frame to the window opening using fasteners. When installing a window sill, it should be noted that the space from it to the bottom of the nichefilled with solution. Despite this, many installers use pieces of foam and polyurethane foam to simplify work and save material. But this decision is not correct.
After installing the window sill inside the room and attaching the outflow from the outside, you need to make sure that the frame is correctly positioned in the opening. To do this, we again use a tape measure, a plumb line and a level. Only after checking all the parameters, you can start filling the voids with mounting foam. It should be used with caution to prevent it from getting on the surface of the plastic and the window sill. The protective film cannot be removed during installation.
After the foam hardens, you need to cut off its excess with a knife and you can install double-glazed windows in their places, fixing them with glazing beads. Important recommendation: it is necessary to plaster the slopes outside the premises within a few days (5-7) in order to protect the visible areas of the mounting foam from environmental influences and destruction.
There is another way to install - without printing. In this case, the window is installed without removing the double-glazed windows. This method is slightly more complicated due to the significant weight of the glasses. All installation operations are the same as above.
