No one needs to be convinced that metal-plastic windows are a necessary and economical thing. Millions of people have installed them in their private homes or apartments, and have appreciated all the benefits that come from replacing dry and cracked double-glazed windows with new and beautiful products. But the fact is that the market is filled with products of different quality. What should you pay attention to when you come to a company that installs and assembles windows?
What are metal-plastic windows made of?
- Which profile to choose for windows? Assessing the quality of a profile by appearance is a rather difficult task. There may be no need to chase after brands, but the great cheapness should also alert a potential buyer. Almost any 3- or 5-chamber profile is suitable for a small and blind window. But if you want to replace a window with a height of one and a half meters and a width of 75 cm, then it is better not to use any lightweight options here. You don’t want them to bend in an ugly arc, do you? This rule also applies to doors to a balcony or terrace. In Europe, there is a law prohibiting the use of profiles with a wall thickness of less than 3 mm in new buildings.
- Reinforcement. A metal rigid frame saves plastic windows from deformation. According to the rules, the thickness of the amplifier should not be thinner than 1.4 mm, but you will not be able to see this visually. It is best to compare, if possible, the weight of samples from different manufacturers. High-quality windows will be heavier. It is also noted that thick reinforcement is usually not used in thin-walled products. There is another tip on how to choose high-quality plastic windows – pay attention to the appearance of the outer surface. Expensive samples are distinguished by glossy and beautiful plastic, which also often helps to distinguish them from second-rate crafts.
- Sealant. For their production, rubber, rubber, silicone, and various types of rubber plastic are used. It is inserted on both sides of the glass and is responsible for the tightness of the product. Welded seals cannot be replaced, but rolled-in ones are difficult, but can be replaced. There are windows with removable rubber bands (EPDM) made from thermopolymers. Their service life is almost equal to the service life of the window itself – up to 20 years.
- Double-glazed window. If we are talking about glazing a cold and generally unheated balcony, then it may make sense to install single-chamber simple packages. But in a residential building, such a product will completely fog up and create a lot of inconvenience for the owners. Here it is advisable to install energy-saving windows with glass thickness of 4 mm or more.
- Accessories. It is impossible to even calculate how many times during the entire period of operation you will close and open the window. Therefore, these parts must only be of high quality. It’s good when the window allows the use of a slot ventilator, there is a reliable rotation limiter, burglary protection, and micro-ventilation.
Mistakes when choosing plastic windows
- We usually choose plastic windows based on the brand of a quality profile manufacturer, but in addition to this element there are many other nuances. It is important to take into account the fact who assembles the window. You can make a defect during assembly or use an expensive branded profile and fill
its cheap materials. - When it comes to choosing the right metal-plastic windows, you need to pay attention to the documentation. Sometimes the warranty only applies to the profile, and the window itself as a whole is not protected by a certificate.
Plastic windows are products that should last for decades. Cheapness does not always lead to savings, and the picture is the same with metal-plastic windows. Fittings, seals, glass, and plastic break down very quickly for many people. Therefore, the question of how to choose good plastic windows is, although not the most difficult, but quite an important matter.
