Principles of installing PVC windows

Modern plastic windows can significantly reduce street noise, as well as, in winter, save warmth and comfort in the room. However, it is impossible to obtain effective thermal and sound insulation of windows if they are poorly installed. For this reason, when installing plastic windows, all work must be performed at the highest level..

Namely, in connection with poor-quality installation, various problems often arise. According to the statistics of firms, more than 80% of all claims made by buyers regarding the quality of plastic windows are related to their installation. This can happen, for example, due to unreasonable savings in materials during the installation of windows..

Another reason for the poor quality of the installation can be the low qualifications or negligence of the installers themselves. If during the installation, even of the highest quality and functional window unit, there is a “lapse”, then all the useful efficiency of the product can generally “evaporate” somewhere. Since the production process is automated, errors at this stage are practically excluded, unless there is a serious error in the technological process itself. But the installation process (we emphasize, it is the installation, not the production) of a plastic window is much more laborious than the production one, and there are several different methods for its implementation. As a result, the installer may want to make things easier for himself. And therefore, the probability of making a mistake during the installation process is quite high. At the same time, the savings will be a penny, and in the end, all the problems will come out in a decent amount..

GOSTs, from 2002-2003 made significant formalization in the technical process of installing PVC windows and require relevant documents. According to these GOSTs, there are 3 basic principles for installing PVC windows, which must be strictly observed.

1.3 layers of grout.

“The lion’s share” of the norms is devoted to the technology of filling the gaps between openings and window blocks according to the principle “from the inside is denser than from the outside.” It is imperative that all assemblies must have 3 layers of embedment: the outer layer – which protects against the effects of climatic conditions, in the middle – a heat-insulating layer, and inside – a layer of vapor barrier. The outer (outer) layers can be made from various materials. Various foams for installation can be used for them..

The outer layer must protect the insulation from moisture, and at the same time it must provide ventilation of the insulation. For the outer layer, pre-compressed sealing tapes (PSL) are ideal. These ribbons tend to expand. They are glued along the perimeter of the window box, just before its installation in the window opening. After that, the PSUL, expanding, fill all the voids and cracks of the opening with their volume. But with uneven slopes, especially in old houses, their use is complicated. Moreover, it is impossible to apply plaster on PSUL.

In some cases it is possible to use silicone outside. The thickness of the silicone layer should be 0.5 times the width of the entire joint to be filled. The silicone should work in tension and adhere at the same time only from 2 sides, all its other sides remain free. In the layer of thermal insulation (middle layer), polyurethane foams are used, which evenly fill the entire seam and do not require cutting after drying.

The inner (or vapor barrier) layer protects the insulation from the penetration of water vapor (moisture) from inside the room.

2. Absence of temperature “bridges”.

The weak link is also the wall in which the window unit is mounted, due to its weak resistance to heat transfer. As a result, a zone appears on the slope that has a temperature below the dew point. For this reason, in this area, firstly, significant heat loss occurs, and secondly, condensation falls out (which is also fraught with the appearance of mold). This also applies to openings without quarters. In the absence of the latter, the risk of cold bridges increases. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully consider the heating technology of the adjacent units..

3. Installation of the window block in the opening.

A feature of PVC windows is the fact that they have significant linear temperature expansion. In other words, when plastic windows are heated by the sun’s rays, the sash, frame and other elements increase in size (laws of physics).