PVC soft windows for arbors and terraces: advantages and disadvantages

The main feature and pride of the inhabitants of country houses is the presence of a gazebo or an open terrace. But very often this place becomes the main stumbling block caused by weather conditions or the invasion of annoying insects.

How to get rid of the discomfort in their own area in the heat and cold, without resorting to a homegrown, prompted by professionals in the field of manufacture and installation of soft windows.

Today it is already difficult to be surprised with various modifications of those items that we use daily. The era of consumerism continues to move humanity towards the maximum ease of life. Now there are soft windows on sale, which are used mainly in open gazebos, terraces and verandas.

They are a kind of tension curtains, the main material in which instead of fabric is polyvinyl chloride (popularly known as PVC film).

Flexible polymer windows have in their arsenal a number of nice features that highlight their need:

• Protective function. Despite the fact that PVC film is often used for the construction of greenhouses, this material perfectly passes air and light in the places you need and protects against insects and adverse weather conditions.
• Mobility. Easy to install, easy to clean when needed. At the same time, the material itself does not suffer at all, does not crease, and no creases form on it. It can be removed as a classic fabric curtain (securing the sides of the opening), and you can roll into a roll and fasten at the top.

• Combinatorial. Soft windows are also called curtains, but this does not mean that you have to stop using curtains. Windows are perfectly combined with classic fabric curtains, paper Roman curtains, vertical and horizontal blinds, and even blinds of simple complete sets.
• Variability. Flexible window curtains can not only be transparent.At the request of the customer, manufacturers will make tinted "glasses" that will not only hide you from prying eyes, but also reduce the percentage of ultraviolet rays and their effect on the eyes and skin.

• Availability of additional accessories, facilitating the operation and maintenance of unique flexible windows. Here, manufacturers have an extensive field of activity, since by purchasing such an economical device in terms of cost, the buyer will always ask for additional attributes to it.

The density of the film is of two sizes - 500 and 700 microns. It should be understood that the tighter the window, the stronger and more functional it will be. But do not forget about the other side of the medal - the stuffy atmosphere in the room with thick curtains in the summer hot period.

The standard width of the window in the roll is 1 m 40 cm. With non-standard openings, two widths are fused between each other with hot air, on top of the resulting seam impose an edging.

Another important feature of PVC windows for terraces and arbors is the price, which starts from 1,400 rubles per square meter and rises to 1,700 for the same unit of measurement.It should be noted that manufacturers reduce the cost per square meter of PVC film, depending on the total amount. Also an important role in pricing is played by the presence of non-standard sizes and the installation of these windows with the help of specialists. Wherein services for measuring openings and selection of edging options are almost always free.

As with any construction innovation, there are strengths and weaknesses. Speaking of soft windows, it is very difficult to find flaws in them, according to reviews of customers and users. And the pros can talk endlessly, finding more and more of their advantages over any other materials for a gazebo, veranda, terrace or even a balcony.

The positive qualities of soft windows can be determined by comparing them, for example, with plastic ones. The main advantage in this situation is the price, which is almost 2-3 times lower. PVC glazing is distinguished by high strength, lack of brittleness, inability to break flexible windows, like ordinary glass.

Frost-resistant and heat-resistant, like plastic windows, such structures can remain functional in winter at temperatures up to -40 degrees and subject to the availability of additional heating facilities inside the room.And in the summer, products are kept up to +70 in the presence of climate technology, which will cool the gazebo or terrace from the inside. Otherwise, the room will be too stuffy.

These unique stretch curtains allow daylight to fill the room as much as possible. It creates a feeling of airiness and spaciousness, despite some limitations by these conditional transparent walls.

Soft windows are so durable and resistant to sunlight and fadingthat any other materials for street curtains and curtains can not be compared with them. Fungus and mold are not formed on them, and fire safety is at the highest level.

In addition to the many advantages of the product have certain disadvantages. For example, such a curtain is very easy to cut, hitting something sharp, in this case it is impossible to patch the cut in most cases. The only solution is to replace the PVC window completely.

A large coefficient of thermal expansion is another minus of such window structures. The fact is that when the temperature drops, the material shrinks. There is a risk of tearing in places of tension. And with increasing thermometer performance, the film stretches a little, and in summer you can drag it, making the surface smoother.

The range of use of soft windows is quite wide.Most often, this way of protection is resorted to by owners of outdoor summer cafes and restaurants. Since flexible windows-walls can be not only transparent, most businessmen use them as an additional advertising space and a way to attract more visitors.

Additional features of PVC windows are explained by the following properties:

• the possibility of applying a print logo on PVC film;
• use of mosquito nets on the back side of the liquid window;
• protection from rain, snow, wind, dust and other vagaries of nature.

In private possessions, protective, transparent window-curtains serve to “glaze” arbors, terraces, and verandas. In some cases, PVC film can be used for decoration of balconies in apartment buildings.

Professionals advise to roll the PVC curtains for the winterto avoid cracking or other damage. You can also close the gazebo tightly, leaving the window in a tense position. The main thing is to be attentive to the change of temperature on the street so that the warming does not affect the windows negatively.

In the installation of soft windows there are no features that would be difficult to handle. But in some stages, for example, measurements are best done by professionals.

Standard PVC constructions are subject to exchange and return, if they were not damaged when attempting to install them. Soft windows, made to order, can not be returned if the measurements were made incorrectly.

Street PVC windows have three main types of fastening:

• Swivel bracket with spring mechanism. This is one of the easiest and most frequently used mounting methods. Such brackets are placed around the perimeter of the window. Fixation and tensioning occur due to rotation of the bracket in the right direction.

• Simple braces + silicone or cloth straps. The main disadvantage of this method is the location of the brackets around the perimeter of the window so that the tension occurs evenly on all its sections.

• Difficult sliding systemthat attaches the film to a special frame on the rollers. Tightness in such a system is practically absent, therefore, it is rather decorative in nature than functional. Used in the restaurant business.

Before installing your own windows on the porch or terrace with your own hands, you must perform the following series of actions:

• order a professional measurement of openings where the window-curtains will be located;
• choose a suitable edging;
• determine the type of attachment;
• proceed with the installation.

Installation is carried out by marking the location of the holes around the perimeter of the window on the base to which it will be attached. After drawing a marking in the specified places the accessories fasten. The window structure is installed on the prepared base.

Craftsmen with great pleasure share step by step instructions for making soft windows with their own hands. At the same time, the production concerns not only the PVC films, but also the luverum eyelets, nail staples. The main tools here are: a building dryer with the necessary nozzles, a hammer and installation skills.

Since the edging options are also important, you should dwell on them in more detail. The edging is an additional reinforcement around the perimeter of the film. These are film, fabric, PVC strips of various colors,whose width is at least five centimeters. Thus, you can safely pick up the "window frame" to match the entire street structure.

On wide sections of windows (more than one and a half meters) it is possible to additionally install a lock over the entire length of the canvasso that you can open and close them as needed.

To date, there are two types of edging for flexible windows:

• awning - from Oxford cloth;
• moisture resistant - from PVC.

Both are equally good and in demand. PVC edging is usually soldered to the window itself, so the risk of a break is immediately eliminated. Due to the special properties of polyvinyl chloride, such a frame does not fade when exposed to sunlight and is not amenable to temperature extremes.

Awning trim is also quite strong, but it is attached to the main canvas by sewing, which is not always effective. As for the colors of the frame, it has 10 options for each type. Basically, these are classic colors: red, white, brown, moss green, beige, yellow, black.

The colors of the edging and the soft windows themselves serve up to 12-15 years with proper and constant care..

To keep PVC soft windows for gazebos and terraces clean and tidy is not at all difficult. They do not require the use of expensive detergents or dry cleaning. It is enough to treat them with ordinary soap solution (even the classic dishwashing detergent is suitable here) and rinse it all with water pressure from a garden hose with a shower head.

Wherein not recommended to use sponges, brushes with a rough pile. The first ones leave stains on the windows, and the second ones can scratch them or even break through the material. The main thing is to remember that regular and timely washing of soft windows prolongs not only their lifespan, but also gives aesthetic pleasure, a sense of security and cleanliness.

To protect the windows from insects, which in summer evenings like to stick to ordinary glass, manufacturers are ready to supply a mosquito net. It is also easy to clean, as is the flexible window itself.

If PVC-cloth comes into contact with the ground, experts recommend installing anthers, polyethylene or PVC strips. (manufacturers call them "pockets"), protecting the gazebo or terrace from dirt and dust from the ground inside the room.The weighting agent is inserted into these strips - a special pipe. Still anthers are used when there is no opportunity to fix a soft window from below. They are an additional mount in this form of "glazing".

Thus, having reviewed and analyzed all the main features, advantages and disadvantages of this type of protective decoration of arbors and terraces, we can draw the following conclusions:

• Windows are suitable for any street constructions, including balconies.
• Have an affordable pricing policy.
• May be different colors and degrees of transparency.
• They have protective, moisture and fire resistant properties.
• Easy to install and wash.

When choosing soft rolled windows, pay attention to the equipment and details: edging, fasteners and even the density of the canvas itself. And entrust measurements and installation to professionals who precisely know the business. In this case, you will be satisfied with your choice for many years.

More details about soft windows are described in the video.