Subtleties of the selection of windows

Decorating the space of their home, people take care of the walls and roof, interior decoration and other intricacies. But all these concerns may be ineffective, if you do not remember in time about the openings for natural light. They are associated with a lot of nuances that must be taken into account when working.

The question of what windows are may seem naive and inappropriate, because everyone knows what it is. But in fact, the situation is not as simple as it seems. After all, a real high-quality window must meet the basic technical requirements, as well as be aesthetically appealing. An exquisite mansion, an old-fashioned retro-style house, an original design project or model housing imply completely different design approaches.

Evaluation of windows produced by such parameters as:

• airing quality;
• reliability of protection against precipitation;
• strength;
• heat insulation;
• opening method;

• the size;
• design execution;
• resistance to fire;
• expenses for the purchase, installation and subsequent maintenance;
• indoor microclimate.

The modern window has gone far from its predecessors, although it seems that even the same geometry and ways of dividing the openings were used 200 years ago. But in fact, there have been cardinal changes. They are caused, first of all, by the departure from ordinary glass and the transition to double-glazed windows. No less important innovation was the rejection of vents, which were replaced by plow-open doors.

In addition, the newest materials, which far surpass the old solutions in their characteristics, are of great benefit. A feature of the designs of the XXI century is reliable, tight closure of joints and gaps, which are no longer necessary to specifically fight.

The centuries-old history of window constructions and the development of modern engineers have made it possible to create many of their types. There are several of the most significant types of solutions that deserve increased attention.

Bay window Many people consider the element difficult and difficult to implement.But such an opinion is completely unjustified. Bay windows began to be used in very old times, and architects, who need an original facade, continue to use this technique.

There are several options at once:

• polyhedron;
• semicircle;
• trapezium;
• rectangle;
• triangular shape.

With a skillful selection, a bay window will decorate a winter garden and a guest room, a nursery and a bedroom, a fireplace and a billiards room. Even in kitchens, similar elements are used quite widely.

The main properties of such parts allow:

• keep warm in the cold season;
• cover the room from excessive heat on hot days;
• provide decent insolation.

It is important to remember that the consumption of fabric for the frame of the bay window can be very large. This problem can be solved by maximizing the creative approach. Widely used rolled Roman or flattened Japanese format curtains. In the dining rooms you can do without heavy curtains.

Corner window, in contrast to the bay window - is already a modern approach.To use such constructions, both small and large, began thanks to the latest achievements of architectural technology.

The advantage of this solution are:

• visual relief of massive buildings;
• lighting optimization;
• adding space inside;
• obtaining the possibility of panoramic glazing and a wide view.

Angular type of windows reveals its potential well when using the same materials that are used in construction or coincide with them in appearance. Exposed from floor to ceiling window can become an unbroken wall.

Since the mass of the structure is large, It is recommended to take care of its safety using binders.. You should not fear for reliability - technologists have learned how to make durable corner windows for a long time. The transverse partition makes it possible to form multi-level glazed areas; with skillful use, such a device turns out to be extremely attractive in appearance.

In most cases, corner windows are located in the kitchens. Experts prefer to plan the room in such a way that the working area is next to it.. But no less good is the setting of the window and opposite it.

When selecting the corner structures in the bathrooms, you need to carefully choose the type of frame so that it fits the interior and does not deteriorate from the water. Extravagant version of the window bay windows - glazed solid angle without visible seams; the construction is held by one side profiles, and the glass joints are closed with a transparent sealant.

Tilt-and-turn window is attractively convenience; it is not for nothing that such solutions are found exclusively in the line of all manufacturers of PVC constructions. Know them and every specialist involved in the installation and adjustment of translucent structures. There will be no special problems when working with such windows, but you need to take care of the availability of a suitable tool.

The opening of the sliding window does not interfere with any blinds, nor put on the sill things. Even the lattice will not become an obstacle.The spontaneous opening or slamming during a draft or a gust of wind is excluded. Because the tenants will not face broken glass, with sudden injuries and destruction.

The weight of a single sash can reach 200 kg, which is already suitable for glazing large attic; sealed bearings do not contact with water and do not freeze.

The ease and smoothness of the course, the long service life of the frames and the reliable isolation of the room space from the appearance of drafts are just a few advantages of the sliding window. But we have to reckon with its increased cost. After all, the manufacture of the necessary parts requires precision precision, and the designs themselves are complex.

In addition, all components are made abroad and brought from afar. This also adds to the cost.

In the frame house has its own requirements for the choice of a suitable window (although you should not forget about the already put forward considerations). The vast majority of people make the choice in favor of PVCand only a few install wooden structures.

It is worth considering the use of the bottom of the stand profile, which affects the overall geometry.Typical penetration into the wall - 1/3 of the width of the insulation layer. In the presence of ventilation gaps or external insulation installation is flush with the lining. It should also be taken into account when choosing that windows in frame houses should not be placed where there is no insulation and ventilation gap on the side.

The main practical solutions for glazing houses are T-shaped English windows. The first time such a construction was used about 400 years ago, when the Chatsworth Castle was being built. It was no longer a medieval fortress, because architects were able to show originality.

Since then, these are relatively narrow and upward single-glazed constructions.

An important feature of the English windows is the presence of wooden shprosa (lattice), because in some cases, just limited to its imitation. The overall performance of the glass does not violate the traditional appearance, as well as the use of special accessories. Sash "walk" on the bridges, as in wardrobes. Only in the case of a vertical-vertical model is it possible to move up and down.

Such a design, if it is correctly implemented, may look perfect and have in addition a certain mystery bloom.

The advantages of the British-type windows are:

• space saving;
• the ability to install items on the window sill or at the very opening;
• the impossibility of blowing the profile (it is pressed against the flap and equipped with high-quality insulation);
• the possibility of using both plastic and thick wooden profiles;
• no windows slam in strong winds;
• protection against hacking;
• visual compatibility with rolling shutters and blinds.

We can not say about some of the problems that are characteristic even for the most perfect English window. Thermal insulation provided by glass packs is achieved due to the loss of the old-fashioned aesthetic taste.

The solution is often found in the use of "deaf" models, complemented by a decorative grille.. This is, however, not English, but a false English format. The permissible mass of this British window is 60 kg, which, when used with sufficiently powerful glass units, grows three times.

But these are rather theoretical figures, because in reality heavyweight windows are difficult to open and close.

You can only half open the opening, and there will always be 50% of the light cavity occupied. And because the use of the English window as an emergency exit is almost impossible. In the original version, loops are not used at all; pens or absent, or made by special technology.

Answering the question what windows to choose, you need to understand also the advantages and disadvantages of metal and plastic structures. Metal products formed by 3-5 cameras inside the profile. Outer glasses are very thick, they reach at least 2.2 mm, and are additionally reinforced with a metal layer from 0.14 cm. Thanks to such a device, noise retention and heat retention are increased to a maximum.

The downside of positive traits is palpable gravity; similar windows cannot be put on balconies without strengthening the supporting parts.

The PVC-based profile has proven to be environmentally friendly for many years. The best models are equipped with a three-chamber profile., making securing silence and heat in the house no more difficult than using aluminum.

Aluminum structures themselves are divided into warm and cooled.In the second variant, either a single sheet of glass is put in, or a bag with a single chamber and an air cavity with a maximum of 1 cm. The weakening of the thermal characteristics is in many ways justified by the greater ease and ability to make a large window.

The scheme with warm aluminum is always multi-layered. “Winged metal” does not ignite by default, and even when in contact with aggressive substances does not lose its characteristics. Judging by the results of expert studies, the service life of metal bags is 70-80 years.

Cold aluminum is installed where the bearing supports are rather weak, and their strengthening will require considerable expenses. As for the warmed modification, it does not reach PVC in its properties. Yet the increased thermal conductivity of the metal, despite all the tricks, makes itself felt.

But there is another criterion - price: the variety of accessories of plastic construction significantly increases its cost. The aluminum product does not require the same reinforcement and can be made with a single glass.

Summarizing the basic facts we can say that PVC is recommended for windows and doors in living rooms - both private houses and apartments in multi-storey buildings. But aluminum constructions will be better for glazing balconies and loggias.

Consumers when installing metal windows on the balcony have a choice between warm and cold systems - the latter are cheaper and block the path to wind, dust and dirt just as well. The total cost of construction and installation is almost independent of the company, because the technology is the same everywhere.

Modern window systems differ from their old predecessors not only in the construction materials and division into double-glazed windows. A very important specificity is the presence of a complex composition of fittings, which has gone far from simple bolts and gate valves on the vents. Responsible and conscious buyer is always interested in such a "filling", especially since the fee for it reaches 1/6 of the total cost of the product.

Key features will be:

• resistance to cracking (very important in our hectic times);
• mechanical strength;
• reliability of the elements.

In high-quality plastic products, even the strongest and most tested in business, create only decorative parts. All practical load and mechanical work are assumed by parts made of metal. No savings here are justified in principle.

Plastic windows fittings include:

• constipation (moving parts with integrated pins in them);
• knobs and / or levers (with their help, you can open or lock the window);
• loops (they bind the sash and frame together, take the effort from the handles and levers and transmit it to the main unit).

Rare modern window construction dispenses with protective blocks. Among them, special attention should be paid to the parts that impede attempts to open or fold the flap from the outside, to turn it. Slot-hole ventilators hold the sash at a distance of 0.5 cm from the fixed parts of the frame and exclude its spontaneous opening. At the same time stable intensive ventilation is provided.

The difference between the modifications of window fittings is related to:

• the direction in which it opens the window;
• the very method of discovery;
• suitability for manipulation of valves of varying severity.

When you only need to turn the sash, accessories can be used, orienting its movement horizontally or vertically. A more advanced (but also more expensive) option is a tilt-and-turn mechanism..

The burglar parts are equipped with fungus-shaped trunnions mounted on special strips. Most mass-produced versions contain three trunnions of steel. Only if necessary, the most intensive protection to order make a more powerful design.

Accessories under the brand "Roto" It has long been recognized by experts and consumers to be completely reliable. The company is not afraid to give a guarantee for 10 years, because it is confident in the quality of its products and that it is not often necessary to pay compensation or carry out repairs.

In all designs of the European concern used flat locking tongue. This solution reduced the effort to close the window and distribute it. Therefore, the wear of the structure is further reduced.

Details from "Mako" are represented by hidden options under the swivel and tilt-and-tilt types of windows. With their help, it is easy to improve the appearance of the structure, as well as open it outside.The company's product range also includes anti-burglar blocks, which are simultaneously responsible for effective locking.

Consumer can easily choose more products under the brands of Siegenia, Winkhaus. For many decades now they have confirmed their impeccable quality and reputation of technically competent companies.

In addition to these types of accessories, there are other types of accessories: blocking the improper use of children, preventing the occurrence of residual deformation, and so on. Rotary fittings with horizontal hangers allow you to rotate the pivot window 180 degrees relative to the horizontal axes. Such elements are intended mainly for glazing attic.

The simplest and therefore most reliable format is sliding fittings with locking handles that help fix the locked opening.

Reinforced locking is achieved by hooks with hooks. To quickly ventilate the room or flush the door outside, it must be rotated 160 degrees. Tilt-and-turn fittings are placed on windows with one or more shutters, the height of which can reach 240 and the width - 160 cm.These are extreme technological indicators, but they may be even less for specific manufacturers.

Regardless of the nuances of engineering, the general principle is the same everywhere - the force is transmitted from the control knobs to the clamping points along the entire perimeter, and so-called traction helps. Technological subtleties are expressed mainly in how exactly the handle should be moved in order to open a window, transfer it to another position or lock it.

In order to sash more efficiently against box profiles, for large windows they use angular extensions vertically and horizontally. In the pivot doors and brackets are put a special kind - pivot (simple scissor will not cope).

No matter how reliable the performance of the window is in technical terms, this is not enough for modern consumers.Expressive elements of the facade of the house should comply with the basic principles of design and look harmonious. Black tones are used by professional designers, and the windows painted in them really become an attractive filling of space.

In addition to the frames of double-glazed windows, this color can also be used in textiles, in decorative accessories. Sometimes mystery and romantic mystery are more important than the reduction of space (in a large bedroom, this is exactly the situation).

The opposite decision, allowing you to add more light and shine - these are mirrored windows. Contrary to popular belief, such instances are well suited not only for cafes, but also for the most ordinary houses. At the same time, penetration inside prying eyes is excluded, and the entry of ultraviolet rays into the room is also blocked. This is not only beneficial to health, but also allows you to protect many things, including books.

In the opinion of consumers, a mirror window provides a microclimate better than usual, maintaining a pleasant coolness in summer and solid thermal insulation in winter.

A very important circumstance is the external attractiveness of the structure. Depending on the design concept, it can be catchy and stand out, or almost invisible from the outside.

The most affordable mirrored windows are made by sticking a special film. By varying its type, it is possible to adjust the throughput of the glass and give the luminous flux various shades. More expensive, but also more reliable option - factory coating of special reagents with a mirror effect.

But there is a nuance: it is impossible to change the properties of the coated windows, they can only be removed and put new ones. Of course, it is much more expensive and troublesome than simply sticking films with different characteristics.

Reflex glass is divided into three main groups:

• absorbing;
• reflecting radiation;
• mixed

In the first case, part of the luminous flux is blocked, which gives the glass a bluish or greenish tint. Such a system effectively holds infrared rays and stops up to 66% of ultraviolet waves. There are two problems - the probability of overheating the room in the heat and the smooth degradation of the glass itself at high temperatures.

Reflective type perfectly insulates heat, harmoniously used in any season of the year. In case of frosts, it helps to save thermal energy, and when the sun heats with full force, less current will be consumed by air conditioners and fans.

The risk of overheating of the reflective glass is zero, so technically it is almost the best choice. The difficulty lies only in the high price.

As for the combined solution, it can be considered a compromise, but still somewhat more expensive than simple absorbing systems. Regardless of the specific option, you can not be afraid of fading and burnout, the appearance of scratches. The thickness of the structure sometimes reaches 10 mm, and the installation does not have significant differences from working with a conventional glass unit.

High red windows immediately draw attention to themselves, and it does not matter if they are made according to mirror or simplified technology. This color looks extravagant and certainly will not be perceived as something boring, primitive. Only brave people trying to emphasize their individuality, ready for uncompromising experiments, use this color.It is important not to overdo it with passion and emotions, but if the design concept emphasizes a festive mood, optimism - you will have a red tone just right.

Contrary to popular belief, these windows will not fade, on the contrary, high-quality coatings will even carry a very significant weather load.

Color stability is guaranteed for several decades. Importantly, the problem of harmony with brick walls or fences is automatically removed.

The best result, however, gives only high-grade products that meet established standards. Therefore, responsible and serious buyers are always interested in branded certificates before purchasing. Of course, Any kind of windows should be purchased only from manufacturers or from their authorized dealers.

It is important to choose in an apartment or house not just standard window designs. With tight restrictions in the budget of the purchase is to prefer plastic systems. They will work for at least half a century, while cleaning, you can use any cleaning and detergent, except for abrasives.Modern PVC samples are able to work equally well at +60 and at -60 degrees.

If we compare polymer solutions with wooden ones, even products made from coniferous breeds will be much more expensive. There is no question about products derived from hardwood, especially elite species.

It is possible to wash a tree only with warm soap solution or specialized detergent compositions. At least once in 12 months you will have to handle it with special impregnations - they compensate for the loss of the original antiseptic treatment.

Aluminum is devoid of these shortcomings, but in the cold version, each frame becomes the “entrance gate” for frost. If the cold is very high, there is frost. At the onset of warm days, all this water melts and gives a lot of inconvenience. For a cold balcony or unheated room, the system is still suitable., but in the living room the situation is already worse.

As for the warm options of aluminum, the total cost of them is much higher than that of comparable plastic in parameters. Having figured out which material to choose, it's time to move on to the window structure.

Deaf type of valves in the upper part of the windows is not very practical, even if it takes a great height. The reason is that it is impossible to wash such a structure from the outside. But the opening doors, equal in height to the entire opening, are considered the most practical solution.

The only exception to this rule is very high designs. If the handle is in an inaccessible place in the middle of a huge structure, it is extremely inconvenient.

Therefore, all windows with a width of more than 150 cm should be divided into three approximately equal segments. Opening usually put in the center, and at the edges deaf. But there is an alternative - a pair of drop-down parts to the side of the closed element; this makes washing easier and at the same time reducing the risk of falling.

There is no doubt that an increase in the number of cells contributes to a reduction in convective heat transfer to the outside.The thicker the profile, the greater the number of cameras that can be placed in the glass unit.

All the leading manufacturers of specialized structures are German companies, but each of the leading companies has production in Russia. Reducing logistics costs and the exclusion of customs duties allows you to reduce the cost of goods to a minimum. Even cheaper products in 95% of cases are of poor quality, no matter what their sellers say.

But not everything is so simple - in the Russian Federation there is a strict standardization of window products. Official certificates can only get quality products. Therefore, if you have such a certificate, you can safely choose the company's products from your region, and even window units from Asian countries.

The most popular brands have only one advantage: increased mechanical rigidity when subjected to a bending load. This option is very important where large windows are faced with strong winds.

When choosing accessories, the situation is exactly the opposite: the manufacturer's name comes first. It is necessary to buy only goods with a first-class reputation, not being inspired by the low prices of competing products. Trade organizations and installers themselves, as well as repairmen, recommend leading manufacturers.. Thus, they are reinsured and avoid the appearance of dissatisfied consumers.

As for the set of purchased accessories, you can not do without:

• blocker incorrect manipulations;
• switch to transom mode;
• micro-airing facilities;
• microlift (for wide wings);
• pressure rollers (upper and lower, supplementing the pressure from the central lock).

Almost throughout the whole territory of Russia, it is necessary to choose pressure rollers capable of working in summer and winter modes. By turning such a roller, it is possible to exclude damage to the seal during the warm season, and to correct the effects of profile compression in the cold season.

Additional benefits will come from energy-saving double-glazed windows, in the manufacture of which multilayer molecular coatings made of titanium and silver are used.

On a cold day, when the apartment is warmer than outside, such a shell redirects the heat rays inside. If the warm season comes, it filters out infrared radiation in the solar spectrum, throwing it out. The interior of the energy-saving glass pane is filled mainly with inert gases. They are more viscous and have a lower thermal conductivity, ahead of even air in this indicator. In some cases, apply sunscreen packages.

The weakening of the permeability for the visible spectrum is achieved by spraying a very thin coating. Modern technologies allow to vary the transparency from 30 to 70% and at the same time give the glass a particular color.

The advantage of this solution is not only protection from excessively bright sunlight. It will be harder to see something in the apartment through the glass, being outside, but this is achieved only as long as the light inside is brighter.

It is quite acceptable to combine typical, sun-protection and energy-saving glass in soundproof packages. You shouldn't buy the cheapest windows for sure.: problems with them will quickly swallow the imaginary benefit when buying.

Quite often, people are interested in how to put windows in typical houses. There is nothing complicated about it. In order for designers to accurately calculate the price, you need to tell them:

• real sizes;
• number of valves;
• type of these shutters (the deaf, turning, rotary and folding);
• Do I need to put mosquito nets;
• whether filling with argon is required;
• Whether sunscreen or soundproofing solutions are required.

It is advisable when selecting dimensions to focus on state standards, which provide for the largest PVC window area of ​​6 square meters. For a sash being opened in any way, this indicator is limited to 2.5 square meters. m

The number of elegant options for window designs is very large.But the most traditional way to achieve beauty and elegance is to organize a complex "binding". If done correctly, you can not even lose in the intensity of the light flux

This example clearly shows that plastic windows can also be beautiful. The main thing is that they fit into the surrounding ensemble. The design of natural wood with an intricate division into compartments, made in the shape of an arch, looks even better and more beautiful.

How to choose the right plastic window, see the following video.