Quality double-glazed windows - how to choose correctly?

High-quality double-glazed windows are the structures that, year after year, protect rooms from the scorching sun, from cold and wind, ensure optimal humidity in the room, and perform protective and other functions. It is important to know how to choose the right PVC windows for an apartment or a house on the ground, in order to understand exactly which features you need and which ones it is not practical to pay for.

Over the last 20 years, double-glazed windows in Europe and around the world have gained particularly great popularity, with new technologies and innovations constantly being implemented in the production process to bring the consumer as much comfort and safety as possible.

First steps in choosing a double-glazed window

• Choose not so much the windows themselves as a company you can trust. It should be a company with a long history of work and positive reviews. It is very important that a contractor is responsible for the production, installation and maintenance of the equipment.
• The warranty for all types of window structures must be at least 5 years.
• The reliability of the product is determined by the quality of three main elements: profile, double-glazed unit and hardware. ValentMD products fully meet all the listed criteria.

What is a double-glazed window made of?

The profileis the main element of the window block. Its purpose is to combine the other components into a complete structure. The window's ability to withstand operational loads depends on the quality of the profile:

• opening and closing of the sashes;
• weight of the double-glazed unit;
• wind;
• precipitation;
• high and low temperatures;
• exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

The thermal and sound insulation of the window block, as well as the degree of natural light in the room, depend on the properties of the double-glazed unit.

The hardware plays an important role in the use and durability of the translucent structure. It is made up of the clamp, hinges and the handle with the locking mechanism.

The frame, also called the sash frame, is the element that supports the glazing of the double-glazed unit.

The outer frame is the fixed element that serves to connect and support the sash frame and the wall.

Advantages of PVC windows

The airtight construction prevents heat loss, which is especially important in houses with an insufficient heating system capacity and in apartments where the heating devices are equipped with meters and temperature regulators.

Closed PVC windows do not let street noise through at all. You can sleep peacefully even in apartments overlooking major highways or busy boulevards. PVC windows can be rotatable, opened in several planes at once, often equipped with a “ventilation mode”.

Compared to old-style constructions with wooden frames, PVC windows win in everything:

• durability;
• aesthetics;
• airtightness;
• ease of use;
• high parameters of thermal protection and sound insulation;
• no need for care and insulation.

What do you need to know when buying double-glazed windows?

Above we talked about the main parameters of the double-glazed window structure that must be taken into account when making your choice. However, there are also other characteristics worth paying attention to in order to choose the optimal option in terms of thermal protection, sound insulation, durability and ease of use.

Hardware

Window fittings are not just a handle, but also all the mechanisms located around the main sash, which are responsible for its movement and fixing in certain positions.

Which hardware for plastic windows is better? Professionals advise choosing only products from well-known manufacturers. Cheap, low-quality counterparts can deteriorate quickly. The Valent.md company uses only high-quality German ROTO hardware. Due to poor-quality hardware, buyers face the following problems:

• jamming of the sash;
• opening the window only with effort;
• drafts due to the inability to close the sash tightly;
• creaking.

Low-quality elements can cause other problems with the operation of the double-glazed unit.

Air chambers

The more chambers there are, as well as the distance between the walls, the higher the sound and thermal insulation performance. Two-chamber profiles are designed mainly for cold glazing, such as balcony windows or verandas, and are unsuitable for windows in heated rooms due to their reduced thermal insulation. For an apartment window in a city, it makes sense to consider at least a three-chamber profile. For spaces located on high floors, apartments with a poorly functioning heating system and rooms overlooking streets and multi-lane boulevards, five- and six-chamber structures are suitable.

Number of panes

The principle is the same as for the profile chambers. Double-glazed windows are produced with 1, 2, 3 chambers filled with an inert gas (argon or krypton), as well as anti-resonant ones, in which the distance between the panes is different, which helps dampen the sounds from the street. Here too you should proceed from the location and type of the premises. Be careful to take into account that the more glass there is, the greater the weight of the window, which means an increased load on the hardware and increased requirements for it.

Type of glass

For absolutely everyone, we can recommend multifunctional 4-season glass, which protects from the sun in summer and prevents heat loss in winter. On the first and last floors, it is advisable to install safe, impact-resistant glass, one of the options for which is tempered glass. Such glass is very hard to break. The rest of the possibilities should be chosen exclusively according to personal preference. If you have refined taste, then take a closer look at tinted glass. You can choose the right color for any interior and exterior. In addition, you benefit from solar protection.

Availability of quality certificates

There is a separate standard for each window component (profile, double-glazed unit, fittings, components). Manufacturers of materials and products for completing windows must obtain certificates of conformity for their products. You should make sure that the seller has a certificate for the PVC windows; in addition, you can request certificates for the profile and other components of the window block. The certificate of conformity for the profile, test reports for ventilation in the profile, laboratory tests for durability and resistance to climatic influences, as well as other documents confirming the quality of the profile, can be found in the corresponding section on the website.

The price of double-glazed windows

The total cost of the window depends on the size, configuration, requirements for the design of the structure, the complexity of the installation and other nuances. A consultation with our manager will help you avoid overpaying for unnecessary design improvements. He knows how to identify all the client's needs so that they remain satisfied with the order. Our company has been operating in the PVC window market in Moldova for over 20 years. Professional knowledge and extensive experience allow our specialists to ensure high quality and reliability of the work performed.

Valent.md offers you: modern high-performance solutions, affordable prices for PVC windows and PVC doors, the use of high-quality components from European manufacturers: Veka, Foris, Kurtoglu, AluminCo profiles, WINKHAUS hardware. Call us, write to us, we will be happy to help!