When it comes to glazing, uPVC windows (also known as reinforced plastic windows) come out as the most popular option on the modern market. However, many people find it hard to select the best products for glazing of their homes. In this article we are going to dig deeper into this topic to help you make an informed choice.

    Nowadays, it is common to replace old outdated wooden frames with modern glass unit constructions. One of the most popular options is the uPVC window, whose price-quality ratio is one of the most favorable. Manufacturers offer a wide variety of profiles and fittings of different quality. The time needed for creation of tailor-made windows ranges from 7 to 14 days which is also very convenient for customers. Glass unit windows are frames with complex constructions produced with the help of uPVC profiles, glass units and mechanisms for opening and closing of window frames. Inside uPVC profiles there are air chambers and steel lattice reinforcing that makes the whole construction stable and durable.

    Advantages of uPVC windows

    uPVC windows ensure complete sealing. They have excellent insulating and soundproofing properties. As claimed by manufacturers, uPVC windows are completely safe for your health, since they are produced from special environmentally-friendly plastic.

    uPVC windows can be practically of any shape, size and color. They can have different opening mechanisms, for example tilting or sliding. uPVC windows are very durable and can resist any atmospheric impacts, therefore their service life can reach up to three, four or even five decades. uPVC windows do not require special care; they do not need to be painted every year or maintained by a professional.

    The color of frames can be also quite diverse, including different stone or wood textures.

    Plastic windows perfectly match with different kinds of blinds such as roller shades or Roman blinds, as well as all other kinds of window décor.

    Precision and quality of installation works have great influence on the insulating properties of the window. One other disadvantage of uPVC windows is that they are hermetically sealed. Manufacturers of wooden windows claim that wooden frames have micropores that allow fresh air to circulate in an out. As they say, this is the main advantage of wooden windows. However, many people forget that this circulation is not sufficient for a big house. Any living area needs regular airing in order to maintain a healthy microclimate inside the building.

    Many materials and household things, like wooden furniture, detergents, paint-and-lacquer coatings, laminates, rugs and carpets etc., emit harmful substances whose concentrations can sometimes exceed allowed norms. This is especially true if the furniture is new or if there has recently been a renovation in the house. Combustion products also contaminate the air if the kitchen hood is not powerful enough. If there is no natural ventilation, micropores in wooden frames will not be able to air the whole house.

    good uPVC windowsFirst of all, you should order uPVC windows only from a reliable company with specialists who have experience in installation of uPVC constructions. A company that has just appeared on the market will definitely offer reduced prices, however you should be careful with their inexperienced specialists. uPVC profiles are empty inside and consist of several air chambers. The more chambers the profile has, the better. This determines the insulating properties of the window. You should also pay attention to the metal profile, which enhances resistance to pressure and adds rigidity to the whole window construction.

    The profile thickness is also important for large windows. Moreover, it has to be made of galvanized steel. The profile thickness is directly proportional to the size of the window. Strong winds, especially on top floors, can distort thin profiles. Lightweight profiles are usually used for glazing of balconies and small one-piece windows, for example in the toilet room.

    Window fittings (handles, loops and latches) should be of the best quality. It is pointless to save money on these things, even though they may seem unimportant at first sight. You should always select the best options to make your uPVC windows reliable and efficient.

    The glass unit is the most important part of the whole uPVC construction. Triple glazed windows (i.e. windows with two air chambers between glasses) are usually installed in areas with severe climate. These constructions perfectly cope with extreme colds and will provide comfort to your rooms both during the day and at night. In the areas with mild climate, people usually prefer to install double glazed windows (i.e. with one air chamber between glasses). Remember, that you buy windows that will serve you for decades, that is why cost cutting is out of question!

      The basis for calculating the cost of each construction are the dimensions of a window area and type of an opening. The most popular opening we offer for our uPVC windows are:

      The wider the movable part of the construction and the more openings in one unit – the more expensive it will cost.

      Cost of upvc windows is also influenced by a type of profile systems, glass composition, accessories, window sill sizes, the presence of additional accessories and features, the possibility of extra micro-ventilation devices and the type of services added to the window supply – installation etc.

      The final price is directly related to the level of upgrades and installation. The more upgrades are added to the window, the more expensive the cost will be.

      Let us consider more details, on what particular components lies price of uPVC windows.

      Double glazing

      It primarily consists of the cost of glass, which is about 20-70% of the entire window depending on configuration. The price of glass depends basically on the amount and type of glass, it thickness and amount of panel installed in double glazed unit. Number of panes mostly addresses energy efficiency, as well as acoustic properties of your new PVC windows. The increase in the number of panels is proportional to the level of sound and energy insulation.

      Energy savings

      Nowadays it is important to choose energy efficient windows, which can be achieved using two types of low energy glass: hard coated glass and glass soft coated glass. A soft coating is applied to glass by magnetron method. This coating is a more advanced method and gives the glass a higher energy-saving performance. In the triple glazed windows, you can select a configuration with two energy efficient glass panels in the window in full or just it part, which will achieve higher thermal performance of your window and as a result influence energy efficiency of your house. Just to improve the energy saving argon gas is usually used instead of air between the glass panes. Another factor influencing the energy efficiency is the spacer frame between the panes. It can be a simple aluminum or special plastic spacer what will slightly change thermal properties of the whole double glazed unit in uPVC window .

      Since the plastic has a lower coefficient of heat transfer, energy saving property of such windows would be higher. Based on the foregoing, we can conclude – the higher the energy-saving and sound insulation properties you want, the higher will be the price for your windows.

      Accessories

      The next parameter that will affect the price – is the hardware. The cost of hardware depends on the material from which it is made. If you are offended low cost fittings made of plastic or low quality metal – be ready to replace in a couple of years time. Blue Sky Windows only installs high-quality steel fittings with a special nano coating of exclusively European manufacturers. We guarantee that our hardware will last as much as uPVC window itself.

      We wish you a pleasant shopping through our product and we are sure we can find the right opening style and specification for you!

        uPVC vs Aluminium vs Timber windowsWhen it comes to your home it is important to pick the best available material and do a due dilligence in comparing all the pros and cons.

        Windows and doors is an important part of the house that works both as an aestetics feature and weather barrier both inside and outside of the house.

        Let’s  have a look at major profile material and go in a little bit of detail on what those benefits and negatives are and how these profiles are mainly used in practice.

        Wooden windows  are the most traditional profile type and used widely in many residential and commercial applications.  They are  easily available, made in various sizes  and shapes, have a variety of timber they are made from and are very customizable.

        Aluminum windows  are  relatively light  weight and are available in different sizes and types. Cost of aluminum window depends upon the section size and thickness used for the window. Aluminium window frame is further divided in two categories – with and without thermal break what brings the total window cost and performance in two complete different areas. Aluminum standard (not thermally broken) window frames are very poor in energy efficiency and sound resistance but are light weight, low cost and required less maintains and painting compaed to timber.

        uPVC windows  stands for  the  unplasticized polyvinyl chloride. Nowadays uPVC windows are becoming more popular because of high energy efficient, excellent appearance and smooth surface. They are outperforming most of locally made wooden and aluminium windows and create a great value for money proposition whne compared to higher end aluminium thermal break and timber windows solutions.

        Let’s see the suitability and economy of all these three types of windows.

         Wooden windows

        Wood is an organic material,  a  natural composite of cellulose fibers (which are strong in tension) embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression. People have used wood for millennium for many purposes,  primarily as a fuel or as  a  construction material for making houses, tools, weapons, furniture, packaging, artworks, and paper. Wood is a natural  readily available material.

        Windows made from wood are more versatile than uPVC and aluminium windows. In being able to paint, varnish and make wood windows any size and colour that you want, you have greater freedom over the style and overall look of your home. On the other hand, that created further long term maintenance commitments and reduces life span of the windows.

        Wood windows arguably look more refined, sophisticated and ‘tasteful’ than uPVC windows and aluminium options. These days, however, a lot of uPVC and aluminium window profiles have traditional designs and features to match with traditional house designs.

        As wood is considered to be a sustainable building material because it is derived from a renewable source, installing wood windows will mean you are diminishing your carbon footprint.

        Aluminium windows

        Aluminum is now widely used as the first choice for the construction of Aluminum Doors & Windows, Ventilators and Front Wall Glazing at all major construction sites such as Hotels,  Offices, Complexes, Auditoriums, Hospitals, Showrooms etc. The finished aluminum is generally smooth , having bright finish which is highly amenable to further finishing as demanded by application

        Here are the advantages of aluminum windows.

        Aluminium windows are structurally the strongest type of window and are much stronger than uPVC or timber windows. In this sense, windows made from aluminium can be used and are widely used in commercial glazing, have really few size restrictions and as a result are very loved in architectural applications where the low profile framing is able to hold big glass panels.

        The issue with most of common in Australia aluminium windows is that they are not airtight and well sealed for dust and rain water. Even if window is well sealed and this issue is eliminated using double glazing, there is still a problem of poor energy efficiency of the frame that can be only eliminated by using a better aluminium profile system – thermal break aluminium.

        Thermal break aluminium window frame is consisting of two aluminium frame parts with a nylon insert between them what is breaking the conducting aluminium characteristic.

        The aluminum window has good corrosion resistance  and it can resist weathering condition very well in comparison to timber windows.

        It  does not absorb radiant heat and low absorption helps in maintaining the surrounding area cool during summer and warm in winter. (Of course, mainly applicable for thermally broken aluminium window framing).

        The cons of windows from aluminum.

        Aluminum window will oxidate over time. This oxidation appears as white residue and pitting Aluminum can corrode quickly if suitable precautions against electrolysis are not taken. With aluminium windows it is always cost versus performance – low cost aluminium windows have very poor energy efficiency, whereas thermally broken aluminium windows and doors are usually come above and beyond the figure on timber or uPVC windows.

        Aluminum windows are commonly recommended for building where high degree of elegance is required and therefore are used in architectural designs or general building applications driven by low house prices.

        uPVC windows

        uPVC Windows are widely used across the globe, from the deserts of Arizona to the coldest parts of Scandinavia,  from the  hot  environs of Gulf to the tropics  of Malaysia, Thailand as well as very extensively in China, S.  Korea, Taiwan,  and many more Geographies.

        This  is  due to their good aesthetics, durability, noise proofness,  low  maintenance  requirement,  best air & water tightness, and their ability to provide excellent thermal insulation, thereby helping save lots of heating and cooling costs in homes, offices  and commercial centers.

        uPVC Windows come  with a very high quality surface finish, soft contoured profiles and a variety of styles to meet the needs of the most demanding architects, designers and users.

        The environmental benefit of using uPVC Windows instead of wood and metal windows is phenomenal. Due to their ability to conserve energy throughout their life time uPVC Windows are recognized as Green Windows  thereby scoring over traditional wood and metal windows.

        uPVC windows are virtually maintenance free and easy to clean. Apart from the odd wipe down with soapy water every now and then, once your replacement or new windows are installed you won’t have to worry about treating them like you do with certain wooden varieties of windows that can swell and rot. Also uPVC windows will never need to be painted ever again, what saves on maintenance in the long run.

        uPVC is an extremely thermally efficient material and can provide your home with greater heat insulation than aluminium and wood windows can.

        For a modern home that consists of many modern fittings and features, uPVC is likely to be your best option as it will maintain the style of the property.

        Perhaps one of the main reasons that so many people opt for uPVC windows is that they are usually cheaper to buy than compatible in performance aluminium and timber windows.

        However, they are still more expensive than the basic low cost low performance wooden and aluminium windows.

          What is uPVC Windows — Blue Sky Windows, Melbourne, VIC

          The uPVC window is a choice of smart people because these windows guarantee the reliability, durability, quality and attractive view from the house. The uPVC windows and doors will provide you with safety and good thermal barrier between the outside and inside. You can be totally confident in their weatherproofness and energy efficiency. The special improved window covering gives the glass high energy saving property and economizes your annual expenses and this is quite important at the present time.

          Do you dream to wake up early not because of the street noise outside the window? You adore falling asleep in absolute silence but shouts from outside can disturb your rest?  So, this problem you can decide choosing the uPVC windows which can keep you from annoying sounds every morning, evening and night. The uPVC windows have good soundproof properties and this is one of the most efficient preferences if you live in modern city.

          What is more these windows are easy to take care of. They are comfortable and easy to clean. You should just wash your window frames with soap and water and they will become spanking new again. There is no need for painting or sealing them as with wood constructions.

          The uPVC windows and doors are being created special for you accordingly to the desirable style, conformation and area. You can choose a profile and colour of windows that you like and that will fit into your home perfectly. Our company offers a broad assortment of stylish high-quality plastic windows and doors for reasonable prices. We use the most modern technologies so that we can make your windows multiform and individual.

          Generally, the uPVC windows and doors are white in colour but in our firm it is possible, however, to find alternative colours that will meet your needs at a slightly higher cost. We want to make our customers feel free choosing window style, so for those who do not preserve a traditional appearance of the exterior of their property we can propose a wood grain effect, such as oak, rosewood or mahogany. Of course, such units are likely to be a little more expensive than the standard white.

          If you are searching for beautiful and ecologically safe windows you move on the right way because our company ensures that the uPVC windows are safe and don’t contain a place for harmful fungus and mould. uPVC is surely an eco-friendly material. In addition, it can be recycled.

          Plastic windows and doors are very popular nowadays and there are a lot of reasons for this. They are also known for their long term and security. Comparing with wooden windows these means can provide you with comfort and cosiness for fifty years and more. The frames of the uPVC windows and doors are strong and sturdy, providing enhanced protection against any potential intruders. Our experts will provide qualitative installation of the windows so you will be sure in their security and reliability.

          In our company the customer can freely select wished window construction: blank windows, hinged windows or tiltable-flaps windows. The price varies according to a chosen construction but the cost of the uPVC windows is quite reasonable and moderate. It can depend on the chosen style, profile and size of desirable windows.

          So, the uPVC windows and doors are the solution of many problems. We propose you the most economical variant of windows and doors that will improve the appearance of your home and will provide it with energy saving properties and reliability for many years.