Otherwise known as unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride, uPVC is the most popular choice for new double glazed windows.
It has a smart finish, is cheaper than other suitable options and can last for more than 20 years.
However, before it can be used in manufacture it has to be modified. This is because pure PVC is not suitable.
PVC is used in other production areas such as hand bags, shoes and fake leather.
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If you?re looking for something a little different to the single paned and double glazed windows, you might be interested in a new breed of glass known as Planitherm.
Planitherm reduces energy bills with its unique makeup. Available in an A rating, the windows use advanced coatings to keep more heat in your home, while capturing energy from the sun.
As much as 26% of your home?s heat could be lost through inefficient windows which puts an extra 28% onto your energy bills.
But with Planitherm, heat isn?t allowed to escape, but instead is radiated back into the room. This gives you a brighter, warmer home.
And in fact, Planitherm have claimed that these new windows are three times more efficient than single panes and at least 25% better than most double glazed units.
Many existing windows installed in the last 10 years will have an energy rating of E, which is simply not good enough to provide adequate insulation to your property.
But Planitherm say their windows can easily achieve a C rating, but many homeowners should be looking to have A rated windows installed to maximise energy efficiency.
However, despite Planitherm?s obvious qualities, double glazing is a much better option if you?re looking for the whole package.
Double glazing doesn?t just keep your home warm and your fuel bills down. Because there are two panes of glass rather than just one, you?ll also have reduced condensation and noise pollution.
As the panes are separated by a spacer, they can?t feel each other?s temperature. This means there isn?t a cold pane for moisture to settle on.
Also if you?re near a busy main road or you have noisy neighbours, double glazing will deflect the sound waves away from your home.
And what?s more, you can have double glazing fitted in any energy rating of your choosing.
In the UK, housing estates have been springing up all over the place. And the majority of these houses have uPVC front doors.
It?s not just at the front either. They?ll more than likely have uPVC doors fitted at the back of the property too. This is because uPVC doors have a number of qualities that make them a great addition to your home.
Security
In today?s world, it?s always in the back of our minds that our home is not secure. But with uPVC doors you can be at peace.
These doors are extremely tough, so the chances of someone breaking in are very slim. In fact, just having uPVC doors will deter burglars in the first place.
And if the door is also fitted with double glazing or laminated glass, it?ll making forced entry that much harder.
Energy efficiency
Just like double glazing and other insulation measures, uPVC doors can instantly lower your energy bills as heat loss is reduced.
This is a great time to invest when energy prices are soaring, for both gas and electricity. And as winter approaches, you?ll certainly want your home to stay as warm as possible, without expensive bills.
Noise reduction
If you live near a busy main road or train line, you could find noise a real problem when all you want is some peace and quiet.
uPVC doors will deflect the noise away from your home, rather than let it filter in. This could even be beneficial if there are road works nearby, or a neighbour is in the middle of construction work.
No maintenance
Older doors need repainting every few months and the aesthetic appeal is lost under wear and tear.
However, uPVC doors are great in interchangeable weather conditions and any dirt can be wiped off easily with a cloth.
What is triple glazing?
Triple glazing has just started to take a market share in the UK?s window industry. It?s a lot more popular in the rest of Europe, especially Scandinavia, for its improved energy efficiency.
As you?d expect from the name, triple glazing is simply three panes of glass, rather than the two you?d find in double glazing.
And just like double glazing, triple glazing will usually have argon inserted in the spacers, to further insulate your home from extreme heat and cold.
Triple glazing is more expensive than the traditional double glazing, but its added benefits are certainly worthwhile.
Benefits of triple glazing
With global warming becoming a much bigger problem in recent years, triple glazing definitely has a place in the UK window market.
In this country we?ll see hotter summers and colder winters over the next few years, and triple glazing is great for dealing with extreme temperatures.
You?ll save money on bills, reduce your carbon footprint and have a more comfortable home all year round.
Double glazed windows vary from pane to pane, depending on the size and shape of the window it needs to fit.
Another factor that comes into play is what type of gas is used between the two panes of glass. For example, argon is the most energy efficient but that boosts the cost of the double glazed unit.
Prices will also vary depending on what frame you choose to have the glass installed with. There are three main options for double glazing materials.? These are aluminium, wooden and uPVC frames.
Generally speaking, the average double glazing unit prices at around ?350. This may look expensive at first, but with all the benefits double glazing brings to your home, it is well worth the investment.
Double glazing will cut your carbon footprint on the planet, with less carbon emissions produced from heating your property.
This has a secondary advantage of saving you money on your annual heating bills, as heat loss in drastically reduced.
Double glazing also prevents unwanted noises from entering your home, which is great if you live near a busy main road.
So, why not enquire into how much double glazing will save you by receiving a free Quick Quote from one of our professional vetted double glazing companies.
Why is UPVC double glazing the most popular choice in the UK for new and replacement windows? Perhaps because it?s cheap, durable, low maintenance and has excellent heat retention properties. In fact UPVC is the only material used in the construction of double glazing that actually expands and contracts in keeping with the weather, ensuring brilliant thermal efficiency.
Another interesting fact about UPVC is that after polyethylene (polythene) and polypropylene (PP) it is the third most produced plastic in the world.
Constructed by repeating vinyl groups and replacing some one of them with a chloride group, in technical terms UPVC is a thermoplastic vinyl polymer. It is also an ideal material for framing double glazing units because it is surprising malleable and so can fit any design and shape of window required.
Biologically and chemically resistant and so not affected by corrosion, UPVC is also the first choice when manufacturing household sewage pipes as well as clothing, upholstery, hoses, flooring and inflatable structures.
To top it all off, this apparent wonder product is also completely recyclable as a window framing material ? need I say more?
uPVC and aluminium frames share similar arrangements:
When a double glazed sealed unit fails
A double glazing seal is said to have ?blown? when the perimeter has lost its integrity and moisture is getting inside and between the two panes of glass.
The levels of moisture in the air changes throughout the year, but even at the height of the summer, our breath still contains moisture.
As atmospheric pressure changes, the force will be put on the double glazing unit and moisture will be drawn in through the breach.
Listed below are some of the more common causes for premature failure in double glazed windows.
Glazing not sealed correctly during manufacture
It would only take a short period of time for a double glazing window to fail if it?s not sealed properly. It could be in as little as one year.
Windows not seated correctly on glazing blocks
The effect this has on premature failure varies from case to case. If draining was blocked as a result, it would be the worst case scenario. Even a small amount of water getting in would half the unit?s life expectancy.
Exterior seals not fitting correctly and letting water in
This has a very similar effect to the last topic. However, if some of the water breaching the perimeter contains washing up liquid, or similar, it will attack the seal. Anything stuck together will come apart quicker if immersed in water. This process will be even quicker if the water contains a solvent.
Flexing of the framework
Any pressure exacted on the framework will not do it any good. Conservatory double glazing is most at risk and they should always be fully reinforced if uPVC. This helps to protect the windows against flexing caused by wind loads.
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Sealants are great at preventing the penetration of noise, dust, air and gas and are usually used to fill in small openings. Typically, sealants are used for concrete and drywall, but are just as effective with other materials such as uPVC.
Fundamentally, no single silicone type should be used for everything. The problem is, their descriptions are all very similar and give little away. So which one is best for the job you need doing? Read on to find out.
The most common failures in joints occur when:
If you are planning to seal in a crack anywhere, ensure you consider all of the above. Before carrying out the job, make sure all the protective tape is removed, the surfaces are clean and that there is no residue. Foam packer rod should be used if the joints are wider than normal.
In the double glazing industry there are two common silicone types:
Modulus explained:
The modulus sealants are split into two sections ? high and low. A low modulus will stretch comfortably when put under a small force, providing elasticity and better movement. On the other hand, a high modulus sealant is very rigid.
If you?re trying to decide which modulus if right for you, take the desired movement into account. In the double glazing industry it is accepted that linear expansion and contraction of joints and plastics is high.
So, a low modulus would suit this task, as it provides the movement needed. There are sealants that can accommodate up to 50% of the normal joint width.
Cure explained
The two forms of cure available are acetoxy and neutral, but again their names give little away.
Essentially, the difference is how well that adapt to the material the sealant is used on.
Acetoxy cure
Acetoxy cure is the sealant most widely used as it is quick to harden and the more rigid of the two. However, it is said to have poor adhesion qualities and doesn?t ?stick? well to, glass, aluminium and polycarbonate.
Another downside is that acetoxy cure attacks and degrades polycarbonate. This is because of the chemical released.
Neutral cure
This type of sealant is the polar opposite of acetoxy and sticks well to many materials. It makes neutral cure great for aluminium and uPVC double glazing, as well as glass, stone and polycarbonate.
Acetoxy takes around 30 minutes to skin over, leavening a shinier finish. Depending on the temperature, thickness and humidity conditions, it can take one to five days to fully cure.
Neutral sealant is more expensive than acetoxy.
So which sealant should I buy?
Low modulus neutral cure silicone seems to be the most adaptable on the market. Its flexibility gives it great movement and has excellent adhesion with most materials.
This makes it the best silicone out there for windows, whether it be used for uPVC, wooden double glazing or aluminium double glazing.
For the job, the worst sealant has to be the high modulus acetic cure. Short term it may do the business, but it won?t take long to become ?unstuck?.
Unfortunately, just to put the spanner in the works, there is a low modulus acetoxy cure, so be sure not to buy the wrong type.
Tip: Make sure to check the movement capabilities when comparing sealants and prices. It should be marked as a %. Be aware that cheaper silicone sealants are bulked up by other materials, such as chalk power, making it an inferior product.
Bulked up sealants have a higher shrinkage rate and can be prone to discolouration and poor adhesion.
Not every tube will have the movement capability displayed, but you can always seek out the manufacturer?s data sheet.
The Kitemark? is a mark of trust in the UK, but also a symbol used worldwide to signify quality.
Used in the UK there are various types of Kitemark?, for example the old BSI 5713 which relates to the performance levels of a double glazing unit as a whole.
A more recent Kitemark? standard is BSI 6206. This specifies how glass used for building purposes must perform under impact, specifically relating to glass safety and aimed at reducing the risk of injury caused in accidents where glass is involved.
Not all glazing companies carry the Kitemark? although the majority do. Suppliers who display the mark prominently are drawing attention to their commitment to quality and safety since they must be licensed in order to use it.
When it comes to Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride or UPVC to you and me, as with many things in life, you get what you pay for.
Not to blind you with science or perhaps bore you to tears, when seen under a microscope the higher quality grades of UPVC, are far smoother than lower quality, more porous compounds. The benefits of this include a greater resistance to fading and damage from UV rays.
In commercial terms this means that that the quality of the UPVC used on double glazed windows and doors has a direct impact on life span and interestingly, your frames colour retention.
Renown for its easy maintenance, requiring little more than a quick wipe over with a damp cloth and some washing up liquid, new UPVC can also be colour matched with existing double glazing so that it blends seamlessly in with the style and keeping of your property.
When making any decisions about new UPVC windows and doors, keep in mind that if you want your investment in UPVC to last, it?s worth investing in higher grade materials at the installation stage.
