In the winter you waste a lot more money on energy bills to keep your home warm, and you?ll pay even more if your property?s not insulated properly.
In fact, in the colder months you could be spending up to 40% more on energy because the heat is escaping the house though the walls and windows.
In single glazed windows you may be losing 25% of your home?s heat. And the only way to improve this is to improve the unit itself and install double glazing.
Two panes of glass are sealed together, but with a small space in between to insert an energy efficient gas. Argon, xenon and krypton are the most common gases. This unit is then highly effective insulation.
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If you want all the benefits of double glazing, but you?re looking for something a little more quirky, then coloured uPVC windows are a fantastic option.
Firstly, you can select from a whole range of colours for one that suits your room and home. And there really are dozens of colours ? from lime green to sky blue.
Coloured uPVC windows can add something different and make your house stand out from the crowd.
Plus, if go for uPVC double glazing, you will reap all the rewards of added energy efficiency as you cut down your carbon footprint.
As the extra pane reduces heat loss, you?ll need less electricity to warm your home, which in turn cuts out unneeded carbon emissions. After all, it?s these emissions that pollute the atmosphere and help cause global warming.
With double glazing, you can also reduce the amount of noise entering your property. This is particularly useful if you live near a busy main road, or there are road works close by.
uPVC and aluminium frames share similar arrangements:
- Double glazing panes should sit on blocks within the uPVC frames ? not be in direct contact with. The two panes must be supported equally to prevent ?slippage?.
- The framework should have adequate drainage, either through holes hidden from view, or visible ?face? drains.
- There is good ventilation around the double glazing glass as air can circulate through the drainage holes.
- The double glazing is fitted with clip-on beads. A gasket, or double sided tape is on the other side prevents most water ingress.
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:
- The wrong sealant has been used for the job
- During the manufacturing stage, the joint width/depth has been made too big or small.
- The double glazing window joint seals have excessive movement
- A sealant of poor quality has been used.
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:
- Neutral cure /Acetoxy cure
- Modulus ? High/low
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.
- As they cure, acetoxy sealants release acetic acid. This smells similar to vinegar
- Whereas neutral sealants release alcohol as they cure. They have virtually no smell.
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.
