By purchasing plastic windows, we rely on their long and trouble-free operation. I want to avoid unpleasant surprises in the form of skewed frames or cracks in them after a few months or years. A well-chosen profile for plastic windows is a guarantee of strength and durability of the entire structure. What types of profile exist, how to choose the right one and what to look for?
Types of profile for plastic windows
GOST 30673-99 specifies the profile classification according to its design features.
By class (by wall thickness)
According to the thickness of the outer and inner walls, the profiles are divided into the following classes:
- A - the thickness of the outer walls from 2.8 mm, internal - from 2.5. The best indicators of strength and thermal insulation among all types.
- B - outer walls from 2.5, inner - from 2.0. Compared to class A, they retain heat worse, are more prone to deformation.
- C - all profiles that do not fit the parameters of classes A and B. There are no strict requirements for them. For window frames in apartments, this type is undesirable.
In non-residential industrial premises, frames from the so-called object profile are often installed. It is thin, poorly retains heat, easily deformed and therefore not suitable for an apartment. It happens that unscrupulous companies offer cheap windows made of such material. The “objekt” marking on the protective film will help to recognize the fraud. On other grounds, it is problematic to determine a fake at first glance.
By width
The profile has different widths:
- 58 mm - the most common, most often placed in apartments and houses.
- 70 mm - profile width for windows in high-rise buildings or buildings located in cold climatic zones.
- 90 mm - premium class with the best sound insulation and insulation characteristics. Piece products, which are not in the assortment of most companies that install plastic windows.
By number of cameras
The number of air chambers in it depends on the thickness of the profile:
- The 58mm has a maximum of three cameras.
- In a product with a thickness of 70 mm, there can be from three to five.
- With a width of 90 mm, the norm is six chambers.
The more internal chambers, the higher the thermal insulation and noise reduction performance. But in reality, the difference between frames, for example, with a 3- or 4-chamber profile is negligible.
The corporate profile is homogeneous in structure and color. To verify its authenticity, look for the factory marking on the inside. In addition to the name of the company, there should be numbers indicating the shift number, date of manufacture and other data related to production.
A few words about double-glazed windows
An important aspect is the number of chambers between the glasses in a double-glazed window. Do not confuse them with profile cameras.
- For glazing unheated premises (balconies, summer terraces), single-chamber double-glazed windows are used.
- For living rooms, a double package is optimal - three glasses separated by two air chambers.
- In cold winters, three-chamber structures are used. They have the best thermal insulation performance, but they let in less sunlight, and they weigh more. It makes sense to install such windows in the northern regions.
About all the intricacies of choosing the elements of a plastic window - profile, double-glazed windows, seals, fittings - read here.
What other profiles are there for PVC windows
In addition to the profile from which the frame is made, other types of window are required to install the window:
- reinforcing (mandatory element of a metal-plastic window);
- connective;
- additional, or expansion;
- pedestal;
- starting (for mounting plastic slopes).
It is also worth considering separately color profile models.
Reinforcing profile for plastic windows
This is a metal insert inside a plastic frame.It increases the rigidity of the structure, since the plastic has low elasticity. Without it, the frame will expand in the summer under the influence of temperature, which will lead to jamming of the sashes - they will simply no longer fit into the allotted opening. In winter, gaps are formed between the elements of the window due to their narrowing.
In Russian climatic conditions, where there are significant temperature differences between summer and winter, only reinforced frames are used.
Structurally, the reinforcing profile is a contour made of galvanized stainless steel. There are two types of contours:
- Closed, or O-shaped.
- Open, U- or G-shaped.
There are several important points to note:
- Manufacturers sometimes refer to O-shaped reinforcement as "warm". However, this is not the case: the thermal conductivity of metal is higher than that of plastic. Therefore, the more it is in the frame, the worse it will retain heat.
- O-shaped reinforcement is called closed, but to compensate for the temperature change in the dimensions of the metal in the circuit, a technological gap is necessarily made.
- A closed-loop frame is stronger, while an open-loop frame is lighter and warmer.
According to GOST, the wall thickness of the reinforcing profile must be at least 1.2 mm for standard systems and at least 1.5 mm for non-ferrous and frost-resistant structures (painted plastic heats up more).
Connection profile
Designed for joining individual frames that make up a single glazing structure, which are mounted at a certain angle. It is needed if it is necessary to glaze a complex broken structure with large windows: a winter garden, a loggia or a partition.
Depending on the required location of the elements to be connected, there are types of connecting profile:
- With connection angle 0˚.
- With docking at a right angle - 90˚.
- With a variable angle of rotation, or simply rotary.
- Firms producing docking elements unify them with the products of well-known companies (KBE, Rehau, Veka), so it is not difficult to choose the right profile for the frames.
Additional (expansion) profile
It is used to increase the size of the window frame, when the thickness of its plastic part is not enough, taking into account the insulation or decoration of the walls or ceiling. Most often, such an element is used for glazing balconies and loggias.
Important! It is strongly not recommended to use an expansion profile only to fit the frame to the dimensions of the window opening. No matter how competently an additional element is selected and installed, in terms of thermal conductivity and strength, such a design will still yield to a monolithic frame.
Additional profiles are produced with a width of 2 to 10 cm. The grooves in them are arranged in such a way that parts can be combined to obtain the desired height: simply insert one into the other. For example, to expand the frame by 8 cm, two 4 cm thick extensions are used. The standard element length is 6 meters.
For an insulated balcony, an extension is selected that is identical in quality to the main frame, including with the same reinforcement. Without it, the window unit will not have the necessary rigidity.
Despite the fact that the dobor is fixed on the frame, snapping into the grooves, additional fastening to it with self-tapping screws is required. Without this, after a few months, a gap forms at the junction.
Stand (installation) profile
A detail that is often overlooked when installing plastic windows. If a substitute profile is included in the scope of supply, it is usually already attached to the frame. Its functions:
- Protects the frame from damage during transport.
- Strengthens the structure and prevents it from freezing in the lower part, where the window block adjoins the wall.
- Provides reliable fastening of a window sill and ebb.
Base element dimensions:
- The standard length is 6 meters.
- Width - from 2 to 4 cm.
- Height - from 2 to 3 cm.
Read more about the choice and installation of the stand profile. here.
Starting profile for slopes of plastic windows
Required for base mounting plastic slopes and linking them together.This is a kind of plastic bracket mounted at the attachment points.
The variety of their types is due to the methods of mounting panels. The types of the starting profile got their names from the Latin letters that their sections look like:
- I-variety. It can be installed in any position so that the long central shelf is perpendicular to the surface on which the slope is mounted. Plastic panels are attached to a short profile shelf.
- The F-variety has two short shelves and one long one. Serves not only for fixing slope panels, but also covers the junction. With it, there is no need for a decorative corner.
- L-profile is the most versatile and popular. It is installed perpendicular to the plane of the window, with a wide shelf to the wall. The narrow transverse part adjoins the window frame, and the strip parallel to the opening masks the junction of the frame and the slope.
- The U-variant is very similar to the previous one, but has two wide shelves, which allows the element to cover a wider seam.
These starting elements are attached to self-tapping screws or glue. With their help, it is easy to mount plastic slopes without the complicated procedure of leveling the window opening with plaster.
color profile
Many people do not like the usual white plastic windows precisely because of their similar design. However, there has long been a way out of this situation: colored plastic windows. Technologies allow you to get a profile of any color, but shades of brown are the most successful: this is how different types of wood are imitated.
Get products of the desired color in several ways:
- Bulk lamination - color is added at the manufacturing stage, and a protective film is applied to the surface of the element to protect it from sunlight. The cost of such a window is from 14 to 21 thousand rubles.
- Film lamination - the white profile is covered with a multilayer durable film that imitates expensive wood species. The film can also be applied to the ends of frames, as well as to fittings, such as hinges. It costs less than the previous option: from 9 to 17 thousand rubles. outside the window.
- Coloring with acrylic paints. The most budgetary way: from 7 to 18 thousand rubles.
- Application of colored plexiglass melt using an extruder. From 15 to 20 thousand rubles.
Manufacturers of profiles for PVC windows: rating
A variety of window profiles makes it difficult to choose. On the one hand, I want the quality assurance that well-known manufacturers give. On the other hand, it is undesirable to overpay for the popularity of the brand.
All brands, with the exception of Salamander, are manufactured in Russia according to Western standards and on imported equipment. Therefore, the quality of products of the same brand, produced at different factories, may differ slightly.
Manufacturer rating based on reviews:
- Veka. A German company, profile systems are manufactured at factories in the Moscow region, Novosibirsk and Khabarovsk. There is an ISO 9001 certificate, the products have been awarded the German RAL quality mark. The buyer can choose from 6 types of profiles with 3, 4, 5 and 6 chambers with a width of 58–90 mm.
- Rehau. A company from Germany has been producing profiles in Russia since 2002 at a certified plant in Gzhel. The leader in the number of products produced per year, offers 7 models with 3, 5 and 6 chambers and an installation width of 60, 70 and 86 mm.
- KBE. German company with factories in Voskresensk and Khabarovsk. 7 modifications of profile systems, there are 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-chamber options, width - 58, 70, 88 and 127 mm. At the same level of quality, KBE frames will cost about a quarter less than Veka and Rehau products. For the best window assembly companies, the manufacturer issues a Certificate of Official Partner.
- MONTBLANC. The manufacturer is an international company with 4 factories in the CIS. Produces 7 models from 58 to 120 mm wide with 3, 4, 5 and 6 chambers.
- salamander. The entire profile is produced only in Germany, so it costs more than competitors with Russian factories. It has an attractive design, there are 3 types of profile systems with a width of 60 and 76 mm.
- Grain.Domestic manufacturer with a factory in Ufa. In the line - 6 types of profiles with a width of 58 and 70 mm with 3 and 5 chambers. The most famous models are Vector70 and Vector58.
- Exprof. A large Russian company that manufactures a profile adapted to the conditions of Siberia using German and Austrian equipment. It offers 9 types of profile systems: 2-chamber for balconies and 4-, 5- and 6-chamber systems with a width of 70, 101 and 118 mm. 4 types have a built-in ventilation system.
- Proplex. A Russian company with a full production cycle from profile manufacturing to final assembly. The structures were designed jointly with Austrian developers. The range includes 6 models with 3, 4 and 5 chambers with a width of 58–127 mm.
- Deceuninck. The Belgian concern with a factory in the Moscow region produces a profile of 5 types, 3-, 5- and 6-chamber 60–84 mm wide.
- Kaleva. Moscow profile manufacturer and window assembler rolled into one. Offers 2 classic models and 3 designer models with the same installation width of 70 mm and 4 to 6 chambers.
- wintech. The Turkish company, which makes profiles and accessories for them on German equipment, has a certificate of conformity. The line includes 6 models with a width of 50-80 mm and the number of chambers from 3 to 6.
When choosing, beware of fakes and buy only from trusted sellers. A high-quality profile is the key to the reliability of a plastic window.
