uPVC windows have become the market leader in recent years when hard pressed homeowners have had to make a decision as to which window types they should install for financial reasons.  this is because windows made for uPVC are often able to be priced more competitively than those made from timber. Because timber is a natural product the financial vaguries involved in getting it from the forest to the manufacturing floor often mean that windows made from quality hardwood are more expensive to purchase than those made from uPVC or aluminium. 

Timber as a material is very versatile to use and with a window manufacturer that is competent you can produce almost any window style that you could wish for.  Gone also are the days that because you have timber windows installed in your home that you had to be willing to accept single galzing as part of the package.  Modern timber hardwood windows can be fitted with superior glazing, which can be doubleor triple glazed and which will assist your home in maintaining a superb thermal performance.

Some window manufacturers cite the fact that timber needs to be regularly maintained in order to help it to remain weather proof as a disadvantage.  However, while it can be advantageous to not have to paint uPVC windows and doors once they have been installed in your home, it also means that you have to be committed to the colour that your windows are when they are installed for their lifetime.  As you know, all of our tastes can change over time and with wooden windows you have the option to paint, restain or varnish your windows different colours over time.

Timber windows that have been manufactured to a modern standard are going to be every bit as secure as their aluminium or uPVC counterparts.  with modern, quality locking systems and toughened double or triple glazing, would be intruders will not have an easy time trying to break in through properly fastened quality hardwood windows in your home.

So whether yo have an older type residence which is in need of replacement windows or are planning to build a contemporary style residence, you should give serious consideration to installing windows which are manufactured from quality hardwood timber.  They will add quality and style to your home and will help you to avoid the use of non-natural materials in the construction of your home. 

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Energy Efficiency:

Quality uPVC windows and doors are very efficient units that will enable you to keep your home warm and comfortable in the wintertime and cooler in the summer months.  With doors such as uPVC patio doors you can have a lot of light entering through the door due to large sheets of glazing, and yet the door will still be thermally efficient.  uPVC is a more thermally efficient product than timber or aluminium, the other two most used materials in double glazed windows.

By installing quality upvc double glazing in your home not only will you have a more comfortable place to live, but the running costs on your property will be significantly lower as you will have less need for central heating and air conditioning.

Cost Effectiveness:

uPVC windows and doors that are double glazed are not inexpensive and if you are considering installing them it will be one of the bigger home improvement jobs that you will undertake in your home. However given the various benefits that can be accrued by having these units instead of single glazed windows, the initial uPVC double glazing cost has to be considered over the lifetime of the windows and doors and the saving that can be made over that period.

The fact that there are many window and door manufacturers looking for your business means that with proper research you can purchase quality products at very good value. There are options for you to carry out DIY double glazing if you have some experience and talent at DIY and in this way you could save quite a bit of money on installation costs of the windows.

Security and Safety:

Security in the home is a much more important topic than it was in previous years and decades.  The days of homeowners leaving keys in their doors while they slept are long gone and with many homeowners away from their properties during the day, it is important that their homes are secure and safe from burglars.  Front doors for homes especially have to look and be very secure, but it is also advisable to have solid uPVC back doors and side doors also.

uPVC double glazed windows and doors are known for their strength in both the frames and the glazing.  It is very difficult to break through a uPVC frame and especially one that has steel strengthening rods added and quality uPVC window handles fitted.  Double glazing is also very hard to break through or remove without creating a lot of disturbance, which is something that a thief does not want.  Some homeowners for additional security opt to fit window screens over their windows also.  If your uPVC doors and windows are properly locked and secure while you are away from your property, a burglar will most likely move on to an easier target without even trying to gain access to your home.  Some homeowners for additional security opt to fit window screens over their windows also.

Maintenance:

Timber windows are very attractive and timber can become even more beautiful with age.  Unfortunately windows made from timber have the disadvantage that homeowners have to constantly maintain them in order to stop them becoming rotted or warped by inclement weather.  If a timber window does get water damaged and either swells, or bends out of shape, it will no longer perform as an efficient unit.

uPVC products such as doors, windows and uPVC cladding on the other hand are classed as maintenance free, given that the uPVC in the frames will not ever need to be painted during its lifetime.  This is a factor that attracts a lot of attention from hard working homeowners, who would rather spend their limited free time with their families than having to maintain windows in order to keep them performing properly.

Under the above headings uPVC windows and doors will either outperform or equal timber or aluminium windows and doors.  Taking the headings as a package it is usually very unlikely to find one of the other two window types that are able to provide the same performance and quality as windows and doors made from uPVC at the same cost competitive price.

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As with any product on the market, there are always questions regarding the effectiveness of PVC as a product and its possible detrimental effects on the environment.  The following points will hopefully answer some of the queries that homeowners may have.

1.    Value: The PVC in a PVC window will outlast most of the materials in other windows and performs better than them.  When it comes therefore to getting value for money with uPVC window prices you are gaining on two fronts.  Because PVC windows are long lasting you will not have to change them for a long time and because they are very energy efficient your fuel bills will be lower over the lifetime of the windows and subsequently you will save money.
2.    Durability: About 90% of the applications PVC is used for are what would be called ‘long life’ applications.  This description aptly applies to PVC windows and doors and also to such products as uPVC cladding.  Some studies have shown that in relation to windows and their profiles, 40 years is the projected lifespan.  This is more than any manufacturers will give a warranty for – in fact most will only cover the windows for ten to twenty years – but that is to be expected.  uPVC windows and doors will survive well against corrosion, inclement, prolonged weather and impact damage.
3.    Good for the environment: Advanced production technology has meant that the resin manufacture for PVC now can save a lot of energy in the production of PVC and this means less greenhouse gases are being produced when manufacturing companies are producing PVC.
4.    Part-produced from renewable resources: About half of the ‘feedstock’ required to produce PVC comes from salt.  As salt is abundant and renewable resource, PVC doors and windows are being produced from ‘feedstock’ that can be renewed and the same cannot be said for some other commonly used building materials.
5.    Low maintenance: PVC or vinyl windows will require little or no maintenance throughout their lifespan.  This is a fact that is both beneficial to the homeowner and to the environment, as for example, other window types will require painting every few years, which will produce undesirable paint emissions.  Over the lifetime of a timber window for example, a homeowner could have to paint the window possibly a dozen times.  This can lead to a large accumulation of emissions and leftover paint, brushes and paint tins that all have to be disposed of.
6.    Recyclable: Improvements are being made every day worldwide with regard to recycling PVC.  There have been various initiatives introduced  by governments involving PVC manufacturers and the building industry and these initiatives have seen a dramatic rise in the ability of  PVC recycling.  Vinyl2010 is one such major voluntary initiative taken by the PVC industry, which looks at all parts of the PVC cycle, raises awareness of issues that need to be addressed within the industry and promotes action where necessary.
7.    Tested fire performance: Due to the fact that PVC has a chlorine base, it is an inherently flame retardant material, which does not easily catch fire.  For example the ignition temperature of PVC is circa 390 degrees celcius as against an ignition temperature of circa 250 degrees celcius for timber.
8.    High Standards of manufacture: Manufacturing PVC is a process that, like most processes of production, is strictly monitored to ensure that consumer health and welfare is protected.  Emissions that are produced during the production of PVC have to be monitored by the Environmental Protection Agencies of the various countries involved.
9.    Versatility: PVC is a highly versatile product that can be used to produce a PVC window of almost any style.  Whether a homeowner requires PVC sash windows,  casement windows or bay windows does not matter – all of these window types are easily manufactured and marketed at a competitive price.

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