uPVC Windows Guide

Double glazing doors and windows made from uPVC are probably the most popular types of doors and windows on the market today.  There are various reasons for this and the main reasons can be dealt with under the headings of energy efficiency, cost effectiveness, security, safety and maintenance.

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.

There are various reasons why you may be considering window glass replacement.  On one simple level you may have a broken window that needs to be repaired.  There is no doubt that you cannot live in a house with young family members without some windows coming under attack from time to time and while you can fit window screens for additional protection most homeowners with young families will accept a certain amount of window breakages.

However it may not be window glass repair that concerns you, but rather that you want to upgrade your old windows and have decided to install either new glass in your existing windows or to fit completely new window units.

You may wish to do this simply to impress the neighbors, but it is more likely because you are concerned about the fact that your home is not as energy efficient as it should be and your single glazed windows are probably partially to blame.

Upgrading your windows will not only help to insulate you home but will also make your home a much more appealing prospect for potential buyers, should you decide to put your property on the market for sale or for letting.

Windows are one of the main causes of heat loss in the home and amazingly homeowners often insulate attics and floors of their houses before they turn to their windows in an effort to make their home more comfortable.  Heat loss through windows is usually the direct cause of not having adequate glazing in your windows.  Admittedly window frames have to be up to their job also, but by having quality double glazing in your window units you are well on the way to having a well-insulated property.

Replacement windows cost is never going to be low and you would do best to resign yourself to having to outlay a reasonable amount of money if you are considering installing replacement windows in your home.  This is a much bigger job than simply replacing the glass in your existing windows, as the frames have to be removed from the house before new windows can be installed.

However the benefits that come from having improved windows by either window glass replacement or window unit replacement are great indeed.  You can expect your heating oil, your gas or your electricity bills to come tumbling down when you are able to leave your heating off for longer periods because your house is energy efficient and warmer.

If you are in the business of DIY and are comfortable with home improvement projects then it could be possible for you to purchase a window glass replacement kit and change the glass in your own windows.  This has the obvious advantage of saving you money on paying an installer to come and do the job for you.

However if you are not at ease with the idea of doing this work yourself you would be advised to get in professionals and there are many window replacement companies out there that would be happy to advise you and to carry out the work on your home.

Having window screens fitted to your windows may be very important or less important, depending on where you live geographically.  If you live in a country that gets a lot of insects flying around at various (or perhaps all) times of the year, then one of the items that you will definitely want fitted are window screens.

In other countries an insect window screen is not something that many homeowners consider.  In the UK and Ireland for example, there are a few weeks of the year that flies and wasps can be annoying, but that time is quite short and most homeowners would not consider it worth putting up insect screens for the value they would get from them.

One of the main problems with insect screens for windows is that the mesh used to make them is so fine in order to stop insects flies and bugs from entering a home that they are quite delicate and get damaged easily.

Screens can get broken by heavy handling, by someone swatting at a bug with an object and hitting the screen, the frames can get out of shape or the mesh can simply lose its tautness over time.

In these more modern times, homeowners are more conscious of the health risks that bugs and flies can introduce and therefore they are anxious that they have screens for their windows that are in place and also in good repair.  Window screens can be fitted to timber or uPVC windows, or any other window types.

Fibreglass has become the material of choice for many homeowners that want to install new screens or to instigate window screen repair.  This material is not expensive, is not difficult to operate and does not damage as easily as other materials used for making screens. It can be purchased in rolls and quite a few homeowners use it to carry out their own window screen replacement.

Aluminum is another material that is often used because it is hard wearing and will not rust easily.  It can be coated in different coatings that have a color tone, which can make the screens for your home look more attractive.

Even though property owners in many countries do not need insect window screens, they may well need screens to improve the window security of their home.  Window security screens are not dissimilar to insect screens to look at.  However the mesh in a security screen will be made of a strong steel, instead of a light material.

In areas where both types of screens are in use, burglars can often be unsure which type of screen is in place until they try to break in.  If the screen cuts easily they are dealing with an insect window screen.  If not, they are going to have a much tougher job.

Security screens also allow fresh air and light to enter into the home and most homeowners will leave them in place once they have had them installed.  They have instant removal capability from the inside that family member can operate in times of an emergency.

So whether you want to keep out insects or burglars, there are window screens to suit you available from window screen suppliers locally or online.  You can purchase these insect or security screens in their entirety and have them repaired professionally, or you can get into making your own replacement window screens.  For health and security reasons you should get some price comparisons if you feel that you and your family could benefit from the installation of these screens.

When you first install uPVC windows, you reckon that they will be there for ever. However time passes and certain parts of your uPVC windows and doors begin to show sign of wear – uPVC window handles, seals, damaged frames, etc – there are many reasons why you may decide to change your windows.  However with some proper research into handles for windows you may find that you can get very good quality replacements which will mean you may be able to put off replacing your windows for a bit longer.

Wear and tear may not be the only reason that you want rid of your old window handles or even your uPVC door handles.  Up to date design has meant that newer style of handles are of a more ergonomic design and more functional, but the older types of handles have can cause a variety of problems.  They may not be attractive to look at, can be awkward to use and even not very hygienic (older models tend to have a lot of angles and nooks which collect bacteria).

In addition to this they can be a risk to the security of the home, as homeowners invariably lose the keys for the handle locks.  This can also cause a safety risk for the inhabitants if windows are kept locked and there is an emergency in the home.  another security measure homeowners employ in their homes is the installation of security window screens and these also have to be easily removed from the inside.

If you have tired of your uPVC window handles, if they are damaged, or if you simply want to upgrade the security and safety measures in your home, you can consider getting new handles for your existing uPVC windows.  If you wish to do this yourself you will need to source compatible handles and this can be tricky enough to do.  There are a huge range of these handles on the market and many have different characteristics.

Types of handles may fall into different categories such as Espag uPVC window handles, Cockspur handles and Tilt n Turn handles.  Firstly you should identify the manufacturer of the locking mechanism by looking at the ‘lock strip’ (which you can see when the door or window is open).

When you have discovered the make and the model of your handles and locks and contact the manufacturer who will be only to happy to supply you with updated and much more attractive versions of your existing handles.

Many homeowners put up with their existing window handles, mainly perhaps because they do not realize that they can change them.  Major uPVC manufacturers are reporting that they are now replacing more first generation uPVC windows than those that are made of aluminum or wood.

In many cases this is not because the windows are no longer able to operate, but because some parts of the unit, such as the handles, have ceased to function properly.  So it does pay to source replacement uPVC window handles and to get someone to fit them for you, (which is not an impossible task for you to carry out yourself if you have a mind to).

By installing new uPVC window handles you could be giving your self a few more years of grace, before you have to get down to the business of replacing your uPVC windows.