Which profile for plastic windows is better??

With so many options available, selecting the ideal profile for plastic windows can be overwhelming. Every profile type has different advantages, so it’s critical to know what to look for in order to choose the best option for your house.

Plastic window profiles are available in a range of sizes and shapes to accommodate a variety of requirements and tastes. They are essential in determining the window’s overall appearance, energy efficiency, and longevity. There is a profile to suit every need and taste, ranging from luxurious choices to more affordable options.

Think about things like weather resistance, noise reduction, and thermal insulation when choosing a profile. A well-selected profile can save energy costs and greatly improve the comfort of your living area. Furthermore, the appropriate profile can enhance the visual appeal of your house and harmonize with its architectural design.

Having a thorough understanding of the various profile types and their unique benefits will enable you to make an informed decision. Selecting the best plastic window profile is essential to establishing a functional and comfortable living space, whether you’re building from scratch or remodeling your current home.

Profile Type	Advantages
Reinforced Profile	Extra strength, better security
Multi-chamber Profile	Improved insulation, energy efficiency
Soundproof Profile	Reduces noise from outside
Narrow Profile	More glass area, modern look
Wide Profile	Greater stability, suitable for large windows

Types of profiles and their classification

The profile is the primary structural component of the doors and frame. It determines the window’s strength attributes and service life in addition to how beautiful people think it is. Polyvinyl chloride profiles made to European standard EN 12608 SR and GOST 30673-99 are categorized based on multiple factors.

1. The external walls’ thickness. The profile consists of a system of internal partitions within a closed, hollow structure. Cost, strength, and durability are the three primary consumer attributes of a window that are contingent upon the thickness of the walls that make up the structure.

A plastic profile’s internal and external walls are distinguished by the European standard. All of the profile’s invisible exterior walls in a window that has already been installed are considered internal walls. It follows naturally from the first definition that the front walls of the window, which are visible from the inside of the room as well as from the street, are the external (outer) walls (see photo).

Three classes of profiles are identified based on the thickness of polyvinyl chloride in the external and internal walls (the Russian standard is more strict in this regard):

• "A" — thickness of external walls>= 2.8 mm, internal >= 2.5 mm according to the European standard (minimum 3.0 mm at the external wall according to GOST), which ensures a high level of window strength, the best heat and sound insulation;
• "IN" — external walls have a thickness of 2.5 mm, internal walls — from 2.0 mm (in line with GOST). A profile of this class retains heat 10-15% worse, is 12-17% less resistant to various types of deformation, and blocks street noise 10-20% worse;
• "WITH" — the European standard and GOST do not impose certain requirements for this class of profile. Windows for non-industrial facilities are mainly made from it. A number of companies, meeting the requirements of one of the parameters of class B, which is important, make economy class windows for the population (in general this is a class C profile).

Dishonest window installers convince clients to install an "object" profile (class C; no single parameter corresponds to classes A and B) meant for non-residential premises by highlighting the low cost; in actuality, the price is significantly lower than the cost profile B but nearly twice as high as the real one.

These windows quickly distort and lose heat. Using a caliper to take measurements is necessary because it is challenging to visually distinguish such a profile from a standard one (class B or A). Inscriptions on the "object" of the protective film can also be used to assess the suggested profile’s quality.

Note: The profile belongs to a specific class only if both parameters satisfy the standard requirements, and the corresponding certificate must attest to this. It is preferable to decline the deal if no documentation attesting to the quality is provided.

Customers can select the right plastic for their windows with greater ease if they are aware of the profile classes.

2. In terms of temperature zones. There are nations with extremely hot, moderate, and frigid climates in Europe and Asia. The current circumstances were considered by window manufacturers when creating a unique product line for each zone. In Europe, it is associated with January, which is also the hottest month in Russia.

The profiles generated could be the following, depending on January’s typical temperature:

• lightweight version – for countries with hot climates, where the average temperature of the coldest month remains positive (must withstand short-term temperature drops down to -5 degrees Celsius);
• standard version – for a temperate climate zone with an average temperature of -20 o C in January (maximum permissible negative temperature -45 degrees Celsius);
• frost-resistant – for the Far North, where temperatures drop to minus 55 degrees Celsius.

Russia produces the final two kinds in large quantities. The only company that produces lightweight windows is "Krauss," a Russian company. Krasnodar) – shuts down the whole Russian south.

3. The ability to withstand mechanical loads. Impact resistance is used to categorize the profile into classes I and II. A special striker weighing 1.0 kg must fall from a height of 1.0 m onto Class I PVC at a plastic temperature of minus 10 degrees Celsius. The fall height is raised to 1.5 meters for class II.

This classification enables the determination of the proper location of the internal partitions, which counteract the outer walls’ deflection into the structure under mechanical stress, as well as the behavior of the plastic at lower temperatures (plastics are known to become brittle in severe frosts).

Consumer properties of profiles that you need to pay attention to

Which PVC window profile should I select to make it airtight, quiet, warm, and unhackable while also avoiding contact with scammers? This will be made easier by the primary traits.

System width

The width of the profile structure is the first thing you should look for. How warm and comfortable an apartment or wooden house will be depends on it. It can be challenging for customers who are unfamiliar with plastic windows to comprehend how the width of the sash and frame affects the room’s comfort. Let us attempt to clarify.

Installed in the window sash is a double-glazed window with multiple glasses fixed around the periphery and a PVC profile frame. Chambers are the air spaces that exist between the glasses. Standard windows just contain air; the "Premium" segment improves every aspect of the double-glazed window by pumping inert gas into the chambers.

We already know from our physics classes in school that air conducts heat poorly and that sound is poorly conducted by glass that has an air pocket in it. Thus, the more cameras there are in a double-glazed window and, by extension, the more glasses there are in the room, the cozier it is to be there. The most common profile width offered by window manufacturers is 58 mm, which is necessary for single-chamber window installation. You need at least 70mm for two cameras.

Windows with three or even four chambers are available for the Far North, due to its extreme weather. However, this calls for the right profile width—90 mm for three chambers and 110–120 mm for four. This kind of product is under the "Premium" category. It is not advised to install these windows on balconies or loggias due to their heavy weight.

Number of profile cameras

Two camera-equipped units make up the window design. One is the double-glazed window that was previously mentioned. The profile itself is the second. hollow silhouette. There are partitions inside the profile to add structural strength, secure fittings, and improve the degree of sound and heat insulation. They produce hollow volumes that are referred to as chambers. The window performs better the more of them there are. The jumpers’ locations are determined mathematically; each one serves a distinct purpose.

Three-chamber profiles—the smallest number of cameras that can be used—and seven-chamber profiles are available for purchase. Five-chamber models are the most common. They provide the best value in terms of both cost and quality.

Although it is challenging to evaluate the caliber of the samples the installer provides, you can pay attention to the small details that add up to a lot:

• The company logo, date and place of manufacture applied to the protective tape will with a 90% probability confirm the origin of the product;

• The surface texture will also help: for high-quality windows, the surface of the plastic should be perfectly smooth. Graininess indicates the Chinese origin of the product or Russian handicraft production;
• The applied paint should be uniform in color and without streaks.

Profile Manufacturers Rating

You can determine which profile for plastic windows is better by looking at manufacturer ratings. In this instance, the product’s popularity, price, strength, and levels of sound and heat protection can all be taken into consideration when determining the rating.

The position of certain brands is not always accurately reflected in general ratings because it is challenging to quantify the different consumer attributes of a given product. The majority of them are arbitrary.

Here, there’s also a commercial component to consider. When ranking products based on a single indicator, it can be challenging for some manufacturers to purchase spots in the overall rankings from websites. Therefore, we will create two types of ratings: for global brands and Russian manufacturers, so that the editors of the portal won’t be suspected of using a commercial approach to ranking windows.

Rating of the world"s best manufacturers of plastic windows

Top ranked sites include KBE, Rehau, Century, Salamander, and Mont Blanc. Everything is dependent upon the indicators used as a foundation. However, subtle differences set these manufacturers apart, and it might turn out that a specific buyer isn’t a good fit for the top Rehau. Because they all deserve to be in the top spot, we will evaluate these companies’ products without giving them a particular ranking.

Salamander

Since there is no plant in Russia, its popularity on the Russian market is lower than that of all the companies listed in the rating. There is no manufacturer that technical indicators cannot outperform.

Yields profiles between 60 and 76 mm wide:

• Design 2D – 60 mm, number of chambers 3.5 (4);
• Design 3D – 76 mm, number of cameras 4.5 (5);
• Streamline – 76 mm, 5 cameras.

• excellent design;
• European quality control;
• control of sales points (dealers) throughout Europe.

The sole drawback is its exorbitant price, which is 35–40% more than that of Veka and Rehau.

KBE

A well-known German corporation that operates factories in Khabarovsk and Voskresensk, Russia. With a few exceptions, experts could not find any differences in the quality of windows from those made by rival companies.

Be aware that the company has devised a brilliant marketing ruse in which it bestows an "Official Partner Certificate" on the top window assemblers. However, this certificate offers no guarantees to the customer regarding the windows’ quality.

With a width ranging from 58 to 127 mm, the factories provide the customer with a pretty impressive line of profiles:

• “Engine” and “Etalon” – 58 mm, 3 cameras;
• "KVE-Expert" – 70 mm, 5 cameras;
• “KVE-88” – 88 mm, 6 cameras;
• "KVE-Expert+" – 127 mm with 5 chambers in the frame and sash and 4 in the impost.

Among the benefits, it is important to mention:

• democratic price – products are available to mass consumers;
• high quality;
• launch of the greenline production line.

Both the expert community and customer reviews did not point out any drawbacks.

MONT BLANC

Austrian producer of reasonably priced, superior goods. Following the establishment of a plant in the Moscow area, Russian consumers are familiar with Elektrostal.

Creates a range of seven different profile types that range in width from 58 to 120 mm:

• “Logic” – 58 mm, 3-chamber;
• "Tempo 60" – 60 mm, 5-chamber;
• “Nord 70” – 70 mm, 5-chamber;
• "City 120" – 120 mm, 5-chamber.

• budget price;
• long period of operation without loss of consumer properties;
• wide range of produced profiles.

Among the drawbacks are the marketing department’s shortcomings, as the company hasn’t tried to get an ISO certificate for the Russian plant’s products in 15 years.

VEKA

Among the sales leaders is a German company that has been in business for fifty years. constructed the VEKA Rus plant in the vicinity of Moscow. Creates colored and white profiles that range in width from 58 to 90 mm and resist yellowing when exposed to UV light.

There are several models in the profile line that range in width from 58 to 90 mm.

• “Euroline” – 58 mm, 3-chamber;
• “Proline” – 70 mm, 4-chamber;
• “Swigline” – 82 mm, 5-chamber;
• "Alphline" – 90 mm, 6-chamber;
• "Softline 82" – 82 mm with 7 cameras.

• Consistently high quality;
• large model range.

The fact that consumers greatly overpay for the brand is a major drawback of the product; Russian-made goods are essentially the same price as German-made goods.

REHAU

An additional German business with a wealth of expertise in the manufacture of plastic windows. The company was founded with middle-class consumers in mind. This distinction is no longer relevant because products to suit every taste can be found for any budget. follows an intriguing strategy: it keeps prices on the market at the same level as its primary rival, Veka.

The business opened its own plant in Gzhel, Russia, in 2002. There are four widths of profiles: 60 mm, 70 mm, 80 mm, and 86 mm.

• “Blitz” (economy class products) – 60 mm, 3 cameras;
• “Brillant-Design” – 70 and 80 mm, 5 and 6 cameras;
• "Geneo" – 86 mm, 6 cameras.

The manufacturer’s advantages and disadvantages are an exact replica of those of its rival, the Veka company (see above).

Rating of the best Russian manufacturers of plastic windows

Russian-only businesses are relatively new, but they have already succeeded in competing with Western manufacturers; Russian window sales are rising annually. Among the greatest:

Kaleva

The only business in the nation operating a full cycle, from profile production to customer window installation, is a Russian company operating under a Finnish name. This has advantages as well as disadvantages for the business.

• Plus: by producing and installing a very high quality profile independently, the manufacturer significantly reduces the price of the finished window.
• Disadvantage: in the regions they are not ready to work at the level of the parent company – most installed windows do not withstand the warranty period and have to be reinstalled again. The company is not yet eager to somehow influence the work of its regional centers, leaving customers alone with dealers.

PANORAMA

The St. Petersburg-based company has twenty years of experience. Experts and customers agree that the product quality is among the best; it can readily rival German brands. The profiles are beautifully designed, offer excellent noise and heat insulation, and have the perfect amount of rigidity.

But the effects of the Soviet past are becoming apparent; the management of the company treats customers poorly and gives advertising little thought. The company has the potential to become Russia’s leading manufacturer of PVC windows.

PROPLEX

Proplex is a young Russian company that is overtaking the industry veterans quickly. Windows with profiles ranging in width from 58 to 127 mm that are specifically made for Russian conditions are reasonably priced and have excellent consumer attributes.

Two unpleasant moments prevent access to the international arena and further market expansion in Russia:

• backward profile design;
• lack of an international ISO quality certificate.

Selecting the StroyGuru portal

All of the editors on the portal agreed that Rehau was the best global brand. Our decision is easily explained: this company has made it possible for window production to undergo revolutionary changes, as the patented material known as "Rau-fipro" is the result of their innovative work.

Only two companies’ windows—"Mont Blanc" and "Panorama"—would be personally installed by portal staff members. Given that the quality of the aforementioned companies is comparable, there’s no reason to pay for a brand. The votes were split equally.

Selecting the appropriate profile for your plastic windows is essential to guarantee longevity, energy economy, and general home comfort. The kind of material, the quantity of chambers, and the caliber of the seals are a few things to take into account. Every profile type has advantages of its own, so it’s critical to match the features of the profile with your needs.

For instance, multi-chamber profiles are great at reducing noise and providing insulation, which makes them perfect for homes in colder or noisier climates. However, modern designs that prioritize natural light maximization and aesthetics may be better suited for slimmer profiles. Furthermore, superior seals can greatly improve the efficiency of your windows by avoiding drafts and preserving a comfortable interior temperature.

The ideal profile for your plastic windows ultimately comes down to your unique needs and the climate where you live. Speaking with an expert can give you insightful information and support you in making a wise choice. Investing in the appropriate window profile will raise the value of your house, improve your quality of life, and increase energy efficiency.

It’s important to take cost, durability, and insulation into account when selecting the ideal profile for plastic windows. Variations exist in the energy efficiency, soundproofing, and weather resistance of different profiles. Multi-chambered profiles can be more costly even though they typically offer superior strength and insulation. To determine the best option for your house or project, it’s critical to weigh your unique needs against your financial constraints.

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