Buyers Guide

PVC windows and PVC doors

What should you look for in a PVC window or PVC door?

If you are now thinking about replacement UPVC windows or doors. If you are at the early stages and you believe that a new UPVC window is the same as any other UPVC window stop and think now. This is not this case. PVC windows & doors are manufactured in various different ways with various different profiles and machinery with different products and attributes added to the door or window.

Some people follow the principal if you pay peanuts it’s made by monkeys or you only get what you pay for. Quality is not cheap it’s priceless.

We have written this buyers guide for UPVC windows and UPVC doors to assist you along the right lines cutting out the cowboys and making sure that you get a product at a reasonable price but most importantly the correct UPVC door or UPVC window for your needs and your property.

Before I begin you may want to look at our about us page / company profile online. Which outlines our success in the UPVC window and door industry.

Click to find out more about Clyde UPVC Door & UPVC Windows

Or don’t just take my word for it have a look at our customers / client testimonials page.

Click for Windows Doors & Conservatories Testimonials

Frames

Whether you’re buying a PVC door or window they both have frames and usually another UPVC frame within this.

So what do you need to look for with regard to the frame quality?

Be sure the window / door frame has been fully welded using proper frame welding machinery rather than mechanically jointed. This is the strongest part of the frame.

Mechanically jointed frames on the other hand are simply welded at the corners with any other parts screwed onto them which is not ideal and is more or less out of date, however beware it still practiced by some window / door manufacturers.

Next you want to find out how substantial the door or window frame is, and more importantly that you have or are purchasing a high security frame

There are three main frame standard sizes within the UK 50mm, 62mm and 70mm (when we say this size we mean the front to back of the outside to inside size which is the actual thickness of the frame).

It is important to look for a product with a 70mm frame as opposed to the less secure / weaker 62mm and 50mm frame again this is outdated now, yet still used by many manufacturers to keep costs down.

When you reduce the frames thickness you most defiantly reduce insulation therefore you loose home warmth increase power bills and for those who are environmentally minded you will increase your carbon footprint for sure.

In short NOT energy efficient and also not as strong as the 70mm system if there is less plastic there is less strength and insulation.

You also need to check that the UPVC frames have been reinforced by either aluminium or steel sections these should be specific to the window frame rather than a company buying quality window frames and then adding in cheap reinforcing that they may have bought in from elsewhere.

It is really important that this frame and reinforcing is sought from the same company as the sizes are specific to fit inside each other and this critical to the integrity and the strength of the window or door frame.

You may want to have a look at the videos on our website which show how and where our frame profiles are made.

Click for UPVC Doors and Windows Video