What To Consider When Selecting uPVC Windows & Doors

As a homeowner, you want to ensure that you have the best possible home and that it will last for as long as possible. This means making sure that you have quality products and materials throughout your property.

You may have heard of uPVC windows and doors, but what is it exactly? What are the benefits of using this type of material and how do they compare to other types of products? If you’re considering a PVC window and door factory for your home, then read on to find out more about uPVC products and how they can benefit your home.

Why choose uPVC material?

uPVC is a popular choice for window and door materials due to its excellent performance, durability and low maintenance requirements. It provides an ideal balance between cost and performance, making it the most cost-effective option for your home.

Here are some reasons why you should choose uPVC for your home:

1. Durability – The uPVC material has a great strength to weight ratio which makes it highly durable and long lasting. This means that you can use the same windows and doors for many years before you have to replace them.

2. Low Maintenance – The uPVC material requires very little maintenance which makes it very easy to maintain your doors or windows for years without any problems or issues.

3. Energy Efficiency – The uPVC window frames are made from plastic and this means that they are very energy efficient, which helps to keep heating costs down during the winter months when heating oil prices tend to rise due to increased demand during the colder months of the year.

Steel reinforcement on the uPVC materials

When selecting uPVC windows and doors, it is important to choose materials that are durable and long lasting. Here are the most important factor to consider: Steel reinforcement on the uPVC materials – The use of steel is essential for ensuring that the material used for your uPVC window or door is strong enough to withstand high winds and other extreme weather conditions.

The strength of uPVC materials is determined by the amount of reinforcement present in its structure. The more reinforcement present, the stronger the material becomes. However, this also adds to its weight and reduces its flexibility. For example, an 8 mm thick PVCu door with no steel reinforcing would have a higher flexural strength than one with 2 mm steel rebar embedded in it (2 mm thickness).

It should be noted that steel reinforcing is not always required for uPVC products as they are generally strong enough without it. However, some manufacturers may use steel for added strength or for aesthetic reasons as it gives their products a more modern look and feel when compared to non-reinforced ones.

Energy efficiency certifications and insulation performance

In this part we’ll look at the energy efficiency certifications and insulation performance of uPVC windows and doors.

Energy Efficiency Certifications: U-Value

The U-value of a window or door is a measurement of how well it insulates against heat loss. The lower the U-value, the less heat will escape through your windows or doors during winter months. The best uPVC windows and doors have a U-value of 1W/m2K or less. This means that if you have a room temperature of 20°C and your uPVC door or window has an U-value of 1W/m2K, then 20% of the heat from inside your room would escape through that door or window if it wasn't there (in other words, 80% would stay inside). If your door or window had an U-value of 0.5 W/m2K then only 10% of the heat would escape through the door or window (and 90% would stay inside).

According to the Energy Star™, a wide range of energy efficiency ratings are available for uPVC products. The most common are A-rated, which is the minimum requirement in terms of thermal performance, and double glazing with a U-value of 1.3 W/m2K or lower. Other ratings include B-rated (1.6 W/m2K) and C-rated (1.1 W/m2K). Energy efficiency ratings vary depending on the product type and window design. For example, double glazed windows have higher thermal performance ratings compared to single glazed ones because they feature two layers of glass with an air gap between them. Most uPVC windows have a U-value of 1.3 or lower, which means that they can reduce heat transfer by up to 30 per cent compared to an ordinary single pane window without any gaps between panes of glass.

Sound Insulation Performance: STC ratings

Sound insulation performance is measured in terms of STC (sound transmission class) rating. A higher number indicates better sound insulation qualities. So, for example, a window with an STC rating of 30 would be considered much better at insulating against outside noise than one with an STC rating of 20.

The main reason why this matters is because it can have a significant impact on how comfortable your home feels when it comes to living with other people. If you live in a house where everyone has their own room and their own bed, then this may not be such a big deal for you - but if you live with other people who like watching TV or playing music loudly late into the night, then having good sound insulation properties in your windows and doors can make all the difference.

Choose double- or triple-glazing sets

The number of panes of glass in a window or door affects how much light gets into your home. Double-glazed units have two panes of glass separated by an insulating layer. Triple-glazed units have three panes of glass separated by two insulating layers. The more panes of glass, the greater the energy efficiency and thermal comfort of your home.

What's more, Low-Emissivity (Low-E) coatings on the glass reduce heat transfer through the window, making it more energy efficient and easier to keep warm in winter months. Glass with argon gas fillers reduces condensation on inner panes when temperatures drop below zero Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). This is especially important if you live in a climate where there is snow accumulation on exterior surfaces during winter months.