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Why Choose uPVC Double Glazing

uPVC double glazed winows cool your home in summer, warm it in winter.

The Case For Choosing uPVC Double Glazing Frames.

 

They Are The World’s #1 Choice.

Available across Europe in America for the past 60 years, uPVC window profiles are the most popular choice to deliver superior and proven performance.

Worldwide, more than half of all new and replacement residential windows are uPVC. That’s almost 290 million window units a year, chosen for their durability, low-maintenance, high energy efficiency, performance and style. The US and Europe have long focused on energy efficient windows.

However, in Australia, we’ve traditionally used either timber frames which are good insulators but high maintenance, or aluminium window frames which need less maintenance than timber, but have poor insulation. Thermal performance is one of the most important characteristics of a window.

 

Watch the video, or read the text!

They Have High Energy Efficiency

Double glazed PVC windows can be as much as four and-a-half times more energy efficient than a standard single glazed aluminium one.

The energy efficiency of a window system is commonly defined by two measures.

First, the solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) is a measure of the solar radiation going through the glazing into a building, and secondly by the u-value- the rate of heat flow through a window system.

For both measures the lower the number, the higher the performance.

 

They’re Cooler In Summer, Warmer In Winter.

A common misconception in Australia, is that double glazing is only for cold climates, to keep the cold outside, but double glazing is also just as effective in keeping the heat of an Australian summer out.

In fact, standard glazed windows contribute up to eighty-seven percent of the summer heat gain in a typical Australian insulated home. Choosing double glazed units with low solar heat gain and low u-values, reduces or eliminates the need for expensive artificial cooling.

By replacing your windows with high-efficiency uPVC ones, you can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from household heating and cooling by more than one tonne a year.

 

They’re Durable & Low Maintenance

uPVC windows are considered durable, with expected life spans of 35 years, and leading brands have been tested specifically for resistance to Australia’s high UV. These windows will look good for years, without the need for sanding or repainting, and being resistant to salt, are ideal for coastal locations.

uPVC window profiles have been carefully engineered to incorporate multi-locking systems, providing a high level of security. They can be used in a wide range of styles for older, new, heritage or contemporary homes. And they come in a variety of colors.

Choose with confidence from a range of quality suppliers in Australia. The uPVC Window Alliance is supported by globally leading brands committed to delivering uPVC windows you can rely on in Australia.

uPVC windows- the wise choice for windows in Australia.

Article supplied by the Australian uPVC Window Alliance.

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Leading Architect Champions Double Glazing

Melbourne architect recommends double glazing with uPVC framing.

Leading Melbourne Architect Recommends Double Glazing

 

Rebecca Naughti recommends double glazing.Best of Houzz award-winning Architect, Rebecca Naughtin, runs Rebecca Naughtin Architect– a small boutique practice that specialises in residential projects in Melbourne.

I came across her work by following up an article she authored for Houzz,  Renovating on a Budget: How Get More From Your Windows For Less.

What struck me was that, even though she was talking about working to a budget, she believed that double glazing was the best choice. In the article, Rebecca advises…

Don’t dismiss double glazing as an option
Most of the cold and heat enters through windows so double glazing has been installed in these aluminium-framed windows. They look smart, contemporary and the double glazing does not compromise the frame structure which is lighter than a timber frame. Double glazing should be considered for all projects; you may be shocked by how economical it can be and it provides a very comfortable environment.

In the article, she went on to discuss her preference in framing material…

Consider long-term maintenance costs
uPVC windows are relatively new in Australia, however they are incredibly durable, low maintenance and can resist wind, rain, corrosion, peeling and chipping. Something to consider for ongoing costs of your renovation.

More and more architects are recommending double glazing to their clients, with many good reasons!

 

 

 

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Will uPVC windows fade?

 

Will uPVC windows fade or discolour in the Australian sun?

Photo courtesy Magnus uPVC

Will uPVC Windows and Doors Fade In The Sun?

Some years ago, my wife and I replaced many of the old aluminium windows in our house with double-glazed doors. They’ve worked a treat, but there has been one problem. The frames were made of wood, and the wood obviously doesn’t enjoy our harsh Australian conditions. Within four years the first of the doors were drying and losing their colour. They work well and they look good, but there’s going to be a lifetime of maintenance keeping them looking good. I can do without that, and I’m sure you can, too.

So what would we do if we had our time over again? When we get around to replacing the remaining single-glazed windows with double glazing, our choice will almost certainly be uPVC framing. UPVC replacement windows already enjoy a majority of the market in the US, Europe and the UK. Why? Because uPVC is durable, it’s a great thermal insulator, it’s economical, and it’s low maintenance.

So, back to the question we started with, “will uPVC windows and doors fade in the sun?” Search the internet, and you may find customers who DID experience the problem. Ask suppliers of competing frame materials, and you may be given to understand that it’s a common problem with uPVC. The truth?

If you buy poor quality products they won’t perform as well as good quality ones! If the windows are brought in from overseas without being designed to meet our climatic extremes, without meeting Australian Standards, and not Certified under our Windows Energy Rating Scheme, then you could have a problem. Even windows made locally from inferior framing material could have the problem.

Ethical businesses have avoided the problem by only using top-quality uPVC profiles made from material tested to meet harsh Australian conditions. As a minimum, they would meet Australian Standard for Windows, AS2047 , and be Certified under WERS- the Australian Window Energy Rating Scheme .

Now, the whole uPVC industry is taking a huge step forward to ensure that the uPVC windows and doors you buy do NOT fade or discolour.

The uPVC Window Alliance, a program of the Australian Vinyl Council, has published an Australian Industry Code of Practice and Accreditation Scheme for uPVC windows and doors, aimed squarely at ensuring that uPVC windows and doors don’t fade or discolour. Read a full article here…

Measures like this, that raise the standards in our industry, are to be welcomed, encouraged and supported. Customers deserve no less.

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