For most people the word " windows" bring the image of the computers windows rather than the image of
the house window. In our contemporary world where progress enters our
everyday life so fast that we sometimes don't even notice it,
"regular" windows have also undergone significant changes and one can
probably say that ordinary windows have managed to become
extra-ordinary.
There is surely one connection between user of the computer operating
system windows and homeowners. Without basic knowledge of how things
work it is not going to be easy to maintain both the windows system and
house windows. That's why it is important to be aware of certain
elements.
If you are buying a new home, be prepared that your builder or,
contractor might not do his best in installing the windows and doors
even if on the superficial level everything looks nice. I had a chance
to see some new homes where the owners had to deal with the window &
door problems.
Probably one may ask, " what is so special about windows ? There is just
a frame and glass". Well, both the frame and glass of a modern window
differ drastically from the earlier one.
Today there are more than 200 upvc windows & doors
manufacturers in India & as per market growth, you will be amazed to
know that in next 10 years, it is going to be more than 2000....as a
customer, options are unlimited for us. But still million dollar
question is Which one is better ? Should I go with India Manufactured
or, should I go with German Manufactured or, What is the cost of upvc
windows ? or, How do I get best deal out of my hard earned money......;
so here are few points which will definitely help you to get a better
deal -
REMEMBER "Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of
intelligent effort." - John Ruskin
1. BUY WINDOWS WITH WRITTEN SPECIFICATIONS- It
is one of the most important factors while making decision to buy high
quality doors & windows in India which is going to affect you &
your family for next 15-20 years. In my own experience which is
reinforcing same thought day-by-day , most of the time advertisements
corrupts our need-based decision making & we fill our world buy
things we do not need, instead of things we actual needs. So it is
important to buy doors & windows with written specifications rather
than buy heavily advertised No. 1 or, best Brand worldwide. One more
thing I would like to mention doors & windows are manufactured
worldwide as per International Standards as Britain has BS norms(EN
12608 ), Germany has DIN norms, America has ASTM norms even country like
china is following EN standards(GB/T 8814-2004 is same as EN Norms) but
in India still there is a long way to have standards for Doors &
Windows, so in India if you are no.1 it does not mean you are following
high quality standards. Trust my experience in Building industry, there
is no safety norms followed while designing uPVC doors &windows in
India. So once again BUY WRITTEN SPECIFICATIONS RATHER THAN BUY SELF
PROCLAIMED EXPERTS BRAND.
TRUST this if you get it in written, then Half the battle is won...
Normally Sales People will not understand your concern as rightly
said by Upton Sinclair ," It is difficult to get a man to understand
something when his job & entire salary depends on not
understanding it."
- UPVC Profile specification : Which company profile he is using? (German/Turkish/Chinese/Indian)
- Steel Reinforcement type : What type of reinforcement he is using ? (Galvanized steel & its thickness )
- Fittings: What type of fittings or, hardware he is using ? (German/Turkish/Chinese/Indian )
- Glass: What make Glass he is using ? (AIS or, Saint Gobain or, Others )
- Warranty- What kind of warranty for after sales service is he providing ? (Is he providing only on upvc profile or, also on fittings )-ASK MIN. 10 YEARS WARRANTY ON PROFILE AS WELL AS ON FITTINGS FROM MANUFACTURER...
2. UPVC PROFILE - Every one talks about benefits of upvc doors
& windows, no doubt upvc is best material to be used in place of
wood, aluminum & steel but it has one disadvantage i.e. limited
tensile strength, that’s why it has steel reinforcement inside all upvc
profiles.
Worldwide standards( EN 12608 accepted in Germany, Europe, China &
Britain) have been made to use regarding uPVC profile as below
mentioned-
- Outer Wall Thickness- As shown in picture uPVC profile is having outer wall thickness "A" means its outer wall thickness is more than 2.8mm . If it is "B" than outer wall thickness is more than 2.5 mm. If it is C than it is less than 2.5 mm.
- Impact Test- As shown in picture uPVC profile is having class "II" Impact Test -Class II is better than Class I as Impact test is for 1.5 meter height & Class I is for 1 meter height. (Please check specially in Indian Profile as they match outer wall thickness of International players but Impact test is important which will confirm their Material mix )
- Weather Test- As mentioned in the below picture it is " S "i.e. for Severe weather , it can also be " M" that means for Moderate weather which is not suitable for Indian condition ( Please check specifically uPVC Profile from Germany as Germany has Cold climate & Moderate weather profile can turn yellowish due to sunlight exposure)
Please check profile marking as per EN 12608 guidelines.( check below
mentioned picture )
3. STRUCTURALLY STABLE OR, SAFE DESIGNED DOORS & WINDOWS-
This is another one of the important factors while choosing high quality
doors & windows. As discussed earlier uPVC Profile has limited
tensile strength so it is important to ask the uPVC windows & doors
manufacturer about maximum deflection allowed when exposed to wind speed
as per your city. (Please note as per DIN standards, it should not be
more than 8 mm i.e. DIN 1055 part-4 & DIN 18056).(I know it would be
bit technical but it is some thing like your car, How much maximum safe
speed you can attain with-out vibrations ). It will cover the point of
inside steel reinforcement's thickness as well as shape as reinforcement
gives required tensile strength to uPVC windows & doors system.
4. FITTINGS CHOICE – One of the major differentiating factor in
upvc windows & doors in comparison to wooden and aluminum counter
parts-i.e. wider range in fittings. We can choose multi point locking to
single point locking –no more locking the door with 3 different locking
mechanisms. ( I remember when I visited a customer’s Home & lady was
pregnant & she has to bend to lock the door from the bottom, it was
dangerous way to live life when we have wonderful product like uPVC
doors &windows –Please check picture )
3 Different Locking points in wooden doors
Also Functioning of windows & doors depends on good fittings. Three
types of fittings are available in the market. German, Turkish &
Chinese. Go with German fittings if you want peace of mind for min. 10
years.Ask your vendor about weight of sash as in uPVC doors &
windows each high quality fittings comes in according to sash weight.
E.g. Hinges for Doors are available from 50 kg. To 180 kg. . If your
supplier is not calculating or, mentioning sash weight on its proposal
then most likely you will have trouble while functioning of doors
&windows.
5. GLASS: - Glass itself is one of the important factors in
window & door. One need to do self analysis while choosing glass( I
will address Glass in a separate article )-
Written Specifications will answer below mentioned queries-
- Where do I need safety?
- What are my security requirements?
- Do I need to control noise?
- How my building look like aesthetically?
- External & Internal Reflection?
- Can I make my residential/commercial project more green efficient as well as minimize negative impact on environment?
- How can I control solar heat in tropical country like India?
- Availability for service in case of breakage?
- U-value & UV radiation?
6.SEARCH FOR LOCAL FABRICATOR-
Try to search for local supplier for high quality windows &
doors. (Remember your old carpenter & old Doctor- I know; you can
not leave your Home & Body to be in vulnerable condition). It is
easy to contact local guy as he is always there for broken glass or
changing the handle. BUT TRY TO GET LOCAL FABRICATOR BY UPVC PROFILE
MANUFACTURER CERTIFIED !
“DON'T LEARN SAFETY RULES SIMPLY BY ACCIDENT”
7. SITE CONDITIONS & INSTALLATION STANDARDS– It is the most important factor which lies in our hands. Most of
the time we make same mistake as rightly said AL-GORE (Ex. vice
president of United States & Presenter for An Inconvenient Truth
of a documentary film about climate change, specifically global
warming and a future ice age in Northern Europe)- “ Old Habits plus Old Technology have predictable consequences. Old
Habits, that are hard to change, plus New Technology can have
dramatically altered consequences.”
Same true for while thinking about site readiness about windows &
doors. Most of the time customers request to install windows & doors
when site is not ready & bad installation conditions can kill high
quality product. (Check picture)
Drainage Slot has been blocked by Post-Stone installation
UPVC has high resistance to weather,to corrosion and to the most
materials found on Building sites so it would be best to install uPVC
windows & doors after final paint or. P.O.P. . Installed windows are
subjected to dead load, live load and wind load, high and low
temperature and weathering. These factors have also big influence on the
joint between walls and window as well as Doors. Careful planning and
good craftsmanship is therefore essential for the quality of
installation.
Some times Good Installer has to follow instruction of Customers as
Arc. Wren did. In 1688, Sir Christopher Wren, the celebrated English
architect, was asked to design a town hall for the city of
Westminster. When the mayor saw the design, he told Wren the second
floor was not secure and that it could all come crashing down. And
therefore, he wanted Wren to add two stone columns for extra support.
Wren didn't argue. He complied even though he knew it would serve no
purpose. It was only years later, when workmen got on a high scaffold
for some minor repairs did they see that the columns Wren gave in to
stopped a few centimeters short of the ceiling. They were dummies. But
the point is, both men got what they wanted. The mayor could relax and
posterity demonstrated Wren was right.
8. ENERGY EFFICIENCY IS MUST-
UPVC windows & doors is an energy efficient material but we have
to choose glass & windows combination in a manner in which it
should save energy. E.g. if it is south facing opening, we should
choose heat reflective glass with double glazing to save energy.
Making mistakes in centuries and generations past would have
consequences that we could overcome. We don't have that luxury
anymore......
9. HOW TO GET BEST PRICE FOR UPVC WINDOWS & DOORS
– Most of the time first time buyer ask this question to me.One has
to understand Doors & windows is not a ready-made product &
there is no thumb-rule for costing. One has to go in details to get
best deal out of his/her hard earned money as It is customized product
so price depends on below mentioned factors-
- UPVC windows & doors Profile- Good Quality profile will increase price 15-20 % costlier than cheaper Turkish & Indian profiles made windows & doors.(Go for Profile as per International standards as it is customized product , You can change fittings but not profile easily)
- Fittings – Good multi point locking & as per sash weight calculating fittings will increase price 20-30 %.
- Glass has 20-40% share in window & door price. E.g. 6 mm toughened glass costs approx. 60/- Sq.ft & double glazed glass costs approx. 150/- Sq.ft
10. LAST CHECKING POINT:
- Last but not the least- [quoting Mark Twain] "What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we
know for sure that just ain't so." So BE ALERT ALWAYS.
THERE IS MORE TO A WINDOW THAN MEETS THE EYE......