Modern windows - what to choose: wood or PVC. Which windows to choose: wooden or plastic? Which windows are better: plastic or wood?

One of the questions to which there is no universal answer is “which windows are better: plastic or wooden.” And it’s not just about the technical characteristics of a particular solution. The preferences of the person himself are more important.

For example, advertising long years imposes a stereotype that attractive people must be tall and not overweight. However, life shows that it is man who makes his conscious choice, based on some of its internal attitudes, and advertising... well, that’s its function. The question “which windows are better: plastic or wooden” belongs to the same group. In this article we will try to compare these two solutions from the point of view of an ordinary buyer who does not delve into the specifics of design and production.

Cheap wooden windows

When renovating a house, every owner sooner or later thinks about the need to replace old wooden windows, which have served faithfully for many years. Having sufficient financial means, there are no particular difficulties with the choice: you just need to purchase high-quality wooden windows made of laminated euro timber with multi-chamber multifunctional double-glazed windows or opt for metal-plastic solutions from renowned manufacturers. However, it is unlikely that such a person will read articles on the topic “which windows are better: plastic or wooden.”

For the majority, a situation most often occurs when they have to choose what is better: install several high-quality windows or all at once, but of a lower class. It is at this stage that the thought arises of inexpensive wooden modifications offered by carpentry shops. It depends on your luck - they can last for decades, or they may require attention in just a year. Therefore, if the old ones have not yet rotted, they can be restored: burn the paint and varnish them. This is the least expensive option.

If, nevertheless, you have to decide which windows are better: plastic or wooden, then you need to take into account a number of features.

Features of wooden windows:

Such solutions create home comfort, fitting into any interior;

The cost of a high-quality window made of Euro timber exceeds the price of the most sophisticated plastic window;

Over time, the protective coating will need to be restored;

Wooden windows naturally allow air to pass through, creating a favorable microclimate;

The material fundamentally cannot freeze, so with a good double-glazed window you won’t have to worry about the flowers on the windowsill.

The choice of plastic windows has its own characteristics:

There is no need for maintenance, except that you will have to periodically wipe them from dust;

The average service life is about 50 years (although many people think that such windows are eternal);

They can be given almost any shape.

One of the issues that worries potential buyers is the thermal insulation properties. Surprisingly, a good wooden window is more preferable for cold winters than a high-quality plastic one. Of course, provided that the manufacturing technology is followed and the same double-glazed windows are used (the old method of fixing glass with glazing beads or sealant, for obvious reasons, is no longer relevant).

Since its introduction on the market plastic windows became the undisputed leader in sales, and consumers did not puzzle themselves for a long time with the question of choice. They ordered this modification without hesitation. This dominance of PVC profile structures continued until wooden window production technologies made it possible to significantly improve them performance characteristics and reduce the cost. From that moment on, many buyers began to doubt which windows are better - wooden or plastic?

Surprisingly, there are no clear criteria for selection in this matter. Both options are good in their own way. Products made from wooden profiles are superior in some ways to PVC windows, but according to some criteria they are inferior. The final decision is made based on the allocated budget, operating features and personal preferences.

Structural differences between plastic and wooden windows

When considering these parameters, plastic windows are superior to wooden ones only in the matter of fixation, as well as sealing of double-glazed windows and glazing beads. This difference is felt not during operation, but when dismantling these elements. It is much more difficult and longer to remove glazing beads and double-glazed windows from wooden models than from plastic ones. This nuance must be taken into account when ordering windows, since double-glazed windows have to be replaced for various reasons. In addition to the problems with removing stuck glass units and removing old silicone, you need to keep in mind the need to restore glazing beads, the surface of which can be damaged during the work.

Plastic and wooden windows – which is better?

**As an example, the minimum cost of pine windows is given. If larch, oak, ash or mahogany are used to make structures, the price difference will increase.

***Since Euro-timber is mainly used in the manufacture of windows, it is necessary to take into account the frost resistance not of the material itself, but of the adhesive joints. Typically this indicator varies from -40 to -50 °C, and is sufficient for our climatic conditions.

As can be seen from the table, wooden windows are superior to plastic ones in some parameters and inferior in others. Wood structures are more durable, retain heat better and absorb noise. But plastic windows are more resistant to weather conditions and have an affordable price. When comparing the thermal and sound insulation of structures, it should be taken into account that the maximum indicators are observed in, read more about which in detailed review on WindowsTrade.

Some sellers of wooden windows still claim that their products, unlike plastic ones, breathe. This is not true, because after treating the wood surface with primers and paints, the pores become clogged. In terms of airtightness, timber models are no different from PVC windows.

Which plastic windows are better?

• thickness of outer walls (2.2-3mm) – ideally you should strive for a higher value;
• number of internal chambers (from 3 to 9)– in our climatic conditions, to equip heated residential premises, it is recommended to use systems with at least 5 chambers;
• installation depth (58-150 mm)– the larger this parameter, the better;
• rebate depth for double-glazed windows– it is desirable that this size be at least 20 mm, but optimal value considered – 23-25 ​​mm;
• maximum possible thickness of installed double-glazed windows (30-56 mm)– thick double-glazed windows retain heat better and dampen sound waves, so in this case you need to strive for the maximum value.

Pros and cons of plastic windows

1. Durability– thanks to special plasticizers and additives, PVC profiles with proper care do not change their shape, color and size within the period stated by the manufacturers.


2. Minimal care– plastic windows are easy to maintain in working and aesthetically attractive condition. It is enough to clean and lubricate fittings with sealing contours on time, as well as periodically wash the surface of profiles and double-glazed windows.


3. Tightness– structures made of PVC profiles do not allow air, water, dust and noise to pass in both directions.


4. Energy efficiency- at correct selection type of profile and double-glazed windows, plastic windows prevent slopes from freezing and retain heat well in interior spaces.


5. Versatility– these models can be adapted to any interior design. The exception is luxury furnishings in a classic style.

Since PVC profiles have significantly more advantages than disadvantages, they are readily purchased for installation in residential, municipal, commercial, sports and industrial facilities. These unpretentious structures can be used wherever they are in harmony with the facades and interior.

Which wooden windows are better?

• wood species– larch, pine, ash, oak, meranti and mahogany, which are used today for the assembly of sashes and frames, have different properties;
• window type– there are single- and double-leaf, vertical-sliding and sliding models, and their thermal characteristics largely depend on the design of the binding;
• type of paint coating– the quality of finishing of the wood surface determines the appearance of the windows and the durability of the protective and decorative coating;
• type of timber– parts for assembling windows can be made from solid or spliced ​​solid wood.

Advantages and disadvantages of wooden windows

1. Fire resistance– impregnated with a special composition wooden beam When exposed to heat, it chars and does not melt like a PVC profile. This gives more time to escape through windows during a fire.


2. Pleasant tactile sensations– touching natural wood cannot be confused with anything else.


3. Wide choice of decors– despite the limited number of species that are used for the production of wooden windows, surface finishing technologies have expanded design possibilities manufacturers. Thanks to the use of various techniques, stains and paint mixtures, any window texture can be created.


4. Respectable appearance– even products made from inexpensive species improve the interior of the interior and make it more solid. In terms of aesthetics quality models Neither plastic nor aluminum structures can compete with wood.


5. Possibility of manufacturing structures with large active sashes– according to GOST, an increase in the base section of the timber allows you to make a maximum of 10% more permissible dimensions products.

It is advisable to install wooden windows in cases where the use of plastic structures will negatively affect interior interior or the appearance of the facade. In addition, such products should be used when necessary to minimize the heat exchange processes between the walls and the frame. However, in any case, it is desirable that there is free access to the outside of the structure. This will allow you to regularly care for the surface of the wood and maintain its aesthetic appeal longer.

Which windows are best to install in an apartment?

In addition, multi-storey buildings are usually located in the most polluted areas of the city. An unfavorable environment quickly destroys the paintwork and the wood itself. PVC is more resistant to such conditions. As a result, plastic windows for apartments are best option. If the interior design requires the use of wooden frames and sashes, you can laminate the profile. It is possible to imitate the surface of natural wood only on one or both sides of frames and sashes.

When installing wooden windows, you must immediately take into account the problems that you will encounter during their restoration. To perform a high-quality replacement of the paint layer, it is often necessary to dismantle the structure, and on the upper floors this is almost impossible.

Which windows are better for a wooden house?

1. The laminated PVC profile retains its rich color for decades, and natural wood gradually fades. In a few years, plastic wood-look windows will stand out strongly against the background of the facade of a house made of timber or logs.


2. The proximity of natural and artificial materials often harms the interior and negatively affects the overall environment.


3. Wooden windows go much better with decorative trims, which are used to decorate openings.

Regardless of the type of windows, they must be installed in wooden houses using a special technology that will prevent distortions. This technique ensures the frames are mobile relative to the walls, so that the frame structures do not deform even with significant subsidence.

Hello, dear friends!
My name is Dmitry Provorov, I work as the head of the client department at the Just Windows company. As you may have guessed, I will talk about windows in my blog. And I know about windows.

There are a lot of offers on the window market: there are so many! And there are not many areas where the spread of prices for the same order would be as great as in windows. And this is if we talk about honest companies. I will definitely talk in detail about dishonest people and how to recognize them in the future. I’m going to boil down the essence of my blogs to one thing: how to understand which windows you need, how to recognize truly useful offers from advertising “tricks”, and choose the most the best option in terms of price and quality ratio. With all this, we will destroy marketing myths) I hope it turns out interesting and informative.
So let's get started. Let's start with what to choose: plastic windows or wooden windows? Many articles have been written about this topic. But the whole point is what their marketers write, either to the company that produces plastic windows, or to their rivals, the “wood workers.” Well, and, of course, marketers are very far from construction physics and practical experience. Well, I have more than enough knowledge in these areas. At the same time, I will try to maintain neutrality and objectivity in my assessments.
Plastic windows, I think everyone can imagine it quite clearly, since at present this is the most common option. These windows are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Naturally, the composition also contains various stabilizers, pigments, etc. Many people think that this is not environmentally friendly. But I’m sure you won’t find a single chemist who thinks the same way. Because all these materials strictly comply with all sanitary and epidemiological standards, GOSTs, SNPs and others. However, I still don’t recommend eating or smoking plastic windows, but I think you weren’t going to do that anyway)

A small nuance. The windows are positioned as German, English, Austrian and God knows what. It doesn't matter. Absolutely all PVC profiles are produced in Russia. There is, of course, the same Rehau Brilliant or Geneo, which many position as brought from Germany itself. I know only one company that brings Rehau Diamond from Germany, but their price will be about 25 thousand per square meter of window. And I know many companies that deliberately mislead the client, simply deceiving. They can even make fake certificates.

There is nothing wrong, of course, that the profiles are made in Russia. But everyone positions their profile differently. And this often occurs with a loss in quality in order to reduce the cost. Therefore, the company that will implement your order must be chosen very carefully. I think this will be my next post.

They can be divided into several types: old Soviet (carpentry); new cheap ones (these are sometimes installed in new buildings); wooden euro windows; Swedish; Finnish.
Everyone has probably seen old Soviet windows and many still have them. They sometimes last for decades. They knew how to build back then! But everything comes to an end and they also need to be changed.
Sometimes, quite rarely, new buildings are equipped with wooden windows with installed double-glazed windows and fittings of a modern type. The quality of the wood and processing is simply disgusting. I myself once lived in a new student dormitory with just such windows. A cold winter, then a hot summer - and the windows were incredibly warped. The gaps are so big that birds almost flew in. This option is even worse than the cheapest plastic windows from the developer.

Wooden euro windows. This is exactly what they mean when they ask: which windows are better - plastic or wooden.

According to the principle of operation and the sash with frame, such windows are similar to plastic ones. The double-glazed windows installed there are the same. They differ only in the profile material.

Such windows are made from three-layer laminated timber of various, usually valuable, types of wood. (Pine, larch, oak). You will not find exact technical characteristics, for example, sound insulation or heat transfer resistance. Each case is individual. But, approximately, according to these two indicators, these windows correspond to the middle class of plastic windows.

Everywhere they write that such windows “breathe” and are environmentally friendly. This clean water marketing. Nothing breathes there - it’s not just untreated solid wood, it’s three-layer laminated veneer lumber. Which is carefully treated with aseptics, fire protection, painted and so on. The environmental friendliness here is questionable, it’s like inserting a wooden beam inside a PVC profile.

These windows cost 3-4 times more than plastic ones.

It would seem then: why are they needed at all? But, for example, in Germany, where plastic windows were everywhere already in the 70s, they are being replaced by wooden Euro-windows. Here, of course, it is worth making an allowance that in Germany everything is in order with quality, but here they can deceive. It is not so easy to distinguish an ordinary Moscow pine from a Siberian larch. Although, perhaps, in 20 years, plastic windows will be perceived in our country as Soviet carpentry is now.

Well, for now, wooden windows are a matter of image. It's expensive, it's cool. It's like an insert in a dashboard in a Maybach made of Karelian birch. Otherwise, they are definitely no better than many plastic ones. At the same time, they require more careful care.
Well, now let's move on to the exotic) Swedish windows. Sweden is a country where people are clearly not fools natural conditions with a climate similar to ours. That’s why their windows are really cool) If we talk about regular Euro windows, then their design principle is approximately the same as that of PVC. Everything is clear here.

Swedish windows have a different design. There are two paired doors. The internal (the one in the room) sash is equipped with a single-chamber double-glazed window. And this flap is paired with another flap, which is 10 centimeters smaller than the inner one. And there is no longer a double-glazed window, but sheet glass. The outer sash itself is attached to the inner one and can be opened to, for example, wash the windows. Doesn't this design, by the way, resemble our joinery?)

It turns out that there is, as it were, a double frame: one for the inner sash and one for the outer one. This results in more connection points between the frame and the sash compared to classic design. This is, of course, good) Plus, there is a wide space between the outer and inner doors. It's really not airtight. And due to convection, it’s difficult to say for sure whether it’s good or bad that there will be a wide distance. But you can install blinds there)

In my opinion, the most significant difference between Swedish/Finnish windows and Euro/PVC windows is the wide frame. Due to this, the slopes freeze less. Another big plus is more sealing points for the frame and sash. If money allows, this is a very good option.

Well, and again about the price. Swedish/Finnish windows will cost 2 times more than wooden euro-windows. At the same time, in Russia there are still few people doing this. Therefore, you need to look in very large cities.

Wooden windows are no longer what they used to be. The introduction of innovative production technologies has eliminated most of their shortcomings. Now they can adequately compete with plastic in terms of durability, practicality and functionality. At the same time, “Euro-windows” are still beautiful and safe. Let's look at the features of wooden window blocks in comparison with PVC structures.

Why don't people like PVC in Europe?

Polyvinyl chloride. Not a very beautiful and a little scary word, isn’t it? This is the name of the now incredibly popular basic synthetic polymer. This material has a number of outstanding performance properties, which is why it quickly found application in almost all industries and especially in construction. Its specific PVC characteristics receives thanks to a certain set of various additives. Plasticizers facilitate the processing of polyvinyl chloride, make it elastic, stabilizers prevent destruction during the production and operation of products, modifiers improve specific physical properties, fillers reduce cost, dyes allow the production of colored products.

For more than 80 years, polyvinyl chloride has been marching victoriously across the planet, but it is constantly being reproached regarding the safety of PVC products for humans. PVC manufacturers fight fiercely for their products; they are ready to prove their environmental friendliness with all their might. A countless number of tests have been carried out and many certificates have been obtained. But there are no completely safe additives for polyvinyl chloride.

Recently, one well-known manufacturer of plastic profiles announced that it was stopping the use of extremely harmful lead and switching to calcium-zinc stabilizers.

And this after almost forty years of manufacturing plastic with lead? How many years from now will we be told the truth about calcium, cadmium, zinc? The Russian consumer, who is financially able to afford high-quality Euro-windows, is at a crossroads; he is well acquainted with terrible wooden products Soviet era, but something worries him in PVC windows. Many are not ready to completely and completely trust official sources, much less the aggressive advertising statements of plastic window sellers.

Naturally, we are not trying to reinvent the wheel, but are turning to the experience of Western European countries, especially since manufacturers of plastic windows are happy to provide relevant statistical data in their booklets. When they say that in Germany the share of plastic structures makes up more than 50% of installed window systems, it is true, but this percentage concerns the total mass of translucent structures. In the homeland of PVC, 70% of residential windows are made of wood, and their share is constantly growing - by 3-4% per year, naturally due to plastic. If we talk about the Scandinavian countries, more than 70% of all windows there are wooden. The percentage of windows made of wood drops slightly in countries with small differences in annual temperatures and poor forest reserves, such as Spain, Italy, and France. The reality is that, despite the global financial crisis, Europeans prefer parquet, cotton and wooden joinery to linoleum, synthetics and plastic windows, and the PVC window market is quickly and confidently shifting towards Eastern Europe.

What properties do wooden windows have?

Wood is pure natural material, which initially has excellent technological qualities: low thermal conductivity, good sound insulation, resistance to temperature influences, high strength. Unfortunately, wooden windows are afraid of moisture. Wood needs reliable multi-stage protection, including from insects, microorganisms, and fungi. The production of translucent structures made of wood is a high-tech, time-consuming, and expensive business.

Naturalness and beauty. Wooden windows are the embodiment home warmth and comfort, the aesthetic characteristics of wood products remain beyond competition, despite fairly successful attempts to copy its texture. High-quality wooden windows can become the highlight, the core of the entire interior, and largely determine its style. Even staunch supporters of PVC windows, being adherents of the practicality and affordability of plastics, will not argue with the exceptional attractiveness of the natural material. Thanks to the ability to process wood manually or using digital equipment, wooden window manufacturers can offer consumers products of a wide variety of non-standard shapes. In turn, the desire of designers and developers to use some kind of “special” plastic window in the interior is simply impossible due to the official laconism of angular PVC profiles.

Strength. Any type of wood consists of fibers oriented in a certain direction, which, with a competent approach, alternating their direction in laminated timber, allows you to create very strong, durable, geometrically stable products. Compared to PVC windows, which are necessarily stabilized with a metal liner, they have a disproportionately lower coefficient of thermal expansion. At the moment, windows are most often made of pine, oak, larch, beech, cedar, fir, spruce, and mahogany. Each type of wood has its own indicators of strength and durability. But do not forget that the denser and stronger material, the greater the thermal conductivity it has.

Insulating properties. Wood has natural porosity and contains air in capillaries. Therefore, with equal thickness of the profiles, a wooden window retains heat and dampens sound vibrations somewhat better than one made of multi-chamber plastic. On average, oak is 20-25% warmer than PVC, pine - 25-30%.

The need for protection and periodic care. The stumbling block for wooden windows is atmospheric humidity. Wood can easily absorb moisture from the air, which causes the fibers to swell—the product fails. Rapid loss of moisture causes cracking and warping with subsequent loss of insulating properties. It is precisely because serious protective measures must be taken that the overall technological chain is so long, and the cost of wood products remains consistently high. Only multi-stage treatment of wooden profiles with antiseptic impregnations, primers and paints will ensure the windows are practical and durable. However, no matter how technologically advanced the coating is, it has its own service life, so once every 3-4 years, sometimes more often, it is necessary to tint wooden window blocks, in particular the lower horizontal parts of the sashes, which are most vulnerable to rain and ultraviolet radiation. That's why combined windows appeared, as well as options with aluminum or plastic trim over wood. In addition, with each year of operation, the protective coating loses approximately 0.01 mm in thickness, which is why the wooden window should be periodically treated with special polishes and varnishes.

Environmental friendliness. To be fair, we note that, despite the obvious safety of wooden windows, their production cannot be imagined without the use of a certain amount of “chemistry”. Porous fillers, primers, putties, paints, glazing compounds, antiseptic impregnations, glue for making timber, butyl sealants for double-glazed windows - this is what manufacturers of PVC windows talk about when discussing the environmental safety of wooden window systems.

"Breathing" of wooden windows. Manufacturers of wooden windows claim that their windows “breathe”. Some even say that through the micropores of wooden boxes there is an air exchange of such a volume that it can provide room ventilation that prevents condensation. They are a little disingenuous. The sashes of wooden windows have several sealing contours; the wood is treated with compounds that fill the pores - in other words, such structures are practically airtight. The air entering the room through the window will clearly not be enough for normal ventilation (GOST 24700-99 “Wooden window blocks with double-glazed windows”), condensation will appear. That is why serious companies persistently offer their clients wooden windows with installed ventilation valves, which were originally invented for PVC products.

High price. Despite all the advantages of wooden windows, their price is quite high compared to plastic ones. For example, a standard pine window block (1.45x1.8) is already basic configuration will cost $600-800, any other type of wood will increase this price by an order of magnitude. This largely explains why domestic consumers prefer to order plastic windows several times cheaper, which, moreover, “don’t need to be painted,” “it’s not wood—they won’t crack or dry out,” “set it up, wipe it with a cloth and forget it.”

How wooden windows are made

The material and profile design are the main things that distinguish wooden windows from PVC products. The production of high-quality window profiles from wood is a complex, time-consuming and very labor-intensive task. It is not surprising that, as soon as the first samples of Euro-windows appeared in the post-Soviet space, energetic owners of traditional “carpentry” quickly noticed their promise and tried to establish corresponding production, but were never successful. Even now, many companies that assemble wooden windows work with a purchased profile.

In most cases, modern wooden windows are made from multi-layer laminated veneer lumber. It is not unreasonably believed that it has greater strength, better resistance to temperature changes, and less hygroscopicity compared to solid wood. Some manufacturers have mastered the technology of producing high-quality windows from solid northern pine, which is carefully selected and equally carefully dried. Raw materials intended for the production of timber undergo several rather complex stages of preparation.

First of all, the wood goes through several stages of drying, the full cycle of which takes some time:

• natural drying,
• processing in the chamber - steaming and dry heating with alternating temperature indicators,
• normalization of temperature and achievement of humidity balance.

Drying is designed to relieve internal stresses inside the wood, as well as eliminate the possibility of cracking during processing. Preparing the board in drying chambers carried out automatically, according to a given program for certain types of wood. Optimal humidity raw materials at the output ranges from 10-12%.

Next, the wood is discarded (optimized). Areas with knots, cracks, resin pockets, core remains, wormholes, shells and spots. This is how small planks are obtained - plots, on the ends of which jagged tenons are milled. They are coated with water-repellent glue and, under pressure, spliced ​​into one long board - a lamella. The glued lamellas are kept in a press for some time, after drying they are planed (calibrated).

The next stage of profile production is gluing the timber in thickness. The boards are glued together under pressure, flat, while the inner layers are made of spliced ​​lamellas, and the outer ones are mainly made of solid ones. As a rule, a three-layer beam is made, but some companies use technology with a larger number of layers, and some lamellas can be glued to the sides of a three- or four-layer cake.

It is very important that the fibers of adjacent lamellas are directed in opposite directions. Only such laminated veneer lumber is considered to be of high quality and is capable of providing stability. geometric shapes products.

Then the wooden beam is milled using computer numerical control equipment, resulting in a window profile with a very complex section. For the production of windows with exclusive, non-standard forms may be required individual approach, "handmade".

Further, the process of making a wooden window is significantly accelerated. The frame is assembled, sanded, treated with impregnation (under pressure or vacuum), primed, and painted. After finishing the painting work, double-glazed windows and seals are installed, fittings are mounted, and sashes are hung.

Wooden window design

Modern wooden windows are structurally similar in many ways to plastic products. For their operation, the same fittings are used, which allows for not only rotary, but also tilting, tilt-and-turn opening of single sashes. They also have multiple sealing contours. For glazing wooden windows, not only sheet glass is used, but also various types double-glazed windows, including special, energy-saving ones. The main difference between wooden windows is that they can have several design schemes depending on the number and type of sashes. Note that some constructions are historically associated with a specific country, which was the reason for their “folk” classification based on nationality.

Single-leaf windows. This is the so-called European type, “Eurowindow”, German window. In fact, this is a direct analogue of plastic windows, with the only difference being that the profile is made of laminated veneer lumber. With a profile width of 68 millimeters or more, any type of glass unit from 36 to 44 mm is installed in them. The design of the rebate allows the use of two or three sealing contours for Euro-windows; modern fittings make it possible to control all operations with the sash using only a handle. The fittings for such wooden windows are produced by the same companies that work in the market of PVC products: Roto, Maco, Siegenia-Aubi... Naturally, options such as winter slot ventilation, stepped opening, burglary protection and others become available to the consumer. Single-leaf wooden windows are currently the most common in our country.

Windows with separate sashes are also called “Finnish”. This window block has a large frame width, about 120-180 mm. To the outside and inside boxes are hung with sashes independent from each other, as on Soviet windows. Sheet glass is inserted into the outer sash, which serves as a kind of buffer from the effects of various environmental factors, and the inner sash is equipped with a single-chamber, often energy-saving double-glazed window. Interestingly, the outer glass seal is not airtight, which prevents condensation from falling on it - it is just a so-called “boot”. The fittings that work in windows with separate sashes allow only rotary opening, so ventilation is carried out using a window or a sash opening limiter. Thanks to the two-chamber design, such windows have excellent insulation characteristics; the significant width of the frame prevents freezing of the slope. Inside the Finnish window, between the sashes spaced at a great distance, sun blinds are installed, sometimes even removable grilles.

Windows with paired sashes are supplied to us mainly from Sweden. They also have a two-frame design. Their main difference from windows with separate sashes is that the internal sashes of such window blocks are connected to the external ones by means of sliding connecting elements. The inner sash has locking tilt-and-turn fittings, controlled by a single handle. Therefore, many people also call designs with paired sashes “Euro-windows”.

It is difficult to say for sure which wooden window design is better; each of them has its own pros and cons. For example, the double-glazed unit of a single-leaf window and the glazing of double-hung windows (flat glass plus a double-glazed unit) have approximately the same insulation characteristics. The wooden frame of double-hung windows is warmer due to large width, but at the same time you have to take care of not two, but four planes; The separate design does not have the much-loved hinged opening function. Of course, “Scandinavian” windows are more expensive than “European” ones, but if you compare blocks with similar sound and heat insulation, the difference will not be very significant, especially when the first ones are made in Russia and the second ones are made abroad.

What should you pay attention to when ordering wooden windows?

Foreign manufacturers of wooden windows have firmly established themselves in Russian market. They are constantly working to improve the quality of wooden translucent structures and reduce their cost. Every year we are offered fresh design developments, new protective compounds and types of profiles. Western companies carry out a full cycle of work from timber harvesting to the manufacture of double-glazed windows; they have large high-tech factories. Our manufacturers work using European technologies, using imported equipment; many of them purchase profiles and double-glazed windows externally, often abroad.

Imported windows are approximately one and a half to two times more expensive than Russian ones.

From measurement to delivery you will have to wait up to three months, while domestic companies usually fulfill the order within 3-8 weeks.

In most cases, a comprehensive guarantee is provided - for the profile, double-glazed windows, protective coating, and fittings. Naturally, the window must be installed by the manufacturer's specialists. Russian companies usually give a 3-year warranty on their products, foreign ones - 5 years.

Windows made of oak are approximately 2 times more expensive than those made of pine; larch - 1.5 times.

Wooden window blocks made from timber with spliced ​​external lamellas will be cheaper on average by 15% than with solid ones.

You can save money by ordering a profile in which the outer layers are made of expensive wood, such as oak, and the inner layers are made of pine. There are options with profile finishing with valuable wood veneer.

Window standard sizes, are also somewhat cheaper than custom ones.

The longer the production time, the lower the cost of the window - this is how manufacturers regulate the flow of orders. But for urgency you will need to pay up to 20%.

Blocks with paired and separate doors are 15-25% more expensive than single doors.

Often, you can order related products from the window manufacturer that match the frames in color and texture: window sills, slopes, trims.

It is quite obvious that modern wooden windows will find their place in our country; from year to year they will become more practical and affordable. The plastic boom will end sooner or later, and the share of wood windows will begin to grow, especially since the Russian climate is quite harsh, while we have decent forest reserves, and we have centuries-old traditions of wooden construction behind us.

Probably, each of us, when building a house, or when replacing dilapidated frames in an apartment, was faced with the problem of choosing windows - plastic or wooden? Warped and cracked, difficult to close, dusty between the cloudy openings of rattling glass, these construction elements dating back to Soviet times have become the subject of numerous ridicule and are an eyesore for caring family owners.

Why plastic windows?

In many ways, it was the stereotype formed from the past that contributed to the boom in construction know-how - plastic windows. More precisely, metal-plastic, because the frame is reinforced with metal from the inside for rigidity. Production of products began back in the 1960s in Europe. At first there were imported ones from Germany and Poland. Then production was established in our country.

Plastic quickly conquered the window market in Russia, standing out primarily for its insulation characteristics, tightness, durability, and aesthetics. And also the absence of constantly jamming vents and latches, since it is equipped convenient system opening in two (three) directions.

Competently and culturally structured service marketing also played a major role in activating demand for plastic windows. Manufacturers and suppliers of PVC windows immediately established service and maintenance, offering the buyer turnkey installation of products.

PVC – polyvinyl chloride – the main composition of the material.

It is enough to pay the purchase price - and there are no problems: delivery, replacement of old structures, installation, even cleaning and removal of construction waste.

Wooden windows could not boast of such attention to themselves.

Firstly, they were not included in the assortment at woodworking enterprises, therefore significant changes in production technologies laid down back in the days of the USSR, they did not receive it.

Secondly, manufacturing in the 90s was in the artisanal segment of the economy, and therefore there was a high percentage of defects. Moreover, it was difficult to legally punish such a manufacturer for dishonest work.

Thirdly, an inexperienced buyer had to choose wooden frames, and look for an installation specialist - again, from the above-mentioned “traditional craftsmen”.

And most importantly, the ease of use of PVC windows and their cleaning, compared to wooden ones, was undeniable.

Why wooden?

Few people know, but plastic windows in Europe have long lost ground to wooden windows. For example, today wood accounts for 60% of the European market. It is not without reason that in the EU countries a huge amount of appropriate tools and lines for the production of wooden windows are produced.

Therefore, in the 90s, manufacturers of plastic windows, in order not to lose sales, began to develop the markets of post-Soviet countries, offering tempting prices and service, the quality of which we mentioned above.

Gradually, thanks to thoughtful marketing and advertising, a stereotype was created for residents of the “scoop” that PVC windows are a symbol of wealth and prestige. At the same time, in Germany, Austria, France or Switzerland, on the contrary, wooden Euro-windows are a symbol of prosperity and respectability, being aesthetically attractive and environmentally friendly.

But also more expensive, because the manufacturing technology cannot be compared with the Soviet “ancestors”.

Previously, in the USSR, solid pine timber was used to make windows, which was economically beneficial, but caused deformation window frames influenced by humidity and temperature.

In Europe, a wooden blank made of three or four-layer laminated veneer lumber is used. For production, pine (the inside of the timber), oak, ash, and Siberian larch are selected, but there are also production technologies from mahogany - meranti.

For example, light red meranti has characteristics similar to oak, slightly inferior in hardness.

Products made from beech and chestnut are classified as elite and expensive. There are almost none of them on the market, not so much because of the high cost, but because of the complexity of preparing the source material and processing. For example, the manufacture of an oak window is preceded by three years of drying the blanks under certain conditions.

Manufacturers - especially small ones - replace the natural drying of wood with an electric dryer. This leads to the fact that the profiles may become covered with black spots.

Note that a compromise in terms of “price-quality” is windows made of expensive wood on the outside and a layer of pine on the inside.

The blanks are processed and impregnated with chemical compounds that improve moisture resistance, protect against rotting, but at the same time do not interfere with the wood’s ability to “breathe.”

It is worth noting the diversity paint coatings for wooden windows. It is better to give preference to German, Finnish and Dutch paints, which preserve the properties of wood, improve the appearance of products, and emphasize the structure of wood (if “varnished”). Wide color and texture palette.

Differences between wooden and plastic windows: pros and cons

There are conflicting reviews both heard and on the Internet. But it is worth noting that most of them are initiated by interested parties, and therefore are subjective, speculative, and pursue the goal of “drowning” a competitor or promoting their product.

For objective assessment It is more correct to compare the advantages and disadvantages of wooden and plastic windows that have appeared during many years of operation. From the point of view of how these products have proven themselves in practice, common reviews and opinions are analyzed. So let's get started.

1. PVC windows are easy to use

Because of this quality, they have gained popularity in our country. But let us remember that plastic windows appeared in our country against the backdrop of a pitiful state in the production of similar wood products. Modern wooden ones have an elegant appearance, and the profile is in no way inferior to plastic ones in terms of convenience. In addition, partial repairs of wooden windows are provided; the color can be easily refreshed or changed.

2. Plastic windows have excellent tightness

But, unfortunately, they are even too sealed, and poor ventilation leads to the formation of mold and moisture condensation. This is one of the main disadvantages of metal-plastic products. To avoid this problem, you must either buy windows with a built-in ventilation system, or purchase separately supply valve. Wooden ones are almost free of this drawback, because, as they say, they “breathe”. According to average data, a standard wooden frame passes through its pores about 2.5 cubic meters per day. air. Thus, wooden products help maintain optimal air consistency, since wood stabilizes the humidity regime better than other materials.

3. PVC windows have high thermal insulation

The question is controversial. The air chambers of metal-plastic windows significantly reduce heat transfer. But the main merit in this is not so much the profiles as the double-glazed windows. And modern wooden frames are also equipped with high-quality one- or two-chamber packages (glasses connected along the contour, between which an air-filled space is formed). In addition, the wooden frame itself, due to its natural porous structure, has lower thermal conductivity than PVC, which is especially important in conditions of Siberian cold or Asian heat. The same quality of wood prevents, unlike plastic, the appearance of condensation on the doors.

4. Plastic is highly sound insulating

The statement is also controversial. As in the previous paragraph, everything depends on the quality of the double-glazed window and the number of glasses in it: the more, the more noise is delayed. But wood, thanks to its texture, is an excellent soundproofing material, not inferior, or even superior, to plastic profiles.

5. Plastics are easy to care for and wash, even with the use of abrasives

It's right. Wooden crafts are more demanding in the use of detergent compositions, especially cannot tolerate abrasive ones. Without proper care, they age quite quickly and become unusable. But on the other hand, unlike metal-plastic wooden structures They do not have electrostatic properties - they do not attract dust - so they do not need to be washed as often as plastic ones. This is especially important in industrial or arid steppe areas.

6. PVC windows can withstand high humidity without problems

This is true. Even more: plastic is a hydrophobic substance (repels water). Unlike wooden competitors, plastic windows very well withstand even prolonged contact with moisture or the influence of precipitation. Modern technologies are not yet able to completely protect wood from destructive moisture, which is the main cause of rot and mold.

7. Metal-plastic windows tolerate temperature changes well and are frost-resistant

The statement is quite controversial. Frost resistance - this function is assigned exclusively to double-glazed windows. But very low or high temperatures (-40 – +40) are perceived differently by wooden and plastic construction. Wood is a natural material, hardened under the mentioned temperature conditions, so it is physically more resistant. Due to its natural origin, wood, unlike all other materials, also has the lowest coefficient of expansion, which makes it ideal for use, for example, in very cold conditions. That is why wooden windows are especially popular in northern countries– Finland and Sweden. PVC windows, especially considering the presence of metal parts in their designs, are quite vulnerable in this regard: a large temperature difference over time leads to a loss of insulating properties and, in general, structural strength.

8. PVC windows are less susceptible to deformation and are more durable

A very controversial statement. It is too early to draw conclusions about the durability of metal-plastic windows, since this product has been in use for at most 20-30 years. In fact, each of us has often seen old houses in which the wooden frames have not been changed for a hundred years or more. Even if their paint is peeling, the doors may not fit well, but with proper repairs they can last for many more years. And these are windows made in those times when they did not even think about advanced technologies and materials currently in use. The only enemy of wooden windows is moisture, which leads to their deformation and infection with fungus and mold. But with proper care, this danger can be avoided. Plastic windows are also susceptible to other misfortunes. The main one is the high coefficient of expansion with temperature changes, which gradually leads to loosening and loss of strength. And not only in the plastic itself, but also in the places where it meets the window opening.

The fact is that wooden frames are made from homogeneous materials (the same in physical properties), which have a similar expansion coefficient and perceive the same external influences. PVC windows in their design have different materials(especially metal fittings inside), and therefore they tolerate significant temperature changes worse than wooden ones.
There are no plastic ones without a metal base: polyvinyl chloride itself is a very fragile material, so without proper reinforcement the profile can be deformed. Another significant problem with metal-plastic windows is rubber seals. Even high-quality ones lose their properties over time, harden, and begin to crumble, especially under the influence of low and high temperatures, detergents, exhaust gases from the street, etc. They are inexpensive, but replacing the entire profile is a troublesome task.

9. Plastic is dangerous for the environment

The polyvinyl chloride from which window profiles are made is extremely dangerous for humans. No less dangerous are various additives (plasticizers, dyes), which are released into the air in small quantities (especially when heated). It is this fact that is often cited as the main argument in favor of wooden windows. But not everything is so scary. Firstly, most toxic and poisonous substances enter the atmosphere not from finished window, and in the production process of PVC raw materials.

Secondly, if you take into account the amount of plastic in the window and the volume of the room in which it is located, then the “harmfulness” from the released substances is reduced to virtually zero.

Thirdly, although the structure of the material contains harmful substances, this does not mean that they must necessarily enter our body (unless, of course, we burn or inhale combustion products). In addition, we are already surrounded by a huge number of products containing plastic: linoleum, toys, vinyl wallpaper, various packaging, etc.

Yes, there is virtually not a single thing around that does not contain some kind of poison. Another argument popular among opponents of plastic windows is that, unlike wooden ones, when polyvinyl chloride ignites, very toxic and poisonous substances are released. In this case, there is only one piece of advice: do not burn plastic windows in your apartment! Just a joke, but... But if, God forbid, it comes to a situation where the windows in the room are already on fire, then these fumes are unlikely to be significant in big picture tragedy. As is the environmentally friendly burning of wooden windows.

A person values ​​his health more than anything in the world, so concepts such as the harm or safety of a product have become one of the main tools in the struggle for consumers between competitors. Not surprisingly, this is the area most susceptible to subjectivity and bias. Sometimes a product that is hazardous to health is advertised as almost healing, and vice versa: a neutral product is presented as an environmental disaster.

10. Wooden windows look attractive

Wood products have always been valued for their beautiful texture, aesthetic and attractive appearance. But there is no arguing about tastes. For example, metal-plastic structures are more suitable for a modern concrete-glass-aluminum building than wooden ones. In addition, PVC windows are now very diverse both in shape and color (about 50). Wooden ones are somewhat limited in the arbitrariness of their designs (the radius of the arch is limited).