Advices – Sumeda

WOODEN WINDOWS AND DOORS WARRANTY CONDITIONS AND USER INSTRUCTIONS

For european type windows click here

For scandinavian type windows click here

PLASTIC WINDOWS AND DOORS WARRANTY CONDITIONS AND USER INSTRUCTIONS

What do you need to know before choosing wooden, aluminum or plastic windows?

Aluminum profile windows require very little maintenance, do not pollute the environment at all and have no architectural restrictions in terms of size or shape, but these windows are more expensive than wooden and plastic profile windows. Aluminum profile windows are slightly more heat permeable than the other two options mentioned.

European-type (inward-opening) wooden profile windows are made of glued wood. Due to the glued wood and varnishing, these windows are quite resistant to environmental effects and deformations. These windows are appreciated for their aesthetics, for the sense of comfort they provide and for their good thermal insulation properties. Wooden windows are natural, do not accumulate electrostatic charge. Wooden windows also differ from plastic windows in that they require more maintenance: wooden windows must be repainted at appropriate periods of time.

In order to avoid the disadvantages of a wooden profile window (deformations and surface changes due to climatic effects), wooden profile windows are manufactured, which are covered with aluminum on the outside side, which makes the windows really durable and very easy to maintain.

Plastic windows are the cheapest of the discussed window options. The popularity of plastic profile windows is determined by their low price, easy maintenance, good sound and heat insulation properties, and the possibility to choose windows of various colors and different glass packages. Due to the properties of heat retention, plastic profile windows create the need to frequently ventilate the premises, which is why it is highly recommended to install air vents.

What do you need to know before choosing windows with 2- or 3-pane glass units?

Thanks to glass innovations, it is now possible to install glass in windows that saves heat, retains the sun’s heat and performs other functions. In the case of two glass units, one of them, and in the case of three glass units, two of them are selective, i.e. heat-reflecting glass units.

Features Two-glass package Three-glass package The difference
Heat transfer
factor U

1.1 0.6 A triple-glazed window is 60% warmer.
Light transmittance 79%. 70 percent
A double-glazed window is 12 percent. more conductive to light.

Light reflection 12 percent. 15 percent
A three-pane window reflects light by 20 percent. better.

Total solar energy
conductivity 61 percent 49 percent
A triple-glazed window is 20 percent. less conductive to solar energy.

What do you need to know about heat insulating glass?

Selective glass is a glass coated with a thin, almost invisible to the naked eye layer of metals and metal oxides, which has the property of reflecting heat rays. A glass package with a new generation of soft-coated selective glass emits approximately three times less heat than an ordinary glass package. Thus, one square meter of selective glass saves about 150 KWh of heat energy during the heating season, compared to a simple package. Therefore, compared to a simple glass package, it pays for itself in 1-2 seasons. An even more advanced glass package with two selective glasses and one simple (two-chamber) glass. Its thermal conductivity is 0.7 W/m2k.

How to properly care for wooden windows?

Although wooden window frames are properly prepared and protected from environmental influences, when plastering, plastering, and painting walls, the surface of wooden frames must be covered and protected from external influences. If adhesive strips are glued on the frames, you should avoid those based on aggressive adhesives, as damage to the wooden window frame may occur when the strips are torn off. Care must be taken to prevent plaster or paint from falling into locks, window handles, and fittings. In order to protect wooden window frames from the negative effects of moisture, it is necessary to periodically ventilate the premises (relative air humidity in the room should not exceed 60 percent). All wooden surfaces should be cleaned with a neutral all-purpose cleaner (such as Remmers products) and cleaners containing abrasives or thinners should be avoided. The use of a mild cleaner extends the intervals between the renewal of the paint coating of wooden windows, because the surface of the wood is protected from minor damages, which can lead to moisture in the wood of the window, which can lead to the appearance of blue stain fungus. The latter can best be avoided by using a special milk for the maintenance of wooden frames, which seals small cracks in the wooden window frame.

How to properly ventilate living spaces and prevent fogging of windows and mold on walls?

Sealed windows provide comfort due to their thermal insulation properties, but require frequent ventilation of the premises.

First of all, it should be emphasized that neither the window manufacturers nor the profile from which the sealed window and even the glass unit are made are to blame for the fogging of the windows and the lack of air in the room. The windows are usually changed to tighter ones – plastic or wooden – to save heat, protect against drafts and noise coming from the street. However, due to the tightness of the new windows, the air exchange between the rooms and the outside is much slower, humidity occurs in the room due to the still air, which can cause fogging of the windows and moldy walls. There is a very simple solution to these problems – room ventilation. It takes about 20-30 minutes to ventilate the rooms in the morning, it is worth making a draft, so the rooms will air out faster. It is best if it is possible to ventilate the premises several times a day. The house can be ventilated in two ways – naturally or by forced ventilation.

Natural ventilation by opening windows/air vents in the house is effective when the air removal channels are installed correctly, i.e. air can circulate freely throughout the house. This requires, first of all, the installation of air supply devices, the sealing of all internal doors by cutting the bottom of them or installing special air-permeable grills at the bottom of them. Ventilation must be continuous, even when there are no people inside.

In the case of natural ventilation, air is moved by the temperature difference between outside and inside and by the wind. The height of the chimney or ventilation channel is also important. Of course, if there is no wind and the temperature is the same both outside and inside during the summer, air movement should not be expected.
Vents can be installed not only in windows, but also in walls. If we talk about air vents installed in the windows, it should be emphasized that the latter do not harm the window more than installing a hinged part of the window.

When choosing vents, attention should be paid to their characteristics or air conductivity at a fixed pressure difference. It would be useful to calculate the volume of the room and then adjust the amount of vents based on their characteristics. It would be best to choose automatic air conditioners that adjust the air circulation in the room depending on the occupancy of the room. Such air conditioners are controlled by special sensors that are sensitive to changes in humidity in the indoor air.

People evaporate a lot of water with exhaled air, which remains in the air when the room is not ventilated. These vapors turn into water again under the right conditions (fogging windows, damp walls). Window misting in winter depends very much on the temperature inside the room in general and on the temperature of the window glass. If the relative humidity in the room air is RH=70% and t=+20C, then the window glass, which has only warmed up to +14C, is already at risk of getting wet from the inside. The air entering through the vent installed in the sealed window and flowing into the interior of the room passes the so-called thermal barrier, when it warms up it dries very quickly. When drier air enters the room, it “dilutes” the moist air in the room, as a result of which the dew point temperature becomes lower, i.e. the window glass may be colder, but the dew does not fall. In all cases, it is recommended to have at least a small heating radiator under the window.

In order to avoid the loss of sound dampening properties due to an open window, it is possible to install vents that have a sound dampening effect.
It is important to mention that the installation of vents does not mean large heat losses.
In order for ventilation to work, it is necessary not only to supply air, but also to extract it. We can install many vents, but if there is no air draft in the ventilation ducts, ventilation will not take place.

If forced ventilation is selected, it is possible to install a central air removal fan in the attic or basement of the house, combining all the ventilation shafts of the auxiliary rooms. In this case, the fan works constantly. Air flows are regulated only by changing the cross-section of the vents and grilles.

Prevent small children from being able to open the windows.

When ordering windows, you can choose to install handles with a lock. It is particularly relevant to install the latter handles on plastic or wooden windows in the children’s room. The essence of the lock mechanism is as follows: by turning the locked handle at any angle, only the sash can be opened, i.e. the room is ventilated, but the window cannot be opened. Only the one who has the key can open the window.

Protect the ground floor windows from opening from the outside

Such a decision is very relevant in private houses or first-floor apartments. In order to protect the windows from being opened from the outside, it is possible to install fittings of increased security in the window. This solution completely protects your home.