When you think of your future home, grandiose ideas about the layout, wall paint and furnishings might come to mind, but there is one unspoken detail that can make or break your property. Windows. The selection of window type, style & installation quality can make a huge difference in the thermal performance & acoustic insulation of your home – with some exciting prospects like cheaper energy bills & protection from outside noise.
One of the major players in delivering these possibilities, is the unsung hero of window systems – the frame. The window frame, material type and design are critical in facilitating the usage of highly performant insulated glass units and seals to achieve superior strength, thermal and acoustic performance, style and practicality. At Windows for Life, we offer the best framing material for your double glazed window installations: uPVC. So what is this material, it’s origins and what are the advantages that you stand to gain by installing uPVC windows in your home?
We’ve all heard of PVC, which is used to create widely used soft plastic items such as cables & garden hoses, but how is it actually made? PVC is a material manufactured using an electrical current on sodium chloride (saltwater); this produces chlorine, which is then combined with ethylene, a flammable gas sourced from natural gases or petroleum to make ethylene dichloride. Finally, high temperatures are applied to this element to convert it to a vinyl chloride monomer. This element is then combined to create PVC.
Once we have PVC, uPVC can be formed. We get an unplasticised material by removing the chemical plasticisers used in PVC, which creates a durable, rigid and sustainable composition. This final step is where the “u” (unplasticised) comes in, is a slight adjustment with significant benefits! Short for Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride, uPVC is a sturdy and recyclable plastic with many uses.
So, is PVC ever used for window frames? Though the two terms are often used interchangeably, PVC isn’t a suitable material for windows, with PVC being a highly malleable, lightweight material. Both uPVC and PVC are temperature-resistant & excellent insulators, but that’s where the similarities end.
In contrast to PVC, uPVC offers an environmentally friendly and durable alternative. Its BPA & phthalate free non-toxic composition provides a perfect material for medical & dental supplies, as well as high quality window frames!
So how did we come upon using this game-changing material for window production? Our historical journey begins in 1935, when uPVC was produced for the first time, but like all good things, it would be a long wait until we began to commercially apply uPVC in window solutions.
The benefits of uPVC windows have always been market-leading in global window manufacturing, especially within the Australian market, where our extreme weather and high electricity prices demand the most efficient window solution available.
Some benefits of uPVC windows are:
The benefits of uPVC windows are endless, with this all-star window solution reducing the maintenance costs associated with home ownership, whilst improving property value, aesthetic appearance and energy bills.
In Australia and particularly in Victoria, you never know what you’re going to get when it comes to weather. The uPVC frames used by Windows for Life are specifically designed for withstanding Australia’s harsh climate. They can withstand all weather and the aftermath, with no risk of rust, corrosion or rot due to the non-porous qualities of uPVC. uPVC is also resistant to termites and can handle coastal conditions due to the salt content used in its production. This resistant nature makes uPVC window frames a low maintenance, long-lasting solution for all homes.
With countless benefits, the high-grade quality materials and hardware used by Windows for Life enables your double-glazed uPVC windows to last well over 35 years. You can’t go wrong with high-quality uPVC double glazed windows. If you’re looking for the best uPVC windows, Windows for Life has you covered! Contact us today for a free measure and quote.