The Window Workshop (Sussex) Ltd

What are the advantages / disadvantages of fitting uPVC windows?

Advantages of uPVC Windows • uPVC frames are lightweight, durable and resistant to pollution • uPVC windows need little maintenance with only regular cleaning. This can save valuable time • uPVC windows are a good insulator to keep heat in and sound out • uPVC windows have a modern look, so suitable for contemporary buildings • uPVC windows are cheaper than timber windows so provide value for money Disadvantages of uPVC Windows • uPVC may not be suitable for listed buildings or those within conservation areas

What colours are uPVC windows available in?

The number of colours available for uPVC windows has changed significantly over the last 10 years. For a long time, windows came in 3 colours - White, Golden Oak, and Rosewood. Now, there are 19 colours available as a standard foil, with hundreds of colours available as a sprayed option. What is a “foil”? When we refer to a “foil”, a foil in this case is the coloured part of the window that you see. It is a thin plastic sheet applied to the upvc frame (which is either white or brown), and it provides the colour, and the grain effect to the window. This is done before the window is manufactured and the plastic is still in bar lengths; the process uses heat bonding to create a strong bond which will not peel or scratch off. Our foils will not fade in UV light, and are tough and hard wearing to stand up to the British climate. Foils are the standard way to get coloured windows, and vary in price. The most common colours (Rosewood, Golden Oak) are more cost effective than the less common colours (Irish Oak, Agate Grey). This is simply due to the manufacturing process - the more popular a colour is, the less it costs to make. What if a colour I want isn’t listed? uPVC Windows can also be sprayed to any RAL colour. There is a special uPVC paint called Kolorbond, which is similar to powder coating. This allows for a strong durable finish, and also maintains your 10 year guarantee. This option is for when a very specific colour is required, or if you wish for one our standard foil colours but in a flat (not woodgrain) finish.

What is a uPVC window?

uPVC is the material that the frame of the double glazed windows is made off. This material is based on plastic powder (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, uPVC), which is heated up and injected into a mould in order to form its shape. After it has cooled through different methods, the uPVC is cut and prepared to be assembled in a double glazed window together with the other components. uPVC is not the only material that double glazed window frames are made of. They can also be made of timber and aluminium. All three materials come with different advantages and disadvantages, but overall, uPVC is the most used. Furthermore, double glazed windows can be produced in many different shapes with a variety of mechanisms (uPVC bay windows, for instance).