uPVC Windows and Water Intrusion

Another great benefit of uPVC vinyl windows is the resistance to water intrusion. By way of construction, the vinyl window has fusion welded corners in the sashes and frames, in which the mitered corners are adjoined together through a high heat bonding process. This makes the window impervious to water seepage from the corners, and protects your home from water damage. This is crucial for daily storms during the rainy season as well as major tropical storms and hurricanes which often result in massive amounts of precipitation. Compare this performance to aluminum windows in which the mitered corners of the sash and frame are adjoined with mechanically screwed joints, which readily allows for water penetration a few years after the caulking has dissolved.

How Important is a double glazed or a double pane window?

A window with two panes of glass is crucial for energy efficiency. The unit in which the two pieces of glass are held is called an IGU, or an insulated glass unit. This unit contains the pane of Low-E glass, a spacer system and argon gas. The level of efficiency a window or door can reach is determined by the investment in the IGU, which is the key to a high performance window. There are many levels of investment that a window manufacturer can put into their IGU, and consequently varying levels of performance. For reference, a monolithic window, which consists of a single sheet of glass, does not have an IGU.