Few people associate the winter period with construction or repair work. But if you are interested in installing plastic windows in winter, then it is this time that gives several indisputable advantages. Why it is still possible to install windows in winter and how to do it correctly, and the "Dream House" will tell in this article.

Why is it profitable to install plastic windows in winter

The main advantage of the winter installation of plastic windows is their low cost. Since most people still want to finish laborious renovations during the warmer months, window installation companies have to offer seasonal discounts when winter arrives. In addition, as a rule, workers in winter are less busy with orders, respectively, they will be able to devote more time to you. However, the attractive price is by no means the only advantage of winter installation of windows.

Quite often, situations arise when, having installed windows during a warm period, during a cold snap, the owners notice some problems, for example, leaks, condensation forms between the shutters, etc. This happens either due to the use of low-quality components, or due to mistakes made during installation. When installing windows at low temperatures, all the shortcomings are noticeable immediately, which, accordingly, makes it possible to correct them on the spot.

Thinking about whether it is possible to put windows in the winter, many are afraid of freezing the room. Of course, in winter it is not very comfortable to be in a room without windows, but you need to take into account that the window opening will be completely open for no more than one hour. For such a short period of time, even under subzero temperatures, the room will not have time to freeze.

Installation of plastic windows in winter

How is the installation of windows in winter

According to the established standards, installation can only be carried out at temperatures above -15 ° C. The fact is that at very low temperatures, the rubber seal and the window profile become inelastic, which can lead to errors during installation. However, if the installation of a window is urgently needed, and the air temperature is below -15 ° C, then a special protective screen or heat gun will be used to carry out the work. These features do not in any way affect the quality of installation and the functionality of the structure, however, the cost of installing a window using a heat gun will be several times higher.

The installation of windows in winter has several characteristic features. Since the window frame cools down significantly during the transportation of the structure, it is recommended to carry out the installation work the next day, that is, the window structure should be in the room for about 24 hours. This is necessary for a better installation of windows. Under the influence of low temperatures, the plastic shrinks a little, but with warming it will begin to expand, which will lead to deformation of the lines and disruption of the functionality of the window. In addition, being in the cold for a long time, the plastic becomes more fragile, which complicates the entire installation process.

Preparation for the installation of reinforced-plastic windows in winter

In winter, during the installation of plastic windows, it is necessary to take into account changes in the properties of polyurethane foam and tape.

At subzero temperatures, the surface of buildings and structures decreases by several degrees, which causes a decrease in the adhesiveness of the mounting tapes required to insulate openings. Because of this, even before starting installation work, it is necessary to warm up the surface of the adhesive tape to at least 15 degrees above zero. In addition, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the joint surface, since even a small amount of frost will lead to the impossibility of fastening the tape. To reduce the stages of preparatory work, experts recommend fixing the tapes to the window frame even before the installation process. It is best if this operation is done before dismantling the old window. If you notice that the tape is still frozen, it is necessary to warm it up as soon as possible with hot steam at a distance of at least 15 centimeters.

Quality features largely depend on the polyurethane foam. For winter installation, polyurethane foam is required, which contains anti-freeze additives that contribute to rapid hardening.

The joints are filled with foam after the installation of the structure and securing with tapes. During installation, it is necessary to exclude the ingress of cold air onto the surface of fresh polyurethane foam, since in this case it will no longer be possible to fill the joints hermetically. To eliminate possible errors, it is recommended to carry out this operation in two stages in winter. First, the joints are filled in the cold zone using a “heat gun”, then a second layer of foam is applied to the warm zone.

Installation of windows in winter

How to check the quality of the installation of windows

As already noted, after installing plastic windows in winter, its quality can be checked immediately after the end of the work.

The first step is to carefully examine the foam for the presence of "bubbles", deformations and cracks. With high-quality installation and construction, the window should be easy to open and close. When closing, the window should fit snugly against the frame, without forming gaps, and the handle should rotate freely in either direction.

The following symptoms indicate errors made during installation:

• bringing the palm to the seal, cold air is felt;
• the window is jammed during opening / closing;
• there are gaps or gaps between the wall and the frame of the window structure;
• when the window is opened, the frame profile moves.

In addition, a clear sign of poor quality construction or errors during installation is a low room temperature. Even with the most severe frosts, the temperature in an apartment or house with closed plastic windows cannot be lower than + 18 ° C.

Is it possible to install windows in winter

As you can see, the installation of plastic windows in winter is more than possible. However, in order to avoid possible installation errors, as well as significant inconveniences for apartment residents, experts recommend that this work be carried out in winter at temperatures from 0 to -10 ° C.