7 tips for choosing plastic windows

“Plastic windows” and “white color” are already synonyms, but manufacturers are doing their best to destroy stereotypes and offer customers windows in dozens of different shades, with an imitation of the structure of wood and stone. Such an assortment allows you to realize any undertaking. It remains only to decide what color to choose plastic windows, because you will have to consider not only your own wishes, but also the features of the interior and facade.

No. 1. Technology features

Although the white profile is considered classic, neutral and universal, some do not really like it. Many call it boring, others find it unsuitable for a specific interior. There is only one way out of this situation - to order colored plastic windows, fortunately, technology allows. Large manufacturers are ready to offer up to 100 different shades and textures - there really are plenty to choose from.

To give plastic profile certain technologies use various technologies:

1. Acrylic film lamination, during which the profile and the film are actually sintered and become one. First, the profile is treated with special compositions (primers) to improve adhesion to the film, then the profile is heated in the chambers, after which a film is applied to it, which is pressed by rollers. As a result, intermolecular bonds arise between the profile and the film, i.e. they become a single whole, which allows us to talk about the high durability of structures decorated in this way. Film comes in different shades, can imitate the structure of any type of wood, any stone, etc. The most modern acrylic coatings repeat even the relief of natural woodso that it is possible to achieve maximum similarity. The film is not afraid of sunlight, so it will not fade, it is not afraid of scratches. Only one of the sides of the profile can be glued with such a coating, or both, but the ends remain white unless preliminary staining in the mass has been made.
2. Spray painting allows you to get a lot of interesting shades that are not available when using the lamination method. First, the profile is thoroughly cleaned, then it is treated with water paint by airless spraying, and if necessary to obtain a metallic color, a second coating layer is applied. It remains to wait for the complete drying, after which the system is ready for installation in the apartment at the customer. There are not just a lot of color options for staining, but a lot - a palette of more than 2000 shadesincluding glossy, matte and metallic options. The painting technology takes less time and costs less than lamination, and during operation, the coating can be easily updated. However, scratches and other damage on a painted profile appear easier than on a laminated one. The quality of painting is highly dependent on the skill of the artist. You won’t be able to get a texture - only a plain colored surface, but in many cases this is enough.
3. Bulk staining carried out at the stage of manufacturing the profile by adding colored pigment. In this way, the surface that is most resistant to external influences can be obtained. The choice of shades is limited, often a brown profile is produced in a similar way.

If you want to install plastic windows that will be as similar as possible wooden, it is better to choose those that were painted in the mass in a brown shade, and then laminated with a film with imitation of wood texture. In this case, the white ends will not give out the true origin of the structure.

No. 2. Pros and cons of colored plastic windows

It seems that any outright can name the main plus and minus of such designs. It all comes down to the fact that it is interesting, but expensive. In fact, some of the pros and cons are not obvious, so before you install color windows, you need to consider this solution comprehensively.

Benefits:

• the ability to give the windows almost any shade that will be in harmony with the interior and facade;
• plastic windows with lamination under a tree will cost less than wooden, and it will be difficult to distinguish a quality product from a window with a wooden profile;
• lamination or spraying of paint can be done only on one side, so that, for example, not to violate the overall architectural appearance of the house, but to create an original interior;
• security. Any type of profile decoration is not able to harm the health of people living in the apartment;
• color profile resistance to sunlight and other negative environmental influences.

Minuses:

• higher price, color windows will cost 25-70% more expensive than regular white ones, the final price depends on the coloring;
• the film may be scratched, and if there is a white profile under it, then it will not look very aesthetically pleasing. Yes, the coating adheres quite firmly, but the film is inferior to the PVC profile in terms of resistance to mechanical damage. Spray paint can also be scratched, but it is easier to repair a painted coating. However, it is also possible to mask a scratch on the film using special markers;
• ordinary component parts they will not be suitable for a color profile, so you have to spend money on more expensive handles, window sills, hinges and seals - everything that is non-standard is more expensive;
• the laminated profile is much more susceptible to temperature deformations, which requires a special approach at all stages: from measurement to installation. Firstly, for laminated windows, a slightly larger installation gap is required, so companies warn that it is dangerous to install such windows on the south side. Secondly, in the manufacturing process, reinforced steel reinforcement with a thickness of at least 1.5 mm is carried out. In addition, it is necessary to provide ventilation openings, and fasteners should be installed in smaller increments (45-50 cm, not 60-70 cm for standard white windows).

Colored windows are becoming more popular, but blindly succumb to fashion trends is not worth it. Think carefully about everything, perhaps a standard white profile can fit into the interior and exterior of the house. In pursuit of exclusivity, do not forget that the main task of a modern window - This is the creation of a reliable barrier between the house and the street, and this will be possible if a high-quality profile and a suitable double-glazed window are used, the correct installation is made. Residents of Moscow and the region can safely contact the company Oknaroff, which produces plastic windows based on the German profile Rehau and gives a 5-year warranty. Measurement is free of charge, installation is carried out according to all standards, and the bulk of the payment is paid only after the installation of windows. You can calculate the cost of a window or glazing a balcony using a plastic window calculator, but the price can be reduced through promotions and special offers.

If the white windows once bother (or are already tired), then they can be transformed using a special film or painting, which will be discussed below.

No. 3. Color options

Spraying is carried out in hundreds of shades, for staining in the mass and laminating there are fewer options, but still enough.The following options for color profiles are in greatest demand:

• brown;
• with imitation wood;
• gray, black and beige are neutral shades that are easy to fit into most interior styles;
• profile with a metallized surface;
• profiles of non-standard shades (green, red, blue, orange) are still rarely ordered. This is an option for courageous people who create a colorful interior. Also, such a solution is chosen by companies that want to make their office memorable both from the inside and outside.

Large window companies are constantly expanding their offer. It is predicted that in the future will appear film with 3D effect, which will make the windows even more interesting. Films with even better imitation of the wood surface will also appear. I want to believe that the performance of the film is improving. So, for example, after numerous customer requests, Renolit (the largest manufacturer of lamination films) developed a material with lower thermal absorption, and now the film with the same colors as before is heated to 3-11⁰With less.

Also, do not forget that the profile can be laminated on one side only, or laminated on both, but in different colors, so you don’t have to worry that the new window will not fit into the facade of the apartment building. Let the window from the outside be as required by the appearance of the house, and inside the profile can be anything.

Number 4. Profile color and house facade

The largest selection of possible solutions opens to the owners of their own houses, cottages and summer cottages. Here you do not need to take into account the general appearance of the house and put a profile like everyone else, so as not to stand out. Owners of private houses with all the variety of available shades, in fact, choose one of two possible ways - either the window is in harmony with facade and its details, or strikingly contrasts with it.

Designers are advised to pay attention to the following options for choosing the right shade:

• the choice of a shade that is in harmony with the color of the facade. For example, for a house trimmed terracotta brick, you can choose a profile of the same shade or close, for example, brown. If the facade is made in gray, then why not choose frames in the same gray color, only a couple of tones darker. It is allowed to use black or metallic;
• we must not forget about architectural style of the house. If we are talking about houses in the classical style, then you can’t imagine anything better than a wood-like profile, but there is freedom of choice here, because there are different shades of wood: from almost white to saturated brown. Such windows will look especially well in wooden houses and houses sheathed in wood. For the classic style, calm shades of the profile, such as chocolate, brown, cream and black, are also suitable. For modern architecture, frames of gray, graphite, anthracite and all the same black shade are suitable. If the house or office space is made in an extravagant kitsch style, then all restrictions are removed - choose at least blue, even raspberry frames;
• can focus on the color of the roof and doors. So for example, brown siding Will look great with brown frames. Doors and windows of the same color - this is the golden rule of a harmonious facade;
• there is a tendency to navigate when choosing a color for the outer part of the profile on garage door color. The garage is often a part of the general building, it is clearly visible from the street, and goal have a sufficiently large area, so the garage should not be treated as a technical and auxiliary element, but as a full-fledged part of the house. If there is garage and it is attached to the houseIt makes sense to make the windows and gates of the garage the same color. This does not cancel all other rules.Let windows, and gates, and doors, and a fence with a roof be the same shade, which will perfectly blend with the facade of the house. For example, dark chocolate and creamy color;
• the most daring and at the same time difficult decision is contrasting color profile. In this case, the task is to highlight the windows, but to make it so that they remain part of the overall harmonious facade, are not alien. If everything is done correctly, with taste, then the facade of the house will become memorable. Most often, this solution is used to equip commercial buildings. Clients will definitely not forget the company's office with unusual blue or purple windows. For coloring, you can choose a corporate color. In the design of residential buildings, contrasting shades are rarely used, but if you want to distinguish your house from the rest, then why not.

Once again, we should not immediately discard the option with a white profile - it really, due to its neutrality, fits perfectly into most facades. Moreover, white has a mass of shades, from snow-white to cream - you can find a suitable solution in any case.

No. 5. Profile color and interior

That's where imagination can be unleashed! At home, everyone is free to do whatever he wants, and we have at our disposal a wide selection of colors and shades. Here, just as with the facade, you can use a color that fits into the color scheme of the interior, or you can play in contrast.

There are several win-win solutions:

• window frames selection under color of interior doors. Windows and doors change rarely enough, they should be in harmony with each other, so such a solution will create a stylish interior;
• window profile selection the color of the walls - also a good solution, allowing you to create a harmonious interior space. Let's say the walls are painted blue, and the profile can choose light blue. This is an excellent basis for arranging a children's room for a boy;
• window profile selection the color of furniture - a more complex and often reckless decision, as many people change furniture much more often than do repairs. If we are talking about solid wooden furniture, then the decision will be justified - windows with lamination under the tree will look the most advantageous;
• a lot depends on interior style. IN classic style the windows laminated under a tree of brown shades will ideally fit in style provence - under a tree of light shades. For country you can choose a lamination for dark types of wood, or choose plain brown frames. If we are talking about modern interior styles (minimalism and high tech), the preference is for plain profiles. If the white color does not suit, stop at gray or metallic. For style modernkitsch boho you can take a profile of a bright unusual color: yellow, red, green, purple, pink - which tells the heart;
• game in contrast - This is a risk that can lead to complete success or, conversely, deliver complete disappointment. As in the case of the facade, you need to choose a shade so that it is contrasting, but at the same time in harmony with the interior. Focus on the combination of colors in the color wheel;
• it is also important to consider features of the room. For example, for small rooms it is better to take a profile of light shades: beige, cream, light gray, etc. If the windows face south, cool shades of green, blue, and purple will help to cool the house. If there is not enough light and heat, then you can focus on the profile of cheerful yellow, orange or red. Remember the specifics of the effect of color on the nervous system. The red tint, for example, acts disturbingly, so in the bedroom it is clearly not appropriate, but in the kitchen - please. For the rest rooms, calmer tones are suitable: green, blue, beige, wood, brown;
• during installation panoramic windows it’s better to choose a calm shade of the profile, since the windows will attract a lot of attention. The ideal solution in this case is gray, brown, black profile or metallic color profile.

We draw your attention to the fact that the color in the catalog may actually vary slightly - this is normal, you just need to make an adjustment for this fact. It is better to come to the office of the company and get acquainted with the samples of the desired color. Many manufacturers have special programs in which you can visualize the interior of the room and the color of the profile in order to evaluate their own decision and, if necessary, make changes on time.

No. 6. Glass color in plastic windows

Yes, you can experiment not only with the profile, but also with double-glazed windows - good, the modern level of production allows you to do this. In addition to the usual transparent double-glazed windows, you can use colored glassesthat get a certain shade, without losing translucent properties. They will be warmer in the sun (some companies do not recommend putting colored glass on the south side), while the overall illumination of the room will decrease, since colored glass transmits less light than transparent.

Shades can be different: blue and pink to brown and dark green. By putting glass in a bronze or golden hue, it will be possible to fill the room with warm, almost sunlight, which will penetrate in any weather. Actual for rooms facing the north side. Blue glass will fill the room with sky blue light. Colored glass can be provided with all the shutters in the window, or only part of them - such a product will in any case attract attention and create a fancy play of light in the room.

There are many ways to stain glass:

• staining in bulk shows itself best; glass will be as resistant to all influences as possible;
• staining by pyrolysis takes place on the basis of finished glass, the structure of which is literally soldered with colored pigment. It turns out almost the same stable coating as when dyeing in bulk;
• staining by spraying in vacuum gives the most predicted result, since you can adjust the saturation of the shade;
• applying a film is quick and easy, you can do everything even with your own hands. Less - the film can be scratched.

In addition to almost transparent colored glasses, there are other ways to decorate a window:

• use mirrored glasses, which reflect part of the sun's rays, allow you to save on air conditioning and protect the living space from prying eyes. Mirror tinting can be of different shades. For a private house, it is better to choose brown, golden, green or blue shades, and for a commercial building in a modern style - gray or bronze glasses;
• matte texture double-glazed windows they let in only a small part of the world, reliably protect from the eyes of strangers, are appropriate in such rooms as a bathroom, toilet, locker room. A matte surface is achieved by sandblasting. Similarly, on the glass, you can create some kind of pattern or pattern from transparent and matte parts - it looks quite restrained and interesting;
• stained glass window - this is not only expensive, but also quite difficult, in the literal sense of the word. It can only withstand aluminum profile. Cheaper and easier to simulate stained glass. The “diamond face” technique will look quite good when part or all of the inner surface of the glass is coated with a special tape that imitates a bevel, and the glass packet begins to sparkle. In production, stained glass is sometimes imitated with the help of films and tin broaches. Glass with a pattern is placed inside a double-glazed window, as a result, everything looks natural;
• devitrification and decorative layout divides the glass into several cells.A similar effect is appropriate in a number of interiors and allows you to make the window a little more interesting. The layout installed inside the double-glazed window looks best.

Number 7. How to change the color of plastic windows with your own hands?

After looking at examples of interesting solutions, many look at their white plastic windows with transparent glasses with a kind of longing. It would seem that they are still strong and sealed, there is no point in putting new ones, but I want something new. The solution is simple - you can upgrade existing windows a bit. The main thing is to weigh all your decisions so that the updated window fits into the interior.

So, what can you do yourself:

• change profile color with lamination films. Someone prefers to use automotive films. The technique of sticking remains the same. The film must first be cut, given the allowance of 10-20 mm. The pen and other elements that may interfere with the window are previously removed. It is most convenient to work with a dismantled sash. The surface must be degreased, and then proceed to gluing, acting carefully, gradually peeling off the protective coating and pressing the film to the profile. After that, the surface is smoothed out with a squeegee, bubbles are removed, excess is cut off, at the folds the film can be heated with hot air from a hair dryer. The durability of such a coating is lower than with factory lamination, but re-sticking the film is not so difficult. On sale there are coatings of different colors and textures;
• you can change the color of the profile by coloring. Many believe that this way the result will be more aesthetic than when glued with a film. It is advisable to first make a matte surface out of a glossy surface - so the paint will lie better. It can be sanded with sandpaper - the main thing is not to overdo it. Before staining, plastic must be treated with a special cleaner for PVC, in extreme cases, detergent for dishes will fit - it also degreases the surface. Now it remains to seal the glass, primer profile (choose products suitable for plastic or metal) and apply paint. Acrylic paints are best suited: they fit well on a smooth surface, dry quickly, do not fade. It is better to apply the paint with a spray gun - this way it will be possible to achieve the most uniform layer. Car paint, which is already available in a spray can, is also suitable. Colors usually have a characteristic sheen, but in some cases it will come in handy;
• stick on tint film with a shade or mirror effect on the glass. The manufacturer gives all the instructions on the packaging. Most films have a self-adhesive base, but there are also shrinkable products that are glued with hot air;
• matte and stained glass films glued about the same as tinting. On sale you can find coatings with different patterns. If the stained glass film is supplemented with decorative tin broaches on a self-adhesive basis, then it will turn out with your own hands to create a real masterpiece at home;
• false binding. It is necessary to think over a decorative layout scheme in advance, buy a profile of a suitable color and shape, cut it and glue it on a sealant or double-sided tape - glue or liquid nails can leave traces on the glass.

Finally

When ordering a custom color window, do not forget that you will need specific accessories: handles, hinges, gaskets, ventilated and even frames mosquito nets should match in color. It may be impossible to find all these details in the required shade, therefore, often with an unusual profile they use handles in silver, bronze, copper or chrome steel.