Wooden euro windows - pros and cons. Why are wooden windows better than plastic ones? Double-glazed wooden windows pros and cons

If you are still the “happy owner” of a Soviet-era window, or your windows do not satisfy you in any way, then it’s time to make a choice in favor of the new modern “eyes” of your home.

Sales statistics for different window companies are as follows: in the first place PVC windows, on the second - wooden windows, and in third place are aluminum windows.

Let's consider all the pros and cons of not the most, at first glance, type of window popular on the Russian market.

1. The main advantage of a wooden window is its environmental friendliness.

Being a natural material, wood is pleasant to the touch, it is warm and lively, the wood window "breathes", providing natural ventilation and maintaining the microclimate necessary for the room. Plastic windows, even those equipped with a special micro-ventilation system, cannot provide air access to the room. Due to the naturalness of wooden windows, they are given the greatest preference in European countries, therefore they are also called eurowindows.

In the production of elite euro-windows, wood of various types of wood is used: chestnut, beech, oak, which accordingly affects their price. Therefore, most often buyers prefer pine windows. As a rule, this is a pine growing in the northern regions, since the density of the wood of the northern pine is higher than that of the southern one. Such windows are comparatively cheaper than windows made of elite types of wood.

It is possible to conditionally divide wooden windows into two types: made of solid wood (solid timber) and multilayer glued beams. Unlike windows made of ordinary timber, for the manufacture of which woodworking equipment and machines are used, multilayer timber practically does not deform during operation.

The technology of preparing a wooden bar is very important, from which a profile is subsequently created and a window frame is assembled: for the manufacture of a high-quality bar, a well-dried tree with a moisture level of 10-12% is selected, containing a minimum of knots and chips. If the timber is not dry enough, the window will sooner or later begin to deform under the influence of the environment.

2. The second undoubted advantage of wooden windows is their durability.

Used for impregnation of wood and finishing coat of window frames, they can increase the service life of a wooden window up to 50 years and compete with even the highest quality PVC window.

Aluminum overlays on the outer side of the frame allow to extend the service life of the window by almost 2 times. Moreover, you can choose the aluminum lining of the color that suits you.

3. The third and, perhaps, the most important advantage of wooden windows is their excellent sound-absorbing and heat-insulating characteristics.

Compared to wood, the sound-absorbing characteristics of PVC are worse, since resonance vibrations occur in plastic windows when exposed to sound waves. The thermal insulation characteristics of a wooden window are sometimes even better than that of a plastic one, taking into account the natural origin of wood, its practically zero thermal conductivity, and the fact that the same double-glazed windows are used for glazing both wooden and plastic frames. There are also the latest developments that allow installing double-glazed windows with special energy-saving glass.

The only drawback of wooden windows is their higher cost compared to plastic ones. But everyone knows that quality and prestige have never been a cheap commodity available to everyone. Having decided to purchase exactly high-quality ones, which will rightfully become an adornment of your home and an indicator of your high social status, contact trusted, proven companies.

And remember - the miser pays twice!

In the increased demand for the construction of a country house, the main role is played by the desire to get closer to nature while avoiding the hustle and bustle of city life. Such natural material as wood is ideal for these conditions. Wood, being an environmentally friendly material, allows you to create a kind of microclimate in the house, a cozy and comfortable atmosphere.

Unlike typical urban housing, which has rectangular windows, country houses are often distinguished by original window openings: arched, triangular, round or panoramic. Unusual models give the house its own unique look.

Window construction materials

Mainly for the manufacture of modern windows can be used: pine, larch, walnut, oak, chestnut, beech, mahogany (mahogany). The most economical pine ones, their surface can be coated with a coating that imitates more expensive types of wood. Mahogany wood is the most expensive because of its wonderful properties.

The tree is impregnated in the factory with special compounds that protect it from moisture, sun rays and damage by tree bugs.

The frame and bindings can be made of solid timber or laminated laminated timber. Glued laminated timber is manufactured on special (more often imported) woodworking equipment and machines. It is practically not subject to deformation during operation.

The surface can be:

• transparent (varnished);
• translucent (colored);
• covering with veneer.

To increase durability and performance characteristics, the wooden profile is reinforced from the outside with an aluminum frame painted in the colors of the base material. This combination increases the service life of wooden windows up to 80 years.

In some countries, but not in Russia, plastic is used instead of aluminum.

One-, two-, and three-chamber double-glazed windows are used as filling. The formula for double-glazed windows can be up to eight. The latter two are preferable, with excellent heat and sound insulation, three-chamber, in addition, shockproof. For protection against ultraviolet radiation, the glass can be covered with special types of film.

The used fittings differ little from those used in plastic windows, with the possibility of vertical and horizontal opening of the sashes.

Varieties of windows

Various types of wooden windows are on sale:

1. “Soviet” or “carpentry” - solid wood frame filled with massive glass. Manufactured only in small workshops.
2. Finnish - a kind of "Soviet", but with a thickened box and an additional glass unit to the sheet glass. Sometimes the frame is made of laminated veneer lumber.
3. German - called "Euro windows". Profile - glued three-layer timber and double-glazed windows. The flaps open in 2 planes.
4. Scandinavian. The frame is made of solid thick timber, the filling is double-glazed windows.
5. English or "guillotine" (due to the vertical rise of the window with the fixation of the frame at the top). The frame is narrow with a large number of square bindings.
6. French. With panoramic glazing, combining the functions of a door and a window. The frames are made of laminated veneer lumber, the double-glazed window is divided into squares by the binding.

Advantages and disadvantages

The name "Euro-window" is unofficial, it is considered to be wooden windows with double-glazed windows. Their main advantages:

• environmental friendliness, the window “breathes”, it is warm, pleasant to the touch, does not emit substances hazardous to people and pets;
• great view;
• tightness, high thermal insulation and sound absorption;
• condensation does not form;
• durability of wooden windows ≥ 50 years;

We spoke more than once about how popular such material as wood is nowadays. Today we will talk again about the benefits of this material. Wood is very often used for the production of window frames. How are they different from other materials?

Windows are the eyes of any room, and they are often chosen very thoroughly. Now, in pursuit of naturalness, consumers increasingly refuse plastic windows, choosing for their home wooden windows with double-glazed windows.

Or wooden euro-windows are a modern building material that has successfully combined the ease of use, practicality of plastic windows and all the positive qualities of a natural material.

Like any other material, double-glazed wooden windows have their pros and cons. Let's take a look at them.

Wooden windows with double-glazed windows - pluses

-Naturalness... This is one of the main advantages of wooden windows, with which plastic windows cannot compete. Wood is completely natural, environmentally friendly material, its use in residential premises is safe for human health. While the windows are made of plastic (PVC) are made entirely of synthetic material, which, when exposed to heat (in summer), emits a certain amount of harmful, toxic substances. Even if this amount is small, it is still there.

- Durability with proper care, they will serve you at least twice as long as similar plastic products. Wooden euro-windows are made of three-layer ones, which makes them even stronger and more durable.

- Ventilation... Another indisputable advantage of wooden windows, over plastic ones, is good air exchange. The tree allows air to pass through well, it breathes. Therefore, even with a tightly closed window, fresh air will flow into the room, which will help to avoid condensation and stuffiness in the room.

- Appearance... I think that no one will argue with the fact that wood looks much nicer than plastic. Wooden windows create a special atmosphere of warmth and comfort in the room, they are pleasant to the touch. Wooden euro-windows look more harmonious in most buildings, especially in wooden houses.

- No static electricity... Since wood is a completely natural material, it is not charged with static electricity and, as a result, does not attract dust and dirt from the air.

- Ease of repair... If a scratch or chip appears on a plastic window, then it cannot be repaired. You can either leave everything as it is, which, of course, spoils the appearance of the entire room, or change the window to a new one. Wooden euro windows, in this case, are much more convenient. Any scratch on wood can be easily removed by sanding.

- Large range of colors... Of course, in our time it will not be difficult to order plastic windows of the color you need, but this will definitely require additional material costs from you. In addition, it is not possible to change the color of the plastic window during operation. But wooden windows can be painted as much as you like and change their color at least every month. That will save you from having to change the window: when you change the design of a room, you just need to repaint it. Also, staining allows you to freshen the appearance of the window.

- Thermal insulation significantly increase the thermal insulation of the room, help keep warm.

- Practicality... Many skeptics will say that in terms of practicality, wooden windows can never be compared with plastic ones, but this is not the case. Today, in the production of wooden windows with double-glazed windows, high-quality modern fittings are used, which allows them to be used, just like plastic ones. open in several positions, they are equipped with mosquito nets and child safety locks.

- Disposal... easy and safe to dispose of. They are not harmful to the environment when incinerated or otherwise disposed of. Plus, wooden windows are recyclable.

Despite all the advantages, wooden windows with double-glazed windows also have disadvantages, about which it would not be fair to remain silent.

- Price... The main disadvantage of wooden windows, which immediately frightens off some consumers, is the high cost. A good wooden window costs several times more than a plastic one. But if you calculate how much longer the tree will last you, then this is more a wise investment of funds than a thoughtless waste.

- Difficulty in leaving. Undoubtedly, wooden windows require more maintenance than plastic ones. This includes coating with special compounds, painting or varnishing, etc. But if you buy a wooden window from a trusted manufacturer, it will be made of high-quality raw materials and good fittings, then this care will be minimized and will not take you a lot of time and effort, and the window will delight you with its beauty for many years.

Features of installation of wooden windows with double-glazed windows

In principle, there are no special rules for the installation of such windows.

The main guarantee of a good installation is:

Correct window selection. You shouldn't economize here. Choose windows only from trusted companies that have been on the market for a long time. Such firms use only high-quality, properly dried wood and good, sturdy fittings. Windows made of quality material will not be damaged during installation.

Qualitative measurements. Measurements are made both from the inside and from the outside of the room, in order to avoid skewing the frame during installation.

The very process of installing wooden windows with double-glazed windows is no different from installing plastic windows. First, the frame is installed, then the rest of the components, the gaps formed between the frame and the wall are blown out with polyurethane foam, then they are plastered. If windows are planned to be installed in a new, newly built house, you must first give the house time to shrink. So that during the shrinkage the window does not "lead" and there are no gaps between the window frame and the wall.

For more information about the pros and cons of wooden windows with double-glazed windows, see the following video. Happy viewing!

Irina Zheleznyak, Special correspondent of the Internet edition "AtmWood. Wood-Industrial Bulletin"

Wood is suitable for the manufacture of windows of absolutely any kind - round, oval, triangular, trapezoidal, and others. Ordinary rectangular windows are also covered with glass in many cases, using a wooden frame, as a prestigious and modern solution.

However, over time, old wooden windows serve their life and they need to be replaced. Often in such cases, plastic windows are an alternative, but many do not want to install them, despite all the advertising beliefs in their merits and safety. A smarter option is to find modern wooden windows. Today it is quite simple to do this, since the market offers many products in the form of wooden windows of two main types - solid wood and glued eurobeam.

Advantages and disadvantages of wooden windows

1 ... Solid wood windows (also known as joinery) are made in an easier way. Because of this, their price is lower than that of laminated Eurobeam windows. Compared to the old wooden windows, the new ones have a more thoughtful design. Thanks to the imported rebate, the sashes can be easily opened and closed. The required thermal insulation is provided by the sealing contour. Modern fittings are more convenient than wraps and latches.
2 ... Thanks to the natural material, the windows provide natural air exchange, even if they are closed. This prevents a drop in humidity and air “stagnation”.
3 ... Installation of wooden windows is easier than plastic ones. But nevertheless, a certain technology is still used for this.
4 ... The main problem with carpentry is that the window frame cannot be fixed in the desired position. In windy conditions, this can be a problem for ventilation.
5 ... If insufficiently dried wood is used in the manufacture of windows, they can deform and crack.
6 ... It is easy to clean a wooden window, but it takes longer than double-glazed windows on both sides. It is also necessary to clean between the flaps - from dust.

Pluses of euro windows

Eurowindows made of glued beams do not have such disadvantages. They combine natural wood, high-quality double-glazed windows, comfortable and reliable fittings. Such features have made wooden euro windows very popular on the market.

1 ... The frame made of Eurobeam never gets dry or deformed. Double-glazed windows of the same quality are used in wooden and plastic windows. Due to modern fittings, wooden Euro windows can be opened in two directions. Therefore, vents are not needed at all for ventilation in the windows.
2 ... Euro windows made of wood have all the advantages of plastic windows, but the latter have such an advantage as complete tightness. Frames made of natural wood do not prevent natural air exchange.
3 ... Due to the variety of decorative coatings, wooden euro-windows can be made in various colors, textures, and the appearance of various expensive types of wood.
The only drawback of all wooden windows is the need to periodically renew their cover. But since modern paints and varnishes can be used for this, it makes sense to engage in such repairs approximately once every 10 years.
4 ... When choosing wooden windows, you need to remember that it is better not to save on them. Otherwise, you run the risk of losing energy for a long time. Well-known manufacturers will offer you windows made of high quality material that will reliably serve for many years.

Those who have made their choice and decided to install wooden euro-windows, we recommend professionals in their field

Today we will look at all the pros and cons of wooden and plastic windows. Safety, environmental friendliness, durability, price - everything is on our agenda

Wood or plastic, centuries-old traditions or modern technologies? Let's figure it out. A plastic window is based on a set of polymers. At the heart of the wood is a few dozen glued planks of wood, cleaned of resin and knots, impregnated with linseed oil, varnish and primer. It is clear that both there and there is a complete set of the periodic table. And there, and there - the environmental friendliness, safety and reliability of the material are proportional to its price and the honesty of the manufacturer. And yet there is a significant difference.

The price of the issue

The laboriousness of working with wood and the rather high price of raw materials are the main reasons that wooden windows at one time gave way to plastic. A good wooden euro window will cost about 3-4 times more than a window with a PVC profile. And yet companies that produce wooden windows do not experience a shortage of customers. A special love for wood as a material is a national feature.

Environmental friendliness

No matter how high-quality and expensive a plastic window is, no matter how well it does not comply with European standards, it is still made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). At high temperatures, in extreme heat or during a fire, it will emit much more harmful substances into the environment than a wooden profile. But our ideas about the ability of a wooden structure to "breathe", as opposed to a plastic one, is a pure myth. A modern wooden euro-window is made very hermetically and does not let in more air than a plastic one.

Reliability

The average service life of a plastic window is about 40 years. The wooden one is guaranteed to "work" for about 10. Further options are possible. Plastic has already proven itself well in the difficult Russian climate with sharp changes in temperature and humidity. But a tree, even carefully primed and impregnated with special compounds, remains a tree and is subject to erosion. What a wooden frame turns into under the influence of air, sun, wind and moisture, we all remember from our childhood.

Service

One of the obvious advantages of a plastic window is the speed and ease of installation. Having minimal experience in construction, it is not difficult to supply it on our own. With a wooden structure, this option is not possible. Its installation is a complex process that requires additional skills and special devices.

All maintenance of plastic windows in most cases comes down to periodic wiping of the profile with a rag, adjusting and lubricating fittings, lubricating and replacing the seal. A wooden window that can dry out or absorb moisture will likely need a lot more attention. On the other hand, a wooden profile can be refurbished in case of damage or scratches. The plastic will have to be changed. However, scratching the plastic profile is much more difficult.

Tatiana Serova, "Windows into the House":

If your double-glazed window has broken or you simply decided to replace it with a more advanced energy-saving one with a plastic profile, it will not be difficult to do this within a few days. With wooden windows, this problem is more difficult to solve. The glass unit is firmly glued into the sash with silicone sealant, and the glazing bead is securely attached. It is very difficult to remove the glass unit without damaging the glazing bead, since wood is not at all flexible material. If the manufacturing company is domestic, you can solve the problem in a week or two. But if it is imported, then it will take at least a month. All this time you will have to live with a broken or damaged window.

Aesthetics

The plastic profile can be laminated to any color and material. Even with precious woods. But it will not become wooden from this anyway. The difference will be noticeable. The beauty and elegance of wooden windows, the warmth and coziness that they create in the house is the main reason for their "charm" and popularity. It is no coincidence that restorers and architects of expensive individual projects almost always prefer wood: it gives enormous creative freedom.

Tatiana Serova, "Windows into the House":

Unlike plastic, modern wooden profiles make it possible to embody virtually any imagination of the customer and can fit into any architectural style. The height of the frame and the plasticity of the material itself makes it possible to create the most non-standard designs of complex shapes and sizes. Wooden profiles look spectacular in houses with a glazed wall from floor to ceiling, in curved bay windows, with stained glass. True, the manufacture of such windows is a long-term, painstaking and very expensive business.