One lesser known fact from the uPVC window industry is that a large percentage of customers' problems have more to do with installation errors than the actual windows. Truth be told, the number of errors made during the installation of windows in India today is abhorrently large and yet, completely avoidable. So how does one make sure that a window is correctly installed? By following these three principles, of course: Principle # 1: As a result of correct installation, windows and the wall of building should form a uniform and durable assembly. If the window-wall connections are made incorrectly, which happens all too often, the process of damage to the window and the building starts immediately after the installation works are completed. Forces caused by wind pressure and suction, the stresses arising from temperature changes and other mechanical stresses determine the durability of the connection between the window and the wall. This becomes especially relevant in India, considering the wide range of temperatures experienced by many parts of the country. If the connections between the windows and the wall are not sufficiently durable and flexible, leaks occur and the damaging starts. Gaps forming on the outside are penetrated by rainwater and cold air and those on the inside by moisture in the air. Permanent damage and irreversible deformations of windows as well as damage to the window frames result. Therefore this principle is a key aspect to keep in mind during the installation process. Principle # 2: The connections between the uPVC window and the wall should be as durable and leak-tight as the roof cover. To look at it in the most basic way, a window is exposed to the very same external factors and conditions that the walls or roof of a house are subject to. It is thus imperative that the window be properly connected with the walls of the building and that the insulation of those connections should be “as leak-tight as the roof”. To address another aspect, windows make up the majority of the space within the wall openings. The key aspects of the “installation philosophy and history” deal with the movement joints located around the window. It is those small gaps where the materials mechanically bind the window to the wall and, most importantly, the thermal insulation material as well. And just like the entire roof surface, these must also be protected against uncontrolled penetration by rainwater. Principle # 3: Inside more vapour tight than outside! The structure of the connections between the windows and the walls of a house must be more airtight, watertight and vapour-tight on the inside than on the outside, thus allowing moisture to evaporate to the outside in order to keep the building fabric dry. This can be achieved by covering the thermal insulation of the connections with vapour barrier materials. The protections should in particular prevent penetration of rainwater into the structure of the connection and must, in a controlled manner, drain the water and moisture that has managed to penetrate into the thermal insulation layer. This can be achieved by using materials that do allow evaporation. A boundary separating the outdoors from the interior of the building must be established along the entire surface of the external wall and must not be broken. Breaks in the sealing connections are the most common cause of the negative phenomena referred to as thermal bridges, which lead to uncontrolled energy losses and condensation. These three “Golden Principles” cover a large percentage of the most common yet avoidable errors in uPVC window installation. By just keeping them in mind during the installation process, you might find yourself surprised at how many errors can be avoided. Not to mention the equally avoidable circumstance of dissatisfaction with the performance of a window, when more often than not, the fault lies with the installation and not the product. After all, even the wheel wouldn't have been half as useful if it had been placed on top of the vehicle instead of at the bottom!
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