Installing Windows is a large task that should not be taken lightly. If you’re considering installing new windows in your home, you might be wondering if it’s best to do it before or after winter. In this blog post, we discuss the pros and cons of installing windows before or after winter. We also give you some tips to make your decision easier.
Installation of PVC windows
Installing windows and external doors in a newly built house is one of the most important moments in construction. From this moment the house acquires the status of a closed building. Modern carpentry and specialized assembly material enable windows and doors to be installed almost all year round.
But is it worth installing the windows before winter? What are the pros and cons of this solution? The answers to these and other questions can be found in the next part of the article.
Installation of PVC windows before winter in a new building
From a technological point of view, it is possible to install window frames in the autumn-winter period. In practice, the decision to install windows often depends on when the subsequent work is to be carried out. If you are planning electrical, plumbing, plaster and flooring installations in the house in winter, it is advisable to install windows. First as protection against theft.
If you only want to start with the interior work in the spring, you can postpone the installation of wooden windows to the winter. However, it is worth protecting window and door openings in other ways. Boards, wooden frames covered with foil or chipboard – they protect your house from snow and rain.
However, do not install the covers too tightly; Adequate ventilation is provided by the spaces between the planks or by a gap of several centimeters left at the top of each opening.
Pros and cons of installing PVC windows before winter
Before making a final decision on when to install the siding, it’s helpful to be aware of some of the potential ramifications of doing this job in late fall or winter.
- Closing the window and door openings at the same time implies a reduction in the natural ventilation that previously existed in the house. Slower air exchange means longer drying time for walls and floors after plastering, plastering and painting.
- For additional finishing work in winter, certain rooms or the whole house must be heated. Either through central heating or through portable heaters which come at a significant cost.
- Another factor that increases the cost is the mounting hardware. Those suitable for low-temperature use are usually more expensive than their standard analogues.
- Cold, wind, snow and icy surfaces are not optimal conditions for assembly teams. The risk is that the work is less precise and takes more time.
However, there is an argument that goes beyond all of the above limitations associated with installing wooden windows in winter. It was about time, because the closed frame of the house allows more interior work in winter. This means that in the spring all installations, plaster and floors will be ready.
Depending on the pace of work, there are still final touches such as painting the walls, tiles and floors, and then you can start furnishing and air conditioning your dream nest. Few investors can resist the temptation to jump faster.
Installation of PVC windows – aspects to consider
Modern assembly materials allow assembly of PVC joinery even at a temperature of -25°C. However, it is advisable to suspend work in severe frost, snow or rain.
Realistically, the minimum temperature for installing windows and doors is around -5°C, but it is best to work at favorable temperatures.
If the ambient temperature drops below 5°C, it is absolutely necessary to use special, winter-proof assembly foams first. The correct chemical composition and carrier gas of foams, which differ from those of summer foams, make them more cold-resistant.
However, it should be noted that low temperatures increase the working time of the cured foam.
The installation of PVC windows is not recommended when the outside temperature is below -10°C, but it is possible. A prerequisite for further work is to increase the temperature inside the building by using a heater or, possibly, putting up a tent (this will make it difficult to remove heat from the room where the PVC windows are installed).
It is important to note that this is an expensive solution as a higher temperature must be guaranteed not only during installation but also during the foam setting time.
ATTENTION: Sub-zero temperatures make PVC windows more sensitive. This creates a greater risk of damage to this type of window during loading, unloading, handling or installation.
Install PVC windows before winter – yes or no?
Specialized assembly materials available on the market allow installing or replacing windows almost at any time of the year. This, coupled with the desire to move into a new home as soon as possible, prompts builders to install PVC windows before winter arrives. That way they still have a few months to work indoors.
It’s not perfect, but it’s by no means a bug. Diligence, caution, using the right materials and working with an experienced assembly team greatly increases the chances of success and the best result.
Installation of PVC windows – optimal temperature
According to Veneo’s general assembly guidelines, the minimum ambient temperature for the assembly of the wooden frame must be 5°C.
At temperatures below 15°C, the profiles must be preheated to a minimum temperature of 15°C in order to ensure that the clamp functions correctly (e.g. for subsequent attachment of glazing/beading).
In order to ensure safe production of the profiles, it is best to always work with an internal profile temperature of 17°C, since temperatures that are too low lead to stresses in the material and can damage or prevent the correct cutting function.
Correct transport and storage of the product
Speaking of the layout of PVC windows, regardless of the temperature, we should pay attention to the transportation and maintenance of PVC products. Below we leave information from our assembly instructions.
Plastic window elements must be transported and stored upright on suitable bases (e.g. wooden pallets, transport supports) so that they are non-slip and cannot tip over. They must be protected from dirt and damage. Avoid precision supports because of the risk of pressure points and deformation.
For longer periods of temporary storage outside the windows, these should be covered. This coating or packaging must not impair the quality of the window element (e.g. use of white/pigmented light-colored film and perforation prevents heat build-up).