Which seal for plastic windows is better: gray or black

When installing new PVC windows, do not lose sight of the seemingly insignificant details - gaskets. Again, they will have to think about when their life is coming to an end and a replacement is required. We will find out which seal for plastic windows is considered the best, how to choose and change it yourself.

Types of seal

The main objective of this element for PVC frames is to seal the entire structure. Sealing gaskets provide thermal insulation, protect against noise and dust, prevent the formation of condensate between the glasses.

Seals differ in installation method. There are three options:

• With fastening on adhesive solution.
• Self adhesive. Convenient for self-replacement. Glue has already been applied to the element; before installation, the protective layer is removed.
• Erasers that are inserted into prepared grooves. Most often used to seal wooden frames.

They are made:

• from rubber;
• rubber;
• thermoplastic;
• silicone;
• PPU.

Let's consider these types in more detail.

EPDM

The abbreviation translated from English means ethylene-propylene rubber sealant. The best choice in terms of price and quality.

Benefits:

• Soft and elastic.
• Service life - from 10 to 20 years.
• Resistant to environmental influences, does not crack.
• Suitable for any climate - hot or very cold. Operating temperature range - from -50 ˚С to +80 ˚С.
• Does not absorb water.

Disadvantage: usually it is black in color, it can slightly dirty the frame.

Silicone

The English designation is VMQ. These gaskets have excellent performance, but are not popular due to their high cost.

Advantages of silicone sealant:

• Elastic, not deformed.
• Does not absorb moisture.
• It does not change its properties and shape in the temperature range from -60 ˚С to +100 ˚С.
• Not afraid of aggressive chemicals.
• Service life - up to 40 years with regular care.

The disadvantage of silicone seals is also there. They poorly tolerate mechanical stress: they are easy to tear or cut.

TPE

This is a thermoplastic polymer - a modified plastic - which at normal temperature has the properties of rubber.

Benefits:

• High degree of resilience provides good sealing.
• It tolerates welding, not combustible.
• It can have any color, most often it is gray.
• It is mounted in an automated way in production, so the percentage of rejects is less than other types.

Disadvantages:

• At temperatures below -20 ° C, it loses its elasticity - it “tans”.
• At a temperature of +35 ˚С softens.
• Unstable to mechanical damage.
• It is more difficult to replace a soldered seal, therefore this service will cost more.

Rubber

Material - vulcanized rubber. Elastics are only black because of the color of the filler - soot.

Advantages of rubber sealant:

• reliable window sealing;
• low price.

Disadvantages:

• cracking and drying out from temperature changes;
• short-lived.

Foam (Q-Lon, Shlegel)

Recently, German-made sealing tape Shlegel Q-Lon ("Schlegel Pendant") appeared on sale. It is a base of polyurethane foam in a shell of a plastic film, additionally reinforced with a fiberglass thread or polypropylene core.

Benefits:

• durability, ability to recover, quick restoration of shape after compression;
• resistance to weather conditions, ultraviolet, ozone;
• operating temperature range - from -60 ˚С to +70 ˚С;
• choice of colors, color fastness;
• good indicators of sound and heat insulation;
• No need to lubricate and maintain.

Disadvantages:

• the slightest damage to the shell leads to failure: the foam absorbs water, swells and freezes;
• increased load on the window fittings, after installation, you need to adjust the hinges;
• high cost, expensive installation.

The best sealant for PVC windows: manufacturers rating

It is more profitable to seal windows with materials from trusted manufacturers. The ranking of the best companies included:

• Rehau. This German company not only produces profiles, but also provides them with a full set of necessary accessories of high quality. Sealers are in the form of a double petal. In addition to sealing, they do not allow the sash to knock on the frame when closing.

• Veka. Reliable sealing cords at an attractive price. They are distinguished by the angle of inclination: so the gaskets are less noticeable. Another advantage is the possibility of mounting a whole tape around the entire circuit: it excludes blowing through slots in the corner joints.
• KBE produces a variety of form seals from all possible materials. Distinctive features are quality and durability.
• Welles products stand out for their protective properties. Gaskets are durable, do not change the characteristics of the entire service life.
• Novotec. A young, lesser known, but rapidly conquering market firm.

Some useful tips:

• Cheap is rarely quality: prices for decent seals start at 30 rubles per linear meter.
• Products of European companies outperform Chinese manufacturers in quality and appearance, but cost more.

Shape selection

There are many PVC window models from different types of profile. The sealant is selected individually and in shape and technical characteristics. Universal gaskets do not exist. The best option when replacing the sealing gum is to choose the products of the same company that manufactured window profile. However, this is not always possible: there are too many manufacturers.

Do not be upset: any little-known profile system is similar to the products of a famous brand. So, it belongs to one of three groups:

1. According to the KBE standard, Proplex, Novotex, VITRAGE profiles are manufactured.
2. Analogs of Rehau: Montblanc, BrusBox and others.
3. According to Veka standards, a large group of domestic profiles is manufactured.

Exceptions to this rule are rare, so you can choose a sealant, knowing which group the profile belongs to. All components in them are interchangeable.

The shape of the seal also depends on its tasks:

• To seal a double-glazed window, gaskets are placed between the glass and the frame, glass and glazing bead.
• To seal the narthex use the casement and frame seal.

Which seal is better, gray or black?

First of all, the quality of the sealing gum depends on the material.

• Gray is the base color of the TPE thermoplastic sealant. It can also be white, brown, black. You can order another color, dyes do not change the properties of the material.
• EPDM gaskets and rubber are black. In their composition there is soot, which plays the role of an antiseptic. These products can also be made gray or colored. But for this, soot is replaced by highly active silicates, which reduce the elasticity of the gum.

Conclusion: the black seal will always have the declared properties, gray will be durable only if it is made of TPE. If we are talking about PPU tape Shlegel Q-Lon, then its quality does not depend on color.

From an aesthetic point of view, it is difficult to determine which seal color is better, gray, white or black.

• Black emphasizes the contour of the window, but many do not like the way it stands out against the background of white plastic.
• Gray and white colors are almost invisible and merge with the frame.

How to determine that the seal needs to be changed?

Signs of a need to replace the gasket:

• Change in appearance: the cord flattened, covered with cracks, became stiff and brittle.
• The appearance of condensate around the perimeter of the glass.
• Freezing of the narthex in winter.
• Increase in street noise with a closed window.
• The appearance of a draft with the sash closed.
• A sheet of paper placed between the sash and the seal is easily pulled out after closing the window.

Any of these signs indicates that it is time to change the gasket.

How to change the seal

The replacement is performed in the following order:

• The old gasket is carefully removed, the seat is cleaned of dirt and glue residue.
• The sash is removed. To do this, pull out the hairpin. You can pry it with a chisel or a thin flat screwdriver.

Do not mount the seal without removing the sash: you will not be able to securely fix it in the area of ​​the hinges.

• Regardless of whether the gum is attached to the glue or simply inserted into the groove, the corners are smeared with adhesive.
• The gasket is mounted with a continuous tape: the fewer joints, the better. The cord is laid without tension, it should be freely located in the groove.
• The excess part is cut with a paint knife. In the corner, a joint is made and attached to the glue.
• After the glue dries, the sash is inserted into place, a hairpin is inserted into the loop.

Signs of proper installation:

• Ease of operation of the sash when opening or closing.
• Lack of blowing.
• The sealing cord remains in the groove after several cycles of operation.

The new gasket is coated with silicone based grease.

The process is shown in detail and clearly in the video.

Seal Care

The average life of these parts is 10 years. Proper care increases this period by 5–6 years.

The procedure is simple: every six months with a damp rag, dust is removed from the gasket and the surface is treated with silicone-based lubricant. Replace it with ordinary glycerin, which is in any pharmacy. These compounds form on the surface of the cord an elastic film that protects from moisture and sunlight.

Conclusion: the durability of the sealant depends not only on the material, but on the quality of the installation and maintenance.