Installation in accordance with GOST of PVC windows: basic rules

By investing heavily in installing plastic windows, people expect to seriously increase the comfort level of their apartment. Carefully study the lineup, compare the advantages of the profiles used in various designs. But all the advantages of PVC windows can be crossed out by errors made during their installation. Most of the complaints against companies installing PVC windows are presented precisely to the quality of the work of installers. Plastic windows will last a long time and will not lose their qualities if the installers are guided during installation by GOST, and not by purely personal considerations.

What document governs the installation of plastic windows?

In March 2003, GOST 30971–2002 was developed and adopted, which ensured the formalization of installation work. The adoption of this document was facilitated by the state program to increase energy efficiency and energy conservation.

But not all companies in their work are guided by the provisions of this document. High requirements imposed by GOST 30971-2002 increase the costs of firms operating in the PVC window market. Therefore, small companies often ignore its provisions, saving on the quality of services provided. This contributes to the low professional level of employees of such enterprises.

Familiarity with this document will bring tangible benefits. Knowing the rules for installing PVC windows, he will be able to control the entire installation process, and after its completion will be able to get detailed technical documentation on the work performed and a full warranty service.

What documents are made out during installation?

The owner of the new PVC windows should have two documents in his hands, one of them - before installation, the other - at the end of the work on replacing window blocks.

1. A preliminary contract is drawn up, in which the necessary calculations for the thermophysical properties of the window installed in the concrete wall opening must be present. Based on them, the best installation scheme is selected, which is agreed with the customer.
2. After the installation of plastic windows is completed, the customer is given a technical installation certificate with an installation diagram. It should also list the materials used to seal the installation joints and the warranty obligations of the contractor.

Room preparation

The process of replacing window blocks is accompanied by the release of a large amount of dust. Therefore, before starting work, it is necessary to free the room from furniture and household appliances. What is impossible to bear, as well as walls and the floor, must be covered with film or newspapers to prevent contamination.

Tip: as a kind of screen, you can use the old coverlet, pulling it in a wet form at a distance of two to three meters from the window opening. It will take on a significant proportion of the dust, and later it can simply be thrown away.

Preparing window openings

Before installing plastic windows, remove the old frames from the wall opening. For this, installers use a hammer drill, an electric jigsaw and a crowbar. GOST 30971–2002 requires the contractor to pre-prepare openings for window blocks: to thoroughly clean the surface and eliminate existing defects. Also, GOST requires the presence of false quarters in the openings into which plastic windows are installed. They are necessary for the formation of a three-layer mounting seam.

Note: quarters are protrusions designed to protect the seams from external adverse effects. In their absence, so-called false quarters are created, usually made of metal or plastic corners.

Three layers of mounting seam when installing PVC windows

Regardless of the materials chosen by the installers of the plastic window blocks, according to the rules, any installation joint must contain three layers.

• The outer layer must protect the remaining materials of the seam from moisture. At the same time, it must pass air for ventilation of the insulation. In most cases, pre-compressed sealing tapes (PSUL) are used to form this layer. Before mounting the window box in the opening, it is pasted over with these tapes. Subsequently, they expand and close all the gaps between the box and the wall opening. PSUL ideal for installation work in new homes where the geometry of the wall openings is not broken. But if the slopes are uneven or plastered, then using this protective material can cause certain problems. According to GOST 30971-2002, when installing window blocks made of PVC, it is allowed to use various types of sealants, for example, silicone.

Important! The sealant must not be applied directly to the mounting foam, and it should cover only two sides of the joint.

• The middle layer provides thermal insulation. To fill it, use foam, which is selected based on the climate of the area. It is necessary to fill the seam with it in such a way that later you do not have to cut the excess from the side of the street: such manipulations facilitate the ingress of moisture into this layer. If there is a need for applying several layers of foam, then the time interval between the formation of each of them should be maintained in accordance with the rules defined by GOST.

• The inner layer protects the insulation from moisture from the side of the room. It consists of vapor barrier tapes. You should follow the correct calculation of the overlap of such a tape, which should be at least half the width of the material. Creasing should also be avoided when laying the tape. Most often, installers use tape with a protective coating applied inside, but if the window openings are plastered, it is better to choose a tape with an external coating.

How the window block should be mounted

When installing the window unit, a sufficient amount of clearance must be ensured between the window profile and the wall opening. The gap not only allows you to qualitatively perform all the work on filling the seams, but also compensates for possible changes in the geometry of the window caused by temperature fluctuations.

There are rules for the location of fasteners:

• for white PVC window cases, the maximum distance between them is not more than 700 mm;
• if the box is colored, this distance is reduced to 600 mm;
• fasteners should be located at a distance of not less than 150 mm from corners and joints;
• wooden blocks used for pre-fixing the window should be pre-treated with antiseptic materials, their height should be at least 20 mm;
• in most cases, window frames are fastened with dowels and anchors, which are driven into the wall to a depth of 40 mm.

Important! All fasteners must have a corrosion-resistant coating, usually stainless steel or chrome steel.

What else should the contractor do after installing the window

Not knowing the GOST standards, many customers believe that the contractor's responsibilities end after the installation of the window unit is completed. And companies that install PVC windows take advantage of this, facilitating their work. In fact, the contractor must additionally perform the following actions:

• Check the operation of the casement windows, if necessary, adjust them and eliminate possible distortions.
• Check the operation of all accessories installed on the window.
• Remove the protective film.
• Collect and take out the garbage resulting from the removal of old window frames and the installation of a plastic window unit.

The importance of properly installing a window

Correct installation of a plastic window will avoid the characteristic problems that arise with improper installation. These include:

• Insufficient thermal insulation of the structure, the formation of the so-called cold bridges.
• Mold and fungus due to poor waterproofing or insufficient vapor permeability of the installation joint.

• The appearance of skews of the sash or window box caused by insufficient thermal clearance or improper placement of fasteners.

Subject to all the rules prescribed in GOST, a plastic window can last up to 20 years and at the same time not lose its characteristics.