PVCU windows & doors

PVCU as the material comes in a range of colors and finishes, including a photo-effect wood finish, and is used as a substitute for painted wood, mostly for window frames and sills when installing double glazing in new buildings, or to replace older single glazed windows. It has many other uses including fascia, and siding or weatherboarding. The same material has almost entirely replaced the use of cast iron for plumbing and drainage, being used for waste pipes, drainpipes, gutters and downpipes.

As a building material, PVC is cheap, durable, and easy to assemble. uPVC or Rigid PVC is often used in the building industry as a low-maintenance material, particularly in Ireland and the UK, and in the United States where it is known as vinyl, or vinyl siding.

Replacement Windows

Replacement windows are sometimes less expensive to install than actually replacing the original window. This is primarily due to the compromise in quality, as replacement windows are rarely equal to the integrity of older wood windows, which were commonly constructed of old-growth woods. Insulated glazing is one feature that helps save energy. The distinguishing feature being a second layer of glass, or a "double-pane". This second pane creates an air pocket, which is the "insulation" referred to in marketing materials. Another benefit is the option of adding "low E" plastic film, which cuts energy costs up to 30% by greatly reducing temperature transference. Other options include triple-glazing (a third pane of glass), higher quality spacers between the panes, which reduce the failure rate that allows "fogging" or condensation to form between the panes, and sealing gases between the panes that have higher insulative qualities than air, such as argon or krypton gases. Replacement windows constructed of synthetic materials, such as vinyl, composite and fiberglass, may be limited in the types of paints they will accept. However, most synthetic windows are selected by owners who do not plan to repaint their windows. Aluminum-clad and wood replacement windows may be repainted with any type of paint.