The glazing frame can be made of plastic, wood and aluminum. Materials are based on the popularity, starting with the most popular. Of course, plastic was first used everywhere in the glazing of city apartments. Gradually, it migrated to private homes, but wood and aluminum here still persistently hold the defense. Wood is especially good at this, which is involuntarily associated with the warm atmosphere of a village house, and is perfectly combined with the decoration in the style of chalets, country houses, and provans, which are so often used in the outback.
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Sunroom Structures Material
Aluminum
The main advantage of aluminum is its low weight. The material allows you to make the structure much lighter, but without sacrificing its strength. In terms of cost, aluminum also wins from its main competitors. For comparison: the price of plastic glazing is twice as high as the installation of a similar design of aluminum. Unfortunately, the material has not been used everywhere because of its main disadvantage: the construction is very poor heat retention. Sunroom with an aluminum profile can be used only in summer, in winter it is more logical to arrange a “street freezer”. The aluminum profile is flame-retardant, so the risk of ignition of the structure is reduced to zero, which becomes another advantage of the material, if compared with wood.
Wood
The wood has high noise and thermal insulation. Although, of course, the main “blow” to preserve the heat receives the glass itself, the frames also depend on a lot. In contrast to plastic or aluminum, wood does not need additional thermal inserts, as the material itself prevents the entry into the room cold and the release of warm air outside. The wood has micropores, which allows it to “breathe”. Manufacturers of plastic double-glazed windows in the characteristics voiced the marginal minus for the material in 30 degrees of frost. At this temperature PVC loses its strength and becomes brittle. From this we can conclude: wood is the warmest material. Previously, the material is treated with special impregnations that increase its fire resistance and moisture resistance. Contact with wood liquid is dangerous. The material, not properly processed, can deform, which will lead the glass unit in total disrepair.
Plastic
Contrary to misconceptions, quality plastic does not emit harmful substances during operation. PVC perfectly retains heat, thanks to special rubberized inserts around the perimeter of windows and doors sashes, the sunroom remains airtight. Plastic windows provide good noise insulation. They are ideal for warm glazing, but are heavyweight, so they are not recommended for use in dilapidated cottages or old country houses. PVC can not be called refractory, but in contact with an open flame, they do not catch fire, and begin to melt, while emitting caustic substances. Perhaps the main disadvantage of glazing made of plastic is its high cost. If you need to put one or two windows, the purchase and installation will not hit the budget, but for the panoramic glass you already have to spend a lot. Wood and aluminum in this regard, leave the PVC far behind, luring customers tempting prices.
Sunroom Glass Materials
Sunrooms use not only “classic” glass, but also other materials, which also provide free penetration of sunlight into the room and thus protect against weather.
Glass
For the glazing of houses it is better to use special materials that have increased strength. All of them are produced in the form of sheets and belong to a large category of sheet glass.
The following types are suitable for sunroom glazing:
- Tempered.
- Laminated or triplex: triplex is a layered “cake” of several sheets that are glued together.
- Energy-saving.
- Stained glass window.
PVC film
PVC film is better known as “soft glass”. It is used only for cold glazing, as the material can not cope with the vagaries of the domestic climate and harsh winter conditions. PVC film is sold in rolls, it may have different thickness and color. It is ideal as an alternative to expensive glazing, as it has a low cost. The material can be given any shape. Soft glass is often used as “flexible curtains”, which are curled into compact rolls and fixed in this position by ribbons. If it starts to rain or wind rises, the curtains are lowered, but the street looks as good as without them. The tape is durable. In constant contact with sunlight, it can be used up to five years. If the operating conditions are more gentle, this period is doubled.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is often used to glaze greenhouses, summer greenhouses and pergolas. The material has flexibility and lightness.
It is classified into two types:
- Monolithic. Sheets are more like glass, transmit light well, have high transparency. In terms of aesthetics, monolithic polycarbonate looks more solid and noble. From afar, it is difficult to distinguish it from sheet glass.
- Cellular. Sheets consist of two layers of material that in the section similar to “honeycomb”, that is, the surface of polycarbonate is decorated with “strips” formed from the cells inside. Light material passes well, but it cannot be classified as transparent. It is suitable for sunrooms to be hidden from the eyes of passers-by. Cellular material wins in value, as it is more accessible. Naturally, such glazing is not suitable for warm sunrooms.