We want to remember the great importance of a correct installation of the window in the work. A window can have very good properties when it leaves the factory. Being made with high-quality insulating profiles, carrying the glass required by the client so that it meets the requirements of thermal insulation, solar factor, and acoustic insulation. A very efficient window from the point of view of energy saving will be indicated by its energy efficiency label and a window with an excellent classification of wind resistance, water tightness, and air permeability. Our main objective is that excellent windows will come out of our factory that will give comfort to the home of our customers and mean considerable energy savings during their long life, but we know that we cannot limit ourselves to that. We want to emphasize the importance that a very good window has to be correctly installed by a very good professional. If the window is not installed properly, whether it is a new work or a renovation, we can be considerably reducing its properties. We are going to explain some elements that we must take into account:

Fixing the window to the wall.

The fixing of the windows to the work must be carried out on resistant elements. It should never be fixed on air chambers, insulating materials, etc. We must keep in mind that the window is going to transfer all the wind pressure to the wall and therefore it is necessary that it has a solid fixation with the wall. Windows can also be installed on the frame of the old window as long as we make sure that it is in good condition and does not have thermal bridges that could ruin the insulation of the new window.

We mainly have two types of bindings:

• With screws, directly to the sub-frame previously installed if the sub-frame has been installed on site, or directly to the work.
• With claws direct to the work.

Expansion and sealing joints.

The joining space between the window and the wall is a key element to guarantee watertightness, air and thermal, and acoustic insulation of the opening.

In no case should the window be fixed exclusively to the wall with polyurethane foam. Polyurethane foam is a filling material, but not a fixing material. It is used to fill in the gaps between the window frame and the work. Once it has been correctly fixed, It limits the depth of the final sealing silicone and a very important detail prevents the sealing silicone from adhering on three sides. The sealing silicone should only adhere to the face of the window frame on one side and to the face of the wall on the other, and rest on the back of the polyurethane foam, which is an element on which the silicone will not adhere. Otherwise, we run the risk that the silicone can come off. For this reason, it is not correct to fill the base joint with mortar.

The silicone cord on the window.

We have to take into account that the window during its life will be subjected to small movements and vibrations: wind thrust, vibrations (sound waves), movement of materials due to use, opening and closing of the leaves. It will also be subjected to thermal expansion: temperature changes day-night, summer-winter, etc.

For this reason, the silicone joint is the element that guarantees the tightness between the wall and the window. It must be applied by a professional, who, in addition to knowing how to give it the perfect aesthetic of a well-applied silicone bead, will give the window total sealing around its perimeter. Silicone is a material that must:

• Work alternately in tension and compression during a large number of cycles.
• Must resist weathering.
• Resist the fatigue produced by the different efforts transmitted.
• Possess an adequate adherence on the different materials.

The ideal and most widely used is neutral silicone: free of solvents, resistant to climatic aging, a very good elastic recovery (25-30% of its volume) and maintains a permanent adhesion for many years. The use of cheap silicones that do not guarantee this tightness over time is completely inadvisable. A good silicone guarantees adequate sealing for a minimum of 10 years.

If you want your windows to be installed by a professional, do not hesitate to contact our services directly.