Installation of Plastic Windows in Winter. Myths and Misconceptions

Installation of Plastic Windows in Winter: Myths and Misconceptions

Winter installation is more profitable and practical. Considering window replacement in December as a universal catastrophe and a risk of catching colds for all household members is a big mistake.

Myth #1. About Total Cooling of the Room

The room where the work will be performed can indeed be cooled down if:

• you decide to turn off the heating;
• if you remove old windows throughout the apartment and leave the openings empty for an extended period (6-7 hours).

Winter PVC installation can be called "intensive ventilation," since the entire process will not take more than two hours.

Judge for yourself: removing one window takes 15-25 minutes. If you're simply replacing a glass unit with a new one, its installation will not take more than 5 minutes!

Myth #2. About Damage to Construction Materials

More concerns are related to the properties of construction materials used during installation, such as foam not setting or even crumbling due to drying.

If the crew hired by you uses quality installation materials designed for work in low temperatures, this will not happen.

Pay attention to the lines of winter installation products — they exist with every reputable manufacturer.

For example, the winter foam Macroflex Profi (Finland) is designed for use at -10 °C, and Illbruck FM070 (USA) and even Moment foam (Russia) perform excellently at the same temperature.

The only factor that low ambient temperatures can affect is the foam curing time. In very cold conditions, foam may solidify only after 10-12 hours.

If workers buy summer foam for winter installation, it might simply not come out of the can.

Low air temperature does not affect the expansion properties of winter foam.

Myth #3. About Negligible Price Difference

Installing windows in winter allows you to save approximately 20-25% of the cost compared to summer installation. Moreover, windows will be manufactured and delivered to you in a short timeframe — construction volumes are reduced in winter, so production facilities and delivery services are not as busy, making your order arrive much faster.

Additionally, to maintain heat in the room throughout the installation process, a thermal screen can be installed on brackets covering the entire perimeter of the empty window opening.

CONCLUSION: Choose appropriate installation materials. Otherwise, winter installation proceeds similarly to summer installation.

Diagram 1 — Installing a Window in a Brick House

Installing Dormer Windows

The process of installing dormer windows has nothing to do with facade window installation: the former are mounted into the window opening using anchor bolts, while dormer windows are built directly into the roof truss structure. Due to more complex installation techniques, it is better to perform such work in warm weather.

We strongly advise against doing dormer window installation with your own hands!

Take project planning, window selection, and contractor choice seriously. In this case, it is better to deal only with specialists who understand both the axis of window opening and the difference between glass units and reputable brands.

Regarding the latter, pay attention to:

• Dormer Windows VELUX (Denmark) — VELUX is the largest manufacturer of dormer windows in the world. Thanks to thoughtful assembly, convenience, and resilience to any weather conditions, VELUX has stood the test of time in various climatic regions for over a decade.
• Dormer Windows FAKRO (Poland) — They hold the second position in global production volumes. Their standing is maintained through the use of environmentally clean raw materials and constant technical innovations.
• Dormer Windows ROTO (Germany) — A company in the third spot in the ranking of top manufacturers, present on the market for more than 30 years! The brand of German quality, practical design, safety, and ease of use keeps ROTO in the top three.

Minimum price for exceptional quality and 15-year warranty — starting from $220 per window of 54/78 cm size.

The package includes installation instructions.

Figure 1 — Dormer Window Kit

Installing Windows on Balconies

Returning to facade windows, a few words about balcony glazing in winter.

The process will depend on whether you have a balcony or loggia. Installing plastic windows on a loggia is more affordable, while glazing a balcony will be more expensive due to the need to mount two side panels instead of just one front window structure.

Note that balcony glazing must be pre-approved by the BTI.

Diagram 2 — Balcony Glazing

Cost of Work

Facade window installation (depending on the work area):

• Kiev — from 300 UAH;
• Moscow — from 1,500 RUB

Dormer window installation (depending on the work area):

• Kiev — 400 UAH;
• Moscow — 1,700 RUB

Balcony/Loggia glazing (depending on the work area):

• Kiev — from 640 UAH;
• Moscow — from 2,500 RUB