Disadvantages of Plastic Sliding Sash Windows
Sliding sash windows were traditionally made from timber but this is changing and the trend nowadays is for them to be made from plastic. The main plastic used in these modern times is uPVC (Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride). Traditional sliding sash windows had some shortcomings but this was all rectified with the discovery of uPVC which became the material of choice for many sash window companies and homes.
Plastic sash windows are very common in many parts of London, but this changes as you get into its suburbs where many homes are graced with wooden sash windows. Plastic sash windows have many advantages and this has increased their popularity among property owners. Most window manufacturers prefer them because they can be mass produced and this helps to significantly bring down production costs. This is the main reason why they are cheap for the end buyer in comparison to wood or timber.
However, despite their many advantages, plastic sliding sash windows do have their disadvantages too. The one that brings a lot of disappointment has to do with them losing their attractive appearance after a while and then cracking up. When this happens, the best alternative is to replace them. This makes them very expensive in the long run since it means you can expect to replace them more frequently.
Plastic sash windows are brittle and not as durable as wood sash windows. It is also argued by most that no technology, no matter how advanced, can make plastic windows acquire the elegance and charm enjoyed by wood sash sliding windows. This the reason some owners have stuck to the good old sash wooden windows despite their outdated status.
In recent times, the world has become more environment conscious and this has put plastic sliding sash windows in a bad light as they aren’t produced in an environmentally friendly way. During their production, toxic fumes are released into the atmosphere and this results in unsightly black clouds. This high level of air pollution endangers both animal and plant life. Their other destructive element has to do with them being non-biodegradable, and so centuries after their disposal, they can never rot. Instead, they will form a permanent eyesore feature of the environment, aside from occupying precious space.
Plastic sliding sash windows have a short guarantee period upon purchase, and this is never good for the consumer. Additionally, when you need to repair them, you are going to have a hard time getting a skilled handyman to bring them back to shape. This is because they are not easily dismantled to allow any repair work to be done and their different components are not easy to make outside of the factory environment. This means that in most cases you will have to do a complete window replacement or get the original installer, neither of which comes cheap.
The other sad fact is that when you feel a need for a facelift, you are never going to change the colour of your plastic sash windows. This is unlike the case with wood where all you need is a simple brush of your favourite colour of paint. Many people still shy away from using plastic sliding sash windows because they have not undergone adequate testing. Their use still remains controversial.
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Tagged with: plastic sliding sash windows • repair sash windows • sliding sash windows • upvc sash windows
Filed under: PVC Sash Windows • Sash Windows Information
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Your article contains several serious inaccuracies that may mislead your readers.
1. Plastic sash windows lose their appearance and crack up – not true. Thirty years ago, when it was a completely new material, cheap uPVC could discolour. However, that problem was solved a long time ago. uPVC has never been known to “crack up”. UPVC sash windows last an absolute minimum of 35 years – longer than modern softwood windows.
2. uPVC is brittle – not true. uPVC is actually quite flexible.
3. plastic sash windows can never look as good as timber. Good uPVC sash windows are virtually indistinguishable from timber originals (apart from the fact that they’re not covered in manylayers of old gloss paint!). Indeed good uPVC sashes look more authentic than many modern softwood sashes.
4. the production of uPVC produces toxic fumes and air pollution. This is completely wrong and very misleading. Check http://www.fightingbackwithfacts.co.uk for information that completely dispels this myth, and also for info on how much modern timber in use in the UK is irresponsibly or illegally sourced. Can you guarantee your customers that the timber you use is legitimate?
5. uPVC is not biodegradable. True, but it is 100% recyclable, and there are uPVC recycling plants all over the UK.
6. Short guarantees. Reputable uPVC sash manufacturers will provide a 10 guarantee as standard. This is longer than the guarantees typically offered on timber windows (or, indeed, timber window repairs) and isn’t dependent on stringent and expensive minimum maintenve levels like those attached to timber windows. With uPVC you get 10 years on a zero maintenace product.
7. uPVC sash windows can’t be repaired. Simply not true. Virtually all elements of a uPVC windows can be individually repaired or replaced. And the most common repair (i.e. glass) is far simpler and cheaper on uPVC than on timber.
On top of all this, you neglect to mention that uPVC sash windows never need to be painted, are more secure and far more energy efficient than old timber windows, and cost roughly 60% of modern softwood sash windows.
I work for a uPVC sash window company (I won’t mention the name – this isn’t a sales pitch), so obviously I am biased towards the products we make. However, I’ve recently launched a sash window blog with the specific purpose of dispelling some of the myths and untruths told about uPVC sash windows. I also believe that here is plenty of room in the market for uPVC sashes, timber sashes and sash repair companies to co-exist without resorting to attacking each other.