Windows & Door Profiles

One of the major uses of rigid PVC in construction in Europe and the US is as profiles for windows and doors. The PVC window market in Australia is only more recently being developed.

In Europe, some 40 per cent of all window profiles are made from PVC. Specifiers and consumers choose PVC windows because they are tough and durable, require low maintenance, do not rot, offer design flexibility, are competitive in terms of price, and can be easily processed and fabricated. Double-glazed PVC windows offer excellent thermal and acoustic properties, qualities which are now increasingly recognised in urban developments in this country.

The main alternatives to PVC for window frames are wood and aluminium. Metal window frames conduct heat and cold, reducing thermal efficiency. Although timber frames are good insulators, they weather and need a lot of maintenance. Various ecobalance studies have been undertaken internationally to compare the materials used in window profiles. These have shown that, in window profile applications, PVC has a good ecological balance when compared to wood and generally much better compared to aluminium.

In Australia, PVC windows have been installed in a range of residential home designs and apartment buildings.