Windows offering the best value for money

Quality is a concept first defined by Plato as “a degree of excellence”. In his time, it was a philosophical concept, and it has remained so to this day. Numerous debates have established only that quality has both objective, measurable features and subjective features that everyone judges differently. We have begun philosophically because this is a difficult subject, precisely because of those objective and subjective features. But how does it relate to windows and building a house? We will explain in this article.

Each of us may see window quality differently: as the best possible thermal insulation, distinctive design, perfectly finished details or the materials used to make the window. It all comes down to our requirements, which depend on our needs and budget.

How does window quality relate to price? Some manufacturers attract attention with the lowest price, while others emphasise the best quality. We will try to find a middle ground and combine these two criteria where possible. We are most interested in the relationship between quality and price: what reasonably good product can we expect for a sensible amount of money?

Here, we will focus on PVC windows, because these offer the best value for money. They are cheaper than timber or aluminium windows, yet spending less does not mean worse technical specifications. They stand out for their very good thermal insulation. They are also the favourite choice in Poland, because of both their price and quality. We try to spend less and save, so we do not buy products of doubtful quality. This is why PVC windows are chosen so often: they are the most versatile, good-quality option at a reasonable price.

There are many PVC window models, so which should you consider? Today’s leading model has an 82 mm profile with 7 or 6 chambers and a 3-pane glazing unit. Look at DPQ-82 with a Veka profile and DPB-82 with a Brugmann profile. These windows have the best insulation performance, keeping heat loss as low as possible. A new model, DPQ-76, has recently joined the range and is also worth considering. These windows have 5 chambers and 3 panes, with optimum thermal performance meeting current and future building law requirements. If good performance and an affordable price are your priorities, you can leave the manufacturer’s other models aside. The remaining windows have thinner profiles and smaller glazing units.

The material and type of foil finish are the same across all models, so their appearance will be the same. Manufacturing quality usually depends on the manufacturer’s reputation.

When building a house and choosing its components, it is not worth making major compromises. The windows you choose now will directly affect how warm your home is. Windows with poor performance cause additional heat loss and higher running costs. An apparent saving today may cost you more tomorrow.