Advice on PVC frames.

Double glazing 4/16/4 with low-emissivity coating is today's residential standard and works well for most openings facing inner patios or quiet streets.

Triple glazing 4/14/4/14/4 makes sense on facades exposed to wind and heavy noise (Av. Liberdade, 24 de Julho, main traffic axes), in apartments above the 4th floor and in bedrooms where superior acoustic insulation is required.

In terms of Uw value, the typical gap between double and triple in a PVC frame is around 0.4 W/m²K — meaningful for comfort, but with a longer energy payback. We assess the facade on site before recommending.

A tilt-and-turn window opens vertically (tilt) for continuous ventilation without rain or fall risk, and horizontally (turn) for full inside cleaning of the glass.

The multi-point hardware locks the sash to the frame at 4 to 8 points, delivering superior air and water tightness — essential on wind-exposed facades.

It is the recommended option for apartments with small balconies, street-facing bedrooms and kitchens, where tilt ventilation replaces the gesture of fully opening the window.

In condominium buildings, replacing window frames counts as facade work and requires owners' assembly approval — we confirm the procedure case by case.

For properties in ARU or protected zones (Baixa, Alfama, Bairro Alto, Príncipe Real) we handle the technical contact with the City Council and propose wood-look foiled profiles that match the original design.

A 2 or 3-bedroom flat typically takes 1 to 3 working days. We protect floors and furniture, install opening by opening so the property is never left without windows overnight, and remove debris at the end of each day.

Modern PVC (profile with internal galvanised steel core) reaches Uf values between 1.0 and 1.3 W/m²K, clearly above standard thermally broken aluminium.

Aluminium stands out for very large openings and contemporary architectural projects with very slim sightlines, but at a higher cost and with lower thermal performance.

For 90 % of Lisbon's residential properties, PVC offers the best balance of price, insulation, durability and maintenance — with no need for painting over its service life.

For acoustic insulation, laminated acoustic glass (with acoustic PVB film) makes more difference than plain triple glazing — a 6+6.1 acoustic/14/4 setup cuts up to 40 dB.

Sealing the sash to the frame matters as much as the glass. PVC frames with triple EPDM gaskets and multi-point hardware eliminate acoustic bridges through gaps.

On very noisy facades we combine acoustic glass, tilt-and-turn opening and reinforced gaskets. Typical result: normal conversation in the living room even on a traffic-facing window.

Windows account for 25 % to 40 % of heat losses in a typical Lisbon apartment. Replacing old frames with PVC plus double Low-E glazing can lift the property from class D/E to B/B-.

For class A or A+ certification, triple glazing, 6- or 7-chamber profiles and solar protection (shutters or foiled finishes) become decisive.

We provide the technical sheets of profiles and glass to the certifier — making the post-works class upgrade straightforward.