Thermal Expansion and Solar Shield Technology in PVC Windows and Doors
Did you know that the laminated finish of your windows and doors isn’t just an aesthetic choice, but also a real investment in the durability and quality of your fixtures?
Choosing a laminated finish means protecting the profiles from harsh weather conditions and UV rays, ensuring long-term color stability, surface resistance, and a consistently flawless appearance. But there’s more: the laminated finish also plays a key role in managing thermal expansion.
To provide even greater protection, our windows feature Solar Shield Technology — an innovation that incorporates special pigments into the surface film. These pigments reflect the infrared component of sunlight, helping to reduce heat buildup in PVC profiles.
This technical solution delivers a clear benefit: less heat means less expansion, which in turn ensures greater dimensional stability and better long-term performance. Tests carried out in our laboratories show that, with a temperature variation of about 25°C, a colored profile can expand by approximately 2 mm per linear meter. Additionally, the panel itself can expand by around 1 mm per linear meter with temperature changes of up to 60°C.
If ignored, these expansion values can negatively affect installation quality and the lifespan of the fixture. That’s why we recommend that technicians and installers allow for an extra 3 mm on each side compared to the wall opening when taking measurements. This simple precaution helps compensate for the natural expansion of materials without compromising the functionality of the window or door.
Choosing laminated windows and doors with Solar Shield Technology means making a smart, forward-thinking decision: better performance, maximum durability, and less maintenance over time.