A Parallel Development: uPVC as the Premium Framing Material
The forerunner of today’s uPVC was first developed in the 1920s. While searching for a synthetic substitute for rubber, Dr Waldo Semon of the B.F. Goodrich Company in the United States formulated the first PVC polymer, in 1926.
As with double glazing technology, the use of PVC didn’t come into common use until the 1950s. As double glazing provides much better performance than single glazing, so modern uPVC window and door frames provide numerous benefits compared with the traditional wood and aluminium frames
In the case of PVC windows, known in the US as ‘vinyl windows’, Europe was the early adopter. The first commercially viable product, the Trocal, was introduced in Europe in 1954. Production commenced in the US in the 1950s too, but it wasn’t until the 1980’s that ‘vinyl’ took off. Read more about the History of uPVC-Vinyl Windows here.
Today, the pioneering advances made in double glazing and PVC polymers almost 100 years ago, have culminated in the best windows and doors available on the market, and proudly manufactured by Thermotek Windows, right here in Melbourne.
Double Glazing In 21st Century Australia
The bad news is that while Australia suffers the extremes of sub-zero Winter and searing Summer temperatures, we are far behind Europe and North America in the adoption of double glazing. Many purchasers of new homes, and the builders who build them, believe that keeping the capital cost down is the best way to improve housing affordability. We have another perspective…
We believe that housing affordability is best described as the cost of mortgage repayment + cost of energy. If the cost of fitting double glazing is less than the energy savings you can make on your heating and cooling bills, then fitting double glazing is a ‘no-brainer’. That’s good news.
If YOU don’t want to be 2,000 years behind the times, then Thermotek Windows is here to help.
Give us a call on 1300 733 429, email us, or fill in our Contact Form.