Blog · 8 min read
How to choose
double glazing
Author: OKNA PLAST editorial team
- Published
- Updated
What to look at beyond the price tag: glazing types, frame profiles, glass coatings, thickness and weight, balcony units and pre-order checks. A practical guide for apartment owners in Astana.
To choose double glazing for an apartment in Astana, start with the climate, not the price tag. A two-chamber unit around 32 mm with energy-saving glass suits the long frosty winter and strong wind, while the profile must physically fit that thickness. OKNA PLAST assembles windows in its own workshop and installs them with its own crews.
Why the climate in Astana decides your glazing before the price does
A long frosty winter and strong wind set the requirements for a glazing unit well before the price conversation starts. Choosing between single or double chamber glazing shapes how the unit handles cold and wind for apartment use.
What the local winter and wind demand from a glazing unit
A long frosty winter with strong wind pushes the choice toward a multi-chamber profile and a two-chamber assembly, because a single-chamber build loses heat too fast on the coldest nights. A profile with more internal walls holds the frame temperature higher, and the two-chamber assembly adds an extra air gap that slows heat loss through the glass itself. Wind load matters as much as frost — a warm seam and warm slopes keep the heat that the glazing is designed to hold, so the glass and the installation have to be planned together rather than chosen separately. On wind-exposed upper floors the joint between frame and wall is where most of the warmth escapes, not the glass.
Choosing double glazing that holds warmth through the cold season
We pair a dual-layer assembly with energy-saving glazing so the inner surface stays warmer and condensation forms less often on frosty mornings. A 32 mm two-chamber build with an i-coating reflects heat back into the room instead of letting it radiate toward the street. Energy-saving panes pay off most on north-facing and wind-exposed windows; on a sheltered south side the gain is smaller, so the choice should follow the actual orientation of each window. In our practice we check the orientation of every opening before recommending a coating, because a blanket upgrade on all windows wastes budget on the sunny side. Treat the panes and the frame as one system — a strong profile around a weak infill still lets the cold in. Sealed unit formulas, airtightness and dew point limits are set out in GOST 24866.
Choosing double glazing units and what the chamber count really means
The first real decision for an apartment buyer is whether one sealed cavity between the panes is enough or a pair is needed. We compare the options by warmth, weight and load on the hardware rather than by advertising claims.
Single versus double glazed units compared by warmth, weight and noise
| Parameter | Single chamber | Double chamber |
|---|---|---|
| Warmth in frost | Lower | Higher |
| Noise from the street | Moderate | Better |
| Weight on hinges | Lighter | Heavier |
| Best fit | Mild climate, small sashes | Astana apartments, large sashes |
How much insulation an Astana apartment window needs
For an apartment in Astana we recommend a dual-cavity glazing, and we check that the chosen profile and fittings can carry the extra weight of the sash. A standard two-chamber block of 32 mm fits most systems we work with, from Rehau to Deceuninck, and the number of air gaps in the surround then decides how well the whole assembly holds warmth through the long frosty winter. On wide or balcony-door sashes the weight matters most — a heavier block on light fittings wears the hinges faster, so the profile and hardware are picked together with the glazing, not after it. We match the sash mass to the hinge rating before the contract is signed, which keeps the assembly from sagging over the years.
Types of double glazing and the profile they fit into
A glazing block is never chosen apart from its frame — the thickness it can carry is capped by the mounting width of the profile. Here is which types fit which systems, and where the real trade-off sits.
Types of double glazing and the thickness each profile accepts
| Profile example | Mounting width | Glazing it accepts |
|---|---|---|
| Rehau Geneo | Deep system | Up to 52 mm |
| SMART series | 60 mm | Two-glass 32 mm |
| Galwin | 60 mm | Up to 30 mm |
| Deceuninck Favorit Space | 76 mm, six internal compartments | Deep two-glass blocks |
What matters more, the profile or the glazing unit
We treat the surround and the glass block as one system, because the warmest panel loses its advantage if the casing cannot hold it or the seam stays cold. A Rehau Geneo surround takes a block up to 52 mm and carries three seal contours, while a Galwin section at 60 mm accepts no more than 30 mm — the same glass performs differently in each. Cavity count in the surround governs how the edge zone behaves, and the warm installation seam closes the gap between section and wall. A multi-cavity surround with a thin block and a deep section with a thick one can end up close in warmth, so the pair matters more than either part alone. We match the two together rather than pick each in isolation, which is why the figures are agreed before the contract, not after.
Noise, energy saving and sash weight in a double glazing comparison
Beyond price, a glazing unit has three measurable parameters — acoustic protection, warmth and mass. Here is how they relate to each other, and which one actually adds comfort in an apartment.
How to pick glazing that keeps street noise out
Acoustic protection grows with the weight of the assembly and the width of the air gap, so a dual-cavity build with panes of different thicknesses cuts street sound better than a thin single-chamber design. A 4-16-4-16-4 layout with one thicker sheet breaks up the resonance that passes through identical glass, and the spacer frame holds the gap steady at the edge where sound leaks first. Laminated glass adds density without extra width, which matters on a facade facing a busy avenue. A build that is good for acoustics is usually good for warmth as well, so a window onto a busy road rarely needs a separate compromise — pick the heavier assembly once and it covers both jobs.
Energy saving and sash weight in a double glazing comparison
We balance energy-saving glass against the load it adds, because a heavier sash needs fittings and a surround rated to carry it over years of use. A dual-cavity build with a low-emissivity coating holds heat indoors, yet each extra pane and wider spacer pushes the strain on the hinges up, and on a large sash that figure decides how long the hardware stays smooth. We match the glazing to the frame — a 70 mm series carries more than a 60 mm one — and check the hinge rating before the order is signed off. On a panoramic window the load grows fastest, so weigh the energy gain against the stress on the hinges rather than choosing on warmth alone.
Installation and the contract that protect what you paid for
Even a correctly chosen glazing assembly loses heat when the installation is weak. Here is how the window actually goes in and what gets written into the contract before you sign.
How installation keeps the warmth a glazing unit provides
We install to GOST with the 9-point seismic factor in mind, using a warm mounting seam and warm slopes so the heat the unit holds is not lost at the frame. The seam is the foam-and-tape joint between frame and wall, and in a frosty, windy city it does more for comfort than an extra millimetre of glass. Warm slopes finish the reveal on the inside, closing the gap where cold air otherwise creeps in around the perimeter. Our crews bring the sill, flashing and slope trim and fit all of it the same day, so nothing is left half-finished. A cold seam shows up as condensation and draughts long before the glazing itself fails, so the installation is where most of the warmth is won or lost.
Telling a manufacturer from a middleman and what to fix in the contract
We assemble windows in our own workshop and install them with our own crews, and we fix the price in the contract before signing, with the sill, slopes, flashing, dismantling and installation already in the calculation. Ask any seller one direct question — who builds the frame and who drives to your flat — and listen for a workshop and a named crew rather than a call centre. Our lead time from contract to installation stays under two weeks, and the profile certificates are shown before you sign, not after. A middleman cannot show you the workshop or the crew, so asking who actually builds and installs the window is the fastest way to tell the two apart.
What determines the choice of double glazing for an apartment
Picking a window for a flat comes down to a few decisions you can verify on paper and on the frame itself before anything is signed.
- Climate first, price second: a long frosty winter and strong wind call for two insulating layers inside a multi-chamber surround, not a single-chamber bargain.
- Match the unit to the profile: panel thickness has to fit the mounting width, since a deep assembly needs a deep surround to sit without stress.
- Weigh warmth and noise against sash weight: heavier panes block more sound but load the hinges, so balance the two before you commit.
- Treat installation as part of the choice: a warm seam and warm slopes keep the heat the assembly is built to hold, and poor fitting undoes a good unit.
- Ask who builds and installs the window: fix the scope and terms in the contract beforehand, so nothing is added later.
