PVC window installation in Chaves
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- Town
- Chaves
- District
- Vila Real
- Position
- 41°45′ N · 7°32′ W
- Tilt and turn: opens to the side and tilts for fresh air.
What will it cost? Start with the sizes
Window type
Material
Colour
Sizes
Between 600 and 1800 mm
Between 300 and 2200 mm
A rough size is fine.
Extras
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About Chaves
Chaves lies in the far north of Portugal, about 10 km from the Galician border, in the valley of the Tâmega river, in the Vila Real district. The municipality has about 37,000 inhabitants, 591 km² and 39 parishes, and borders Vinhais, Valpaços, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Boticas and Montalegre. The town has about 17,000 inhabitants and forms a Eurocity with Verín, in Spain.
The Romans settled in the Tâmega valley and called it Aquae Flaviae, for the hot springs they used in baths. They built a bridge over the river, the Trajan bridge, and gave the settlement municipality status in the year 79. The town was a civil and military centre, and the thermal baths are still in use.
Being a border town, Chaves was attacked many times. King Dinis had the castle and walls raised, and in the 17th century the forts of São Francisco and São Neutel were added. Chaves is also in history for the belief that the first book in Portuguese was printed here, in 1488.
Today the town lives from trade, services and the baths, and the mountain villages of the surrounding parishes have fewer people. There are sausages and ham cured in the smoke of fireplaces, and the Folar de Chaves is an Easter speciality.
What the climate of Chaves asks of windows
Chaves has a Csa Mediterranean climate, bordering Csb, with hot but dry summers and cold, rainier winters. According to Wikipedia, there are about 58 days a year above 30 degrees, but summer nights are cool, and about 54 days a year below zero, more than half the days of January. In winter fog covers the valley and only lifts at midday. Snow is infrequent, and March is usually dry. For a window, cold and valley damp weigh more than heat.
Chaves sits in a valley ringed by hills, far from the sea. Winter is cold, with frost and fog, and summer is hot by day and cool at night. The Tâmega river runs through the middle of town.
Here the window is worth most for insulation: keeping the warmth in and the cold out.
- Cold air and winter fronts
Cold fronts push the temperature below 5 degrees even by day. An old window lets in cold air through gaps and the shutter box, and the home is slow to warm. In village homes on north-facing slopes, the effect is greater still.
- Frost and ice, instead of salt
Far from the sea there is no salt. But frost and ice wear seals and frames over the years, and swings between a cold night and a milder day tire the materials. Choose frames and seals that can take hard cold, and ask the installer to explain what each can stand.
- Valley fog and damp
In winter fog covers the valley and only lifts at midday, with days of damp air in a row. With cold glass, water forms on the glass in the morning and mould in the corners of outer walls. Double or triple glazing and well-sealed windows keep the glass less cold, and airing a few minutes a day helps.
- 30-degree days and cool nights
There are about 58 days a year above 30 degrees, but summer nights cool down a lot. Shade by day, with shutters or blinds, and open windows at night cool the home without air conditioning. A well-sealed window helps keep the morning cool through the day.
| Condition | Level | Climate sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | High | About 54 days a year below 0 degrees. |
| Summer | High | About 58 days a year above 30 degrees. |
| Humidity | Medium | Fog in the valley during winter. |
| Rain | Medium | Less than in Gerês; March is usually dry. |
Levels for comparison, not measurements.
Solutions table for Chaves
| Window | Glass | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local condition | PVC | Aluminium | Double glazing | Triple glazing |
Cold air and winter fronts | SuitableGood against cold air, with seals in good order. | It dependsOnly with a thermal break; otherwise the frame freezes. | SuitableGood against ordinary winter cold. | SuitableHolds in more warmth on frosty nights. |
Frost and ice, instead of salt | SuitableHandles cold; the seals should be good quality. | SuitableHandles ice, with a thermal break in the profile. | SuitableHandles cold well; look at the air gap. | SuitableHeavier, but handles frost well. |
Valley fog and damp | SuitableInsulates against cold and helps avoid water on the glass. | It dependsWithout a thermal break, the frame condenses a lot. | SuitableThe inner pane stays less cold; less water. | SuitableThe inner pane stays even warmer; less mould. |
30-degree days and cool nights | SuitableHot summers but cool nights; light colour is enough. | It dependsDark heats up in the afternoon; prefer light colour. | It dependsSolar coating only on south or west windows. | It dependsInsulates from outside heat; ventilate at night. |
- Suitable
- Needs care
- It depends
In Chaves insulation against the cold decides the choice. The installer checks everything on site.
Homes in Chaves
The homes in the area change what is worth asking of the windows.
Historic centre
The historic centre has many stone houses and old buildings near the castle, the walls and the Roman bridge. Ask the town council about facade rules. Check the state of the walls and sills before deciding, and prefer solutions that keep the look of the street.
Traditional houses
In the municipality's villages there are often thick-walled stone houses, built for the cold, with a fireplace. Old wooden windows lose heat and let air in. In homes like these, changing the window without treating the wall beside it solves only part of the problem.
Detached and semi-detached houses
In newer areas and around the town there are houses with yards. In winter heating and insulation weigh; in summer, shade. Large south-facing windows bring warmth in winter, but call for shutters in summer.
How it works
Tell us what you need
Measure the opening on the drawing and confirm your town.
We call and answer your questions
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We pass your request on and you get quotes
Your request goes to installers in your area. They are the ones who send you quotes.
We do not make or fit windows. We connect people and explain.
Towns near Chaves
Do you live in a village of the municipality or a neighbouring one? These are the areas and municipalities around Chaves.
Cannot find your area? Write it in the request.
Hard cold: what the window holds in
In Chaves cold is the rule in winter. The record was minus 8.5 degrees, in January 1983, according to Wikipedia.
A weak window loses heat and the heating works harder. Ask about:
- double or triple glazing;
- a frame with good insulation (a thermal break, if aluminium);
- careful sealing all round, where cold air tends to get through;
- an insulated shutter box, which is often the coldest point on the wall.
A good window holds in the heat the heating produces.
Fireplace, wood stove and well-sealed windows
In homes in Chaves and the surrounding villages it is common to heat with a fireplace or wood stove, and smoke-curing, which preserves sausages and ham, is part of local culture.
A very well-sealed window leaves the home with no air coming in. If the combustion appliance needs air from indoors, the lack of ventilation can be dangerous. Before changing windows, tell the installer the home has a fireplace or stove and ask for a solution with adequate ventilation. Confirm with whoever installed the appliance what it requires.
General notes
It is very cold in Chaves. Is triple glazing worth it?
Somewhere with about 54 days a year below zero, triple can pay off, especially in homes heated all winter. The installer helps you decide, looking at the home and the frame.
See the guide Double or triple glazing.
Does valley fog cause water on the glass?
Damp air and cold glass together make water on the glass. Double or triple glazing and well-sealed windows keep the glass less cold. Airing helps.
See the guide Why is there water on the glass?
I have old wooden windows in a village house: replace or repair?
If they let in cold air and water, replacing usually improves comfort. In stone houses, check the state of the wall beside them too. The installer can say whether the old window can still be mended.
I live in Vidago or another village. Can I ask?
Yes. Write your town in the request. The municipality of Chaves has 39 parishes, some far from the town and in mountain areas. In high villages cold and frost weigh more.
Can I change windows near the castle or the Roman bridge?
It is a historic area: ask the town council first about facade rules. If it is a block, speak to the residents' association too. In stone houses, the window is part of the design of the facade.
I use a fireplace or wood stove. Are better-sealed windows a problem?
They can be, if the home is left with no air coming in for combustion. Tell the installer you have a fireplace or stove and ask for adequate ventilation. Confirm with whoever installed the appliance what is needed.
Related guides
- PVC window buying guide: what to compareHow to ask for a quote, what to check before you sign, which questions to ask and which warranties to request.
- Window problems: condensation, cold, noise and leaksCondensation (also between the panes), draughts, leaks, noise, mould: the most common window problems and what to do.6 min
- Window comparison: PVC, aluminium and glass typesPVC or aluminium? Double or triple glazing? Compare the most common choices in plain words.
- 10 questions to ask a window installerThe 10 questions to ask the installer, each with the reason, to see whether the quote is serious.5 min
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