PVC window installation in Guarda
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- Town
- Guarda
- District
- Guarda
- Position
- 40°32′ N · 7°20′ 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
Window schedule
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About Guarda
Guarda is the highest city in Portugal: the urban area reaches 1,056 m above sea level, according to Wikipedia. It lies on the last north-eastern spur of the Serra da Estrela, above the Mondego valley, and the municipality covers 712 km², has 43 parishes and about 40,000 inhabitants. It borders Pinhel, Almeida, Sabugal, Belmonte, Covilhã, Manteigas, Gouveia and Celorico da Beira.
Because of the altitude, the municipality belongs to three river basins, those of the Mondego, the Douro and the Tagus, and contributes to the water of Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra. The city is known by the nickname “city of the 5 Fs”: Forte, Farta, Fria, Fiel and Formosa. The “Fria” (cold) comes from the altitude and the nearby mountains.
The cathedral, entirely of granite, dominates the centre. Until the revolution of 25 April, most people in the municipality lived in villages, from subsistence farming. After democracy, many moved into town and began working in services and industry. The city also has the Guarda Polytechnic Institute.
The city has good connections: the A25 to Aveiro and the border, the A23 to Lisbon and the Beira Baixa and Beira Alta railway lines. For people who live here, cold is the first thing asked of a window.
What the climate of Guarda asks of windows
According to Wikipedia, Guarda has a temperate climate with Mediterranean influence and a short dry season in summer. The yearly average is 11.1 °C, with 19.7 °C in July and 4 °C in January. About 914 mm of rain falls a year, and December is the rainiest month. It is one of the coldest cities in the country, with snow a few times a year, and temperatures below -10 °C happen fairly often.
Guarda sits up high, above the Mondego valley, at the end of the Serra da Estrela. It is the highest city in the country and one of the coldest.
Cold and ice rule the choice. Heat hardly counts.
- Plateau wind
In the city up high, wind cuts at street corners and gets in through any gap. A continuous seal and careful fitting count for more than glass thickness. It is worth checking the state of the gaskets and lock of every window before winter.
- Dry summer air
Summer has a short dry season, and in August it hardly rains, about 10 mm on average. Dry air does not bother PVC or glass, but the tracks collect dust and need cleaning. In July the average is 19.7 °C, so heat is rarely the problem.
- Cold, snow and ice
January averages 4 °C, with snow a few times a year and ice on the coldest nights. On glass that is cold inside, the damp from the house turns to droplets or ice. Triple glazing, or good-insulation double, and a frame that cuts the cold avoid discomfort next to the window.
- Altitude sun
Summer is cool and short. Winter sun comes in and helps warm the room, so it is wise not to darken the glass too much. A good low-emissivity glass is usually enough, without needing strong solar control.
| Condition | Level | Climate sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | High | Among the coldest cities in the country. |
| Summer | Low | Short, dry, cool summer. |
| Rain | Medium | December is the rainiest month. |
| Wind | Medium | A city up high, more exposed. |
| Humidity | Medium | Damp winter, dry summer. |
Levels for comparison, not measurements.
SourcesWikipédia (pt): GuardaWikipedia (en): Guarda, Portugal
Solutions table for Guarda
| Window | Glass | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local condition | PVC | Aluminium | Double glazing | Triple glazing |
Plateau wind | SuitableA good seal is essential: wind up here cuts through any gap. | Needs careOnly with a thermal break and good seals. Metal conducts cold. | SuitableReduces the cold you feel next to the glass. | SuitableA good choice for walls exposed to cold wind. |
Dry summer air | SuitableCopes with cold and dry air without painting. | SuitableCopes. Check the finish and the gaskets in the cold. | SuitableDry air does not affect the glass. | SuitableSame as double glazing on this point. |
Cold, snow and ice | SuitableInsulates the frame well. Helps against ice and water on glass. | Needs careA thermal break is decisive: without it ice and water form. | Needs careMay fall short in a winter of snow and ice. Compare with triple. | SuitableOften pays off where winter is long and cold. |
Altitude sun | SuitableWinter sun comes in and helps warm the room. | It dependsDepends on the profile. A thermal break performs better. | SuitableUsually enough for the milder summers. | SuitableHolds indoor heat in; summer is short and cool. |
- Suitable
- Needs care
- It depends
In Guarda, cold rules. Heat hardly counts in the choice, but the installer confirms everything on site.
Homes in Guarda
The homes in the area change what is worth asking of the windows.
Historic centre
The old quarter is granite, with the cathedral and narrow streets, near the old castle and walls. Houses have thick walls and old openings, which call for careful measuring. Near monuments, the facade may have rules: ask the council before ordering.
Traditional houses
In many villages of the municipality there are stone houses with small, old windows, which are often a big heat leak. Replacing them changes winter comfort a lot. If the house is closed part of the year, ask for its own ventilation to avoid mould.
Detached and semi-detached houses
In the most exposed houses, up high, it is worth considering triple glazing and frames with a good thermal break. Exposure to wind and cold is greater than in a sheltered flat. Ask the installer to look at each facade and its orientation to the sun.
How it works
Tell us what you need
Measure the opening on the drawing and confirm your town.
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We do not make or fit windows. We connect people and explain.
Towns near Guarda
Live in a village or a neighbouring municipality? These lie around Guarda. Write your town in the request.
Cannot find your area? Write it in the request.
Guarda in photos
Snow and ice
Snow falls a few times a year, and temperatures below -10 °C happen fairly often, according to Wikipedia. Historical records from January 1829 seem to show less than -20 °C.
On icy days, gaskets harden and hardware suffers. Ask the installer for gaskets and hardware made for hard cold and ask how the window is protected from water freezing in the joint. A bad joint lets water in, freeze and widen the gap.
The city of the five Fs and the cold
The “F” for Fria (cold) is one of the marks of the city, and people who live there know why. Guarda lies above a thousand metres and is exposed to wind off the mountains.
That changes how windows are chosen. In many parts of the country the talk is of summer heat. Here, winter decides: frame insulation, the number of panes, the seal and ventilation to avoid mould. Start by finding out which windows in the house are the coldest, and where the air comes in.
General notes
Is Guarda really the coldest city in the country?
Wikipedia says it is one of the coldest and that snow falls a few times a year. So window insulation weighs more here than in almost any other part of the country. January averages 4 °C, and icy nights are common.
Is triple glazing worth it in Guarda?
With winters this cold, triple is an option to weigh up, especially on north-facing and windy walls. It is heavier, so the frame and hardware must be able to carry it. Ask for a comparison with double for your home, and ask about the insulation value of the whole window.
Does ice damage the window on the outside?
A good profile and good gaskets stand up to ice. What causes problems is a badly sealed installation, where water gets in, freezes and widens the gap. That is why the joint between window and wall deserves as much attention as the window.
Granite house up high: what should I check before replacing windows?
Look at the stone around the opening, the finish and the ventilation. Sealing a cold, damp house too tightly can bring mould, so ask for windows with an airing opening. Also tell the installer if the house is closed part of the year.
I live in a village in the municipality. Does the request work?
Yes. Give the village in the request, because altitude changes the cold and the choice of window. The municipality has 43 parishes, and some lie well above the city. The more exact the place, the more useful the quote.
Does Guarda summer call for care too?
Less than winter. In July the average is 19.7 °C, and winter sun is welcome. If a room faces strongly west, outside blinds solve most of the afternoon heat, without darkening the house the rest of the year.
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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