PVC window installation in Olhão
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- Town
- Olhão
- District
- Faro
- Position
- 37°03′ N · 7°48′ 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 Olhão
Olhão is a fishing port in the Algarve, beside the Ria Formosa. The municipality has about 44,000 inhabitants (2021), part on the mainland and Armona island, and borders Faro to the west, Tavira to the east and São Brás de Alportel to the north. Faro lies right next door, and the two cities form almost one built-up area.
The name comes from an olho de água, a spring of abundant water, which drew fishermen in the early 17th century to the Barreta area. The first homes were huts of cane and thatch, and only in 1715 were fishermen allowed to replace them with masonry houses. The open bar to the ocean made life easier for those who lived from the sea.
Olhão entered history on 16 June 1808, when the population rose successfully against the French occupation. That day is now the City Day. In the same year the settlement became a town, named Olhão da Restauração, and a municipality of its own, separate from Faro.
Today the municipality has four parishes: Olhão, Quelfes, Pechão and Moncarapacho e Fuseta. The town lives from the sea, canning and tourism, the municipal market and the boat to the islands. Inland, the ground rises to the barrocal.
What the climate of Olhão asks of windows
Olhão has hot, dry summers and mild winters, in a temperate, humid Mediterranean climate, according to Wikipedia. Summers last five months of mild to warm temperatures, with daily averages near 22 degrees, and in winter the daily average is around 12 degrees. Rain is irregular and falls mostly from autumn to spring. The sea's influence is felt more near the coast, giving way to a warmer, drier climate inland.
Olhão lives facing the lagoon, the salt pans and the sea. The air is damp and salty, and in summer the sun beats straight down on flat roofs. Armona island is just there.
Here the window works against salt, lagoon damp and the heat of low houses.
- Lagoon breeze and sea wind
The breeze comes from the lagoon and the sea, and on the islands, such as Armona, the wind meets no obstacle. In homes by the water, window sealing has to be good, to avoid draughts and whistling. On sheltered streets in the centre, wind bothers less.
- Salt pans, salt and sea air
Around Olhão there are salt pans, marshes and the lagoon itself. Salt lingers in the air and settles on hardware and glass. Rinse handles, hinges and tracks with fresh water, and prefer frames and hardware made for marine settings.
- Lagoon damp
The air near the lagoon is damp. In low homes with cold walls, the glass mists up and mould appears in the corners, especially in rooms little used. Ventilating daily and having windows that seal well stops the problem.
- Sun and heat on the roof terraces
Flat roofs and white walls take strong sun. Doors and windows facing the terrace heat up most. Glass with a solar coating and shutters outside help the home stay cool in summer.
| Condition | Level | Climate sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | High | Hot and dry. |
| Sun | High | Sun nearly all year, as in the rest of the Algarve. |
| Winter | Low | Mild: daily average around 12 degrees. |
| Humidity | Medium | Damp air beside the lagoon. |
| Rain | Medium | Irregular, from autumn to spring. |
| Wind | Medium | Lagoon breeze; freer on the islands. |
Levels for comparison, not measurements.
Solutions table for Olhão
| Window | Glass | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local condition | PVC | Aluminium | Double glazing | Triple glazing |
Lagoon breeze and sea wind | SuitableGood; careful sealing where wind meets no obstacle. | SuitableHandles lagoon wind well, with a good fitting. | SuitableWind changes little in the choice of glass. | Needs careHeavier; hardware and wall must cope. |
Salt pans, salt and sea air | SuitableDoes not rust by the salt pans; clean the hinges. | Needs careWith salt pans and lagoon, needs a strong finish and cleaning. | SuitableThe glass stands up well to salt. | SuitableSame as double glazing on this point. |
Lagoon damp | SuitableGood against damp; helps avoid mould. | It dependsNeeds a thermal break to avoid condensation. | SuitableCuts water on the glass in low, damp houses. | It dependsRarely pays off; winter is mild. |
Sun and heat on the roof terraces | It dependsLight colour and shutters outside ease the heat. | It dependsDark heats up a lot; prefer light colour. | It dependsWith a solar coating, the home heats up less. | It dependsHolds back heat if it has a solar coating. |
- Suitable
- Needs care
- It depends
In Olhão salt and lagoon damp weigh more than cold. The installer checks everything on site.
Homes in Olhão
The homes in the area change what is worth asking of the windows.
Traditional houses
The old quarter has low white houses, many with a flat roof terrace, heirs of the fishermen's districts. The door to the terrace is often a weak point against rain. Check the state of the threshold and plaster before replacing.
New apartments
In the streets around the centre there are multi-storey blocks. The upper floors catch more wind and sun. Old windows let in heat in summer and damp cold in winter, and shutter boxes are a common weak point.
Detached and semi-detached houses
On Armona island and beside the lagoon there are holiday homes, some used only in summer. Salt, sand and wind are part of daily life. In homes with sliding doors to the outside, sealing and tracks count most.
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 Olhão
Do you live outside central Olhão? These are the areas of the municipality and the nearest neighbours.
Cannot find your area? Write it in the request.
Roof terrace and the low fisherman's house
Olhão has many low white houses with a flat roof you can climb onto and hang the washing: the açoteia. They were built for the heat and for life beside the lagoon.
If you have a house like this, when changing the terrace door or window check:
- the threshold, which should throw water outwards;
- the joint between the door and the wall;
- the state of the plaster around it;
- whether rain from the terrace drains away from the door.
Good sealing at floor level prevents leaks after showers.
Fishermen's quarters and small houses
The concentration of fishermen in the Barreta area dates from the early 17th century. After 1715 the huts gave way to small masonry houses, close together. Many still stand, with narrow streets and little distance between neighbours.
In those homes, windows tend to be small, walls thick and ventilation poor. When replacing the window, ask about built-in ventilation and protection of the plaster. Also ask the town council whether the look of the facade has rules.
General notes
The door to my roof terrace lets rain in. What now?
Usually the threshold or the joint is failing. Ask the installer to check the water drainage and the seal at floor level. After a shower, photograph the wet area, so they can see where the water gets in.
I live in Fuseta or Moncarapacho. Can I ask?
Yes. Write your town in the request. The municipality's parishes are Olhão, Quelfes, Pechão and Moncarapacho e Fuseta. In Fuseta, by the lagoon, salt matters more; in Moncarapacho, further inland, sun and night cold count.
Does lagoon air damage aluminium?
Salt can attack aluminium without a good finish. Choose a finish made for marine environments and rinse it now and then. PVC does not rust, but the hardware also feels the salt.
Why does mould appear in the corners of a low house near the lagoon?
The air is damp and the walls are cold. Airing and well-sealed windows help. Indoors, avoid drying laundry in closed rooms.
See the guide Why is there water on the glass?
In a multi-storey block, what helps with summer heat?
On upper floors the sun heats the living room. Shutters outside and glass with a solar coating help more than changing only the frame. If there is a balcony, protection outside cools too.
Can I change the windows of an old house in the fishermen's quarter?
Usually you can, but ask the town council whether the facade has rules. The installer should check the state of the plaster and sill before proposing the window. In small homes, ventilation deserves special attention.
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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