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How do you, as a professional, assess triple-glazed plastic windows (brown on the outside and aluminum-clipped and white on the inside) from Internorm, which were installed about 35 years ago and, according to a window sealing expert, are still flawless.

How do you assess as a professional triple-glazed plastic windows (brown on the outside and aluminum-clipped and white on the inside) from Internorm, which were installed about 35 years ago

Without seeing them live, not at all. I personally do not know any properties with products from this manufacturer, who however seems to me to be among the quality providers. Due to the aluminum cladding, I expect that the material aging is less advanced than without.

and according to the window sealing expert still flawless.

I have not yet criticized sealing problems in plastic windows, and would not expect any; in this respect, they are in my opinion structurally adequate.

I have not yet complained about tightness problems with plastic windows, and I would not expect them; in my opinion, they are constructively adequate in this regard.

Plastics emit vapors, simple chemical processes. Due to the emission, the plastic shrinks and becomes brittle. As a result, the windows become leaky. I was already able to notice this on the windows after 20 years. One of the biggest disadvantages of plastic windows and a reason for the shorter lifespan compared to aluminum.

Plastics off-gas, simple chemical processes. Due to the off-gassing, the plastic shrinks and becomes brittle. The result is that the windows become drafty. I was already able to notice this after 20 years on the windows. One of the biggest disadvantages of plastic windows and a reason for their shorter lifespan compared to aluminum.

That means new windows in about 20 years, if things go badly. It's okay, until then maintain the newly purchased windows as well as possible and apparently hope for some kind of miracle, should they last longer than the expected "McDiscount" lifespan... :-S

That means new windows in about 20 years, if it goes badly.

In 20 years, the film wrapping technology will have further developed, meaning that aesthetic defects on the surface will then be even cheaper to fix. Declining tightness will also not be so dramatic that it could not be remedied with improved sealing strips. Personally, I would not skimp at this point is not equivalent to saying that every buyer of plastic windows has to spend the rest of their life in desperate regret. I also clearly said that for the front door I would have chosen aluminum. It undergoes considerably more opening cycles than a window, and is larger and heavier. I also see a stress class given for lift-and-slide doors, which "justifies" aluminum. For the ordinary mortal window, everyone can "save" if that makes them happy.

Plastics outgas, simple chemical processes. Due to outgassing, the plastic shrinks and becomes brittle. The result is that the windows become leaky. I was already able to notice this on the windows after 20 years. One of the biggest disadvantages of plastic windows and a reason for the shorter lifespan compared to aluminum.

I hardly believe that outgassing from plastic plays a significant role in dimensional stability when there are other factors like temperature-dependent expansion (in plastic as well as aluminum).

The opening mechanisms of plastic and aluminum lift-and-slide doors are so different that the plastic version is expected to have a shorter lifespan ?