Standard window sizes for a private house: SNiP and GOST requirements for height and width

Our mood depends on the light of the sun. Surely, you noticed that when you woke up on a very cloudy day, you didn’t want to do anything. This often depends on the side on which the windows in the room face, as well as on their number. However, the size of windows in a modern private house also plays a big role. If you are planning construction or a major renovation with the replacement of window frames, it would be good to analyze what can be changed for the better by slightly widening the openings or moving them to any other place. What window sizes are provided by the standards and the manufacturer? What material will be better for them? You will learn about this in this article.

How to determine the size of a window opening

The size of the window determines the amount of light entering the home. Naturally, the required level of illumination in auxiliary and living rooms is different.

There is no point in installing wide glazing in the pantry. And in bedrooms and living rooms it is better to install two- or three-hung windows.

A properly lit room

The area of the window unit is usually selected in proportion to the size of the room. Except for cases when the facade of the house should reflect a special author's idea.

The standards specified in GOST 23166-99 are used in the design of standard buildings. There are no such requirements for private construction. A person has the right to independently decide what type of glazing to use.

GOST for PVC structures

The gold standard for construction has become the use of window openings made of polyvinyl chloride (previously wood was more common). This is a modern material with excellent performance characteristics. And one of them is the absence of shrinkage, like wood. Therefore, the dimensions of the opening must be made accurate, avoiding errors. Builders usually offer parameters that comply with the GOST standard. Then it will be very easy to select classic frames, mosquito nets, curtains, window sills and other items without ordering them according to individual dimensions. Here is an excerpt from the table of the regulatory document for products with a single sash:

Opening, cm		Plastic window, cm
Vertically	Horizontally	Vertically	Horizontally
50	50	47	47
60	60	57	57
60	90	57	87
90	60	87	57
90	90	87	87
120	60	117	57
120	90	117	87
135	60	132	57
135	90	132	87
150	60	147	57
150	90	147	87

Standard sizes of window units for products with double sashes:

Opening, cm		Window, cm
Vertically	Horizontally	Vertically	Horizontally
60	120	57	117
90	120	87	117
90	135	87	132
90	150	87	157
100	100	97	97
120	100	117	97

In general, the technology is clear - 30 mm is removed from each parameter for installation work. Likewise for tricuspid blocks. According to GOST, the absolute maximum will be 150/150 and 150/210 cm for products with 2 and 3 sashes, respectively.

But it is necessary to determine both by regulations and by many criteria:

type of space (residential/commercial/production);
type of building (material for construction);
architectural solutions;
purpose of the room (living room/bathroom/bedroom);
internal layout, etc.

The dimensions will depend simultaneously on a number of issues. We will try to answer them later in the article.

Standard sizes of plastic windows according to GOST

GOST 23166-99 and GOST 11214-86 regulate the procedure for designing window openings and glazing units. The set of GOST standards provides complete knowledge for the correct and safe installation of windows.

Ready-made solution that does not require measurements

The table below shows the ratio of the dimensions of the mounting opening and the window that is installed in it.

According to the rules, it should be 3 centimeters smaller than the opening.

Such precision is necessary for an ideal foam seam, which will rid the home of drafts and extraneous noise from the street.

The following values are typical for the central European part of Russia:

Dimensions of double-hung windows:

In nearby regions, a correction factor is used:

for the northern parts – 1.2;
for southern ones - 0.75.

It is permissible for a design bureau to carry out calculations in accordance with GOST. In other cases, you can use average values.

The standard sizes of three-leaf plastic windows for a private home have characteristic features. They are quite wide.

The crossbar above the opening must be of sufficient strength. Otherwise, the loads may compress the window frame and the window will crack.

Panoramic lighting is less complicated to calculate. And there are no requirements for its size. It is only necessary to perform the technical part with high quality, namely to select the thickness of the glass and install it correctly.

How to calculate window size

Having familiarized yourself with the theoretical part, you can begin to practice.

When designing technical documentation and a private house project, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

It is better to place the window block at some distance from the wall.
For rooms up to 3 meters wide, a window no more than one meter wide, located in the center of the room, is more suitable.
A lintel must be left above the opening. The glazing should not extend beyond the ceiling part (with the exception of panoramic windows).

If the house has already been built, but you want to replace the window, you should think through and calculate everything in advance. Some openings can be closed, others can be moved. This way you can correct most of the mistakes of the last century and create an atmosphere in your home.

A double-leaf window without a mullion looks good in a private home

Window openings must be measured from the inside and outside. Then the data is summed up and an average is output, which is used to select a window block.

It is impossible to install a PVC profile “centimeter by centimeter”. It is necessary to leave a technical gap of 2-4 cm. After installation, it is blown in with foam and becomes a compensator for thermal expansion.

On the street side, it is necessary to leave space for installing ebb tides. Otherwise, after the first rains, moisture will appear inside the room.

Tools, devices, materials for work

You will need the following tools:

A screwdriver with bits (including Torx), drills for 6, 10 and 12 or others for the anchors used, for drilling (it will be enough for tightening self-tapping screws to create holes).
An inner vapor-permeable insulating film (usually foil) and an outer film, similar to it, but sometimes also called moisture and wind protection, with a butyl rubber layer. Instead of the latter, diffusion material is also used. You can further enhance the insulation with Steez group sealant.
PSUL tape. Placed on the frame at the junction with the quarters, as well as on the stand profile;
Mounting polyurethane foam.
Yellow self-tapping screws (pins) for concrete. Standard sizes can be: 7.5×95; 7.5×132. The length depends on the installation gap. But usually 92 mm is used for side fastening, and 132 mm for bottom fastening; they may have a Torx head, which is why such a bit is needed. To fix the ebb, you can use such short parts (6×60).
Typically the plate is secured with one self-tapping screw and two black screws. The first ones are recommended in the sizes indicated above with a drill and a press washer, and the second ones are 4.8x90 or 4.8x110.
Plates for fastening windows (purchased at hardware stores). You need to choose stronger ones, since they are often excessively flimsy, to the point that craftsmen make them themselves from pieces of steel.
A simple construction level and a laser level (optional).
Square, tape measure, metal ruler, folding meter, pencil.
Plastic wedges: stand (support), spacer and/or stand profile (may be included with the window).
A chisel or spatula for snapping off glazing beads.
Pneumatic suction cup (optional) to hold the glass unit when unpacking.
Low tide. This is a steel strip, also often called a window sill or drip edge, located on the outside under the window.
Hacksaw, hammer, mallet, nails - for auxiliary work.

Important! For a screw or self-tapping screw for concrete 7.5 mm thick, first drill into the profile with a 5-6.5 mm drill. Do not overtighten the dowels; this will cause the frame to turn inside out and cracks to appear in the plastic.

The optimal number of windows in one room

Calculating the amount of natural light in your home is easy. You can be guided by the shape of the room.

For wide rooms, it is advisable to install 2 windows, clearly centered on the front wall. If you install windows at the edges, the center will be darkened, and with an opening in the center, the corners will not be illuminated.

A good solution for a spacious home

For a private house made of aerated concrete, it is ideal to install two windows located on two different facades. In this way, maximum light occupancy can be achieved at any daytime.

Watch the video: installing double-glazed windows in a house made of aerated concrete.

When planning your kitchen, you can experiment and install panoramic windows above the cooking area. And if you install the countertop correctly, the size of the usable area will completely increase.

Reviews from our clients

Customer review #1

Our apartment had a very cold balcony. The house is located in such a way that the wind blows all the time. We decided to install windows, on the advice of the Rehau Grazio master. The drafts have disappeared, the windows don't let anything in at all. 100% satisfied

Customer review #2

I ordered Diamond windows in the shape of arches. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail, the windows are made perfectly. Installed quickly and without problems. Thanks for bringing the original design to life!

Customer review #3

When buying an apartment in a new building, we decided to immediately change all the windows, because... developers often save on this. We replaced everything with Rehau Thermo windows and made an insulated balcony. We were satisfied with the work, nothing blows through, very warm.

Calculation of the size of the hole for the window block

When measuring window blocks and designing openings, it is necessary to understand that the glazing will be smaller than the opening itself.

For wooden windows, it is absolutely necessary to leave space for the casing and window sill. For them, the opening should be 14 centimeters larger than the frame.

Window opening in a house under construction.

When accurately forming a window opening, all factors are taken into account, including the foam seam and the installation of a window sill with ebb. For the latter, the frame is shifted 10-15 centimeters into the room. Otherwise, when precipitation falls, the ebb tide will make a lot of noise.

The large difference between the opening and the wooden frame is necessary to compensate for the wood warping that will occur after installation, as well as the settlement of the support beam.

From the inside, the window is placed at a height of about one meter. Then you can lean on the mounted window sill and use its area as an auxiliary one.

Construction of openings in different houses

You should take into account what the walls are made of and using what technology.

Bricks

Usually the window group is distinguished from the entire brickwork by a “quarter”, that is, a protrusion of ¼ of the stone is made along its perimeter, on average this is about 5-6 cm outward. This is necessary in order to avoid making external slopes, as well as to prevent the frames from falling out onto the street. In addition, it provides better heat retention. We suggest you familiarize yourself with the most common scheme:

Blocks

When laying gas silicate, it is important to ensure that the joints of the foam blocks do not fall on the vertical edges of the openings. On top you need to lay a jumper on which layers of bars will go. If brick cladding is planned, then it is necessary to include a place for a quarter in the diagram in advance. If it is not there, then the laying schematically looks like this:

Tree

The main difficulty when creating wooden buildings is taking into account the fact that the wood dries out and, as a result, the building “shrinks”. To compensate for shrinkage, a socket is made, also known as casing. This is an additional frame made of wood designed to contain the pressure of the walls on the window.

Window location

When designing window openings in a new building, it is advisable to think in advance about the placement of furniture in the room.

This is especially true for kitchen areas, when a suddenly installed refrigerator can cover the window unit and reduce the amount of natural light in the kitchen.

In the kitchen, it is better to place windows at a height of 80-90 centimeters, ideally at the same level as the future kitchen unit. Then it will be possible to increase the working area due to the window sill.

The same height is suitable for other rooms in the house. It will provide a comfortable view for both a standing and a sitting person.

What else should you consider when calculating window sizes?

When choosing the size of a future window, you need to take into account the comfort of opening/closing the sash, namely the location of the handle.

As a standard, the handle is placed in the center of the sash. On high doors it may end up in a place that is inconvenient for constant use.

Photo: in Roto windows it is possible to move the handle down to a height of 500 mm or place it on the bottom of the sash*

An alternative option is automatic door opening with the Roto E-Tec Drive option.

Buy Roto windows in different sizes*

How to choose plastic or wooden windows for a private home

When choosing plastic or wood, first of all pay attention to the price. If the construction budget is limited, then it is always better to contact PVC window suppliers and purchase glazing from them. But if money plays a secondary role, then you can choose.

Wooden windows fit perfectly into any interior. They are easy to paint and thus change their design.

No chemicals are used in the manufacture of wooden windows, and therefore they are environmentally friendly. Plastic profiles also do not emit harmful substances, but they are not particularly environmentally friendly in production.

When choosing wooden windows, you need to know that not all wood is suitable for our climate.

In the Russian Federation, mahogany is valued, but larch and oak are also used. Caring for such products is not difficult, especially if done in a timely manner.

The wood is sanded and varnished or painted. This operation should be repeated every 5-6 years, depending on the climatic conditions of the region.

Functional Features

Sash tilting modes. Thanks to the option of stepwise opening of the window sash, achieving the most optimal microclimate in the room during ventilation has become much easier.
Number of chambers in double-glazed windows. For private country houses and for premises that will be used only in the summer, you can install a regular single-chamber double-glazed window. But in winter, such a package will clearly not be enough. You will have to buy double-glazed windows with air layers. They will protect the house from freezing, although the price will be much higher than single-layer bags.
Number of chambers in a plastic profile. The more chambers, the better the profile retains heat, since air is the best heat insulator. For a capital object, choose a three or four-chamber double-glazed window.
Seal. Little attention is paid to the choice of this material, but due to the sealant all drafts and cracks are eliminated. Rubber and cheap material will become “tanned”, ceasing to fulfill its key options. Some of the manufacturing companies offer transparent elastomer seals: their price is higher, but the protection from the cold is much better and better.
Accessories. The main rule is that you cannot save on it.

Panoramic glazing

An excellent type of glazing that came to us from France. Thanks to the large glass area, the entire room is filled with sunlight. The size of a panoramic window in a private house can be up to 80% of the wall.

See the link for house projects with panoramic windows.

Panoramic glazing is divided into 2 types: cold and warm.

The first is frameless glazing, when solid glass panels are attached to the base, but the seams are not sealed with anything. This type is suitable for an attic or loggia, but not for a living room.

For your home, you need to choose a warm glazing option. Then panoramic windows will become reliable protection from winds and precipitation outside.

Advantages of panoramic glazing:

Increasing daylight hours.
Maximum filling of the room with natural light.
Decoration of rooms and landscape.
A wide range of products allows you to choose products according to your budget and wishes.

Primary requirements

Most often, windows are made to order, but an opening must already be provided for them, so even during construction it is necessary to decide where and which windows will be located. A few points can be used as a guide:

the side of the world that the wall faces;
purpose of the room;
room parameters.

Proper layout of the house involves thoughtful placement of rooms. For example, if the bedroom in the house is not combined with a living room or other room, then it is better to choose walls that face the northwest or west. This is due to the way the sun moves throughout the day. In the evening, it turns out to be just at sunset on this side and you can calmly read or do other things. But in the morning the sun will not wake you up, because it is on the opposite side. If we are not talking about a bedroom, but, for example, about a living room, then it makes sense to provide several windows of different sizes. In this case, it is desirable that the windows of the living room face the south side; you can place it in the southwest. Thanks to this, the maximum amount of light will enter the room throughout the day.

Rooms are rarely square, more often they are rectangular, so two walls are long. In this case, it is better to place the windows on a larger wall. This will provide more light inside the house. If we are talking about a room with the same length of walls, then for a small area one window is enough. It is better to leave the north side for rooms where large quantities of sunlight are not required. This could be the kitchen or bathroom. For the latter, the size of the opening can be minimal so that heat loss is as small as possible.

Advice! To make it easier to decide what size or how many windows there should be for one room, you must adhere to the rule of ten. It implies the presence of a square window with a side of a meter for every 10 square meters of area.

Summary

As you can see, choosing a design for an opening is a responsible task. We are talking not only about the material, but also about the profile itself. It is important to understand very well the conditions under which the structure will be operated, so as not to overpay for advertising slogans. In addition, the ability to independently carry out periodic maintenance of the structure will allow you to save on paying the craftsmen.