Aluminum windows – are they worth investing in? What are the advantages of aluminum fenestration?

The strengths and advantages of aluminum windows include, for example,

• Being more resistant to weather conditions and scratches, for that reason, aluminum windows can remain in an unchanging state for several dozen years.
• It can withstand heavier loads, for instance, the longest acceptable side of the window in PVC is approx. 3 meters, in aluminum it can be as much as approx. 4 meters.
• They do not require additional care like constructions made from wood.
• Thanks to varnishing, such profiles are more durable than veneered PVC profiles, you can choose from various options for finishing the structure, e.g. it can be wood-like, matte, glossy or with a fine sand texture
• Aluminum profiles can be covered with all colors from the RAL palette.

Which windows are more durable?

“The window installers scratched the windows before they were even installed”. – do you know it? If you’re fed up with such problems and want peace of mind, you can choose more durable windows. We’re talking about aluminum, which is more ‘window installer-resistant’ than PVC thanks to its hard coating. Any scratches or abrasions are much less visible and easier to hide.

The durability of windows is closely linked to the price. Why? A shorter window lifespan means more repairs and subsequent installations. The lifespan of PVC is estimated to be around 15-20 years, while aluminum windows retain their properties for up to 50 years due to their greater resistance to corrosion and sunlight.

“Even a standard coating shows high resistance (also to sea salt), and there are coatings with increased resistance.”

PVC as a material loses its properties when exposed to weather conditions for a long time. If the PVC structure is too large, especially in a dark colour, the frame may bend and begin to cause problems. Aluminium windows are stiffer and more robust, so they will work well if the builder expects them to be extremely durable.

What are the differences in the heat loss parameter?

We could spend a lot of time comparing irrelevant differences between thermal parameters. But the question is, does it make business sense to consider small differences? In fact, two factors determine the choice of a window with a specific thermal performance: building law and the type of building.

Before proposing a window system to your investor, check what minimum requirements you need to meet. As a general rule, uPVC windows protect better against heat loss – they have a lower UW parameter. The difference disappears when the window area increases because the thermal performance is mainly determined by the glass. However, at the end of the day, it is all about meeting the country’s requirements at an attractive price.