Aluminium is now a well-known material for replacement and new windows, with many unique features such as slim sightlines, inherent strength, excellent security and a substantial choice of colours and finishes. However, aluminium has other benefits you will not get with other materials. If you’re presently researching new windows and doors, here is why it makes a lot of sense to choose aluminium for windows and doors and how you and your property benefits.
When you choose aluminium for windows, you get better windows
There is a good reason why the windows you see on property renovation programmes usually feature aluminium or hybrid windows, using aluminium outside and wood inside. There are certain design and technical performance features other materials simply cannot achieve. Therefore, if these functional, design and technical benefits matter in your property renovation project, here’s why you should choose aluminium for windows, your patio doors and other glazing elements such as glass roofs.
Aluminium is always slimmer than other materials
The contemporary sliding or bifolding doors you’d like to include in your property project look the way they do because they’re made of aluminium. Aluminium profiles are significantly slimmer than PVCu, timber and hybrid windows.
These slim lines also come with a lot of strength, allowing aluminium doors to create large folding or sliding walls. It’s the same for the windows. When you choose aluminium for windows, you benefit from larger opening window vents than is available with PVCu or timber windows.
With folding doors going up to 3m or more per panel, and some sliding door panels going up to 3.5m wide and more than 3.5m high, only aluminium gives you the contemporary minimalist look that is so popular with architects and designers on their property projects.
What does this mean for you? Aluminium is slimmer giving you bigger glass sizes, more light, better views and less visible aluminium frames.
Aluminium windows is best in hot and cold weather
Every material contracts in the cold and expands in the heat. But did you know that PVCu expands about two and a half times more than aluminium? This thermal expansion makes PVCu unpopular with professional installers for products like bifolding doors. Anyone with PVCu bifolds on a South or South-West elevation will comment on how the doors might be sticky or judder on the tracks on warmer days.
Well-made aluminium windows and doors have less thermal expansion, therefore, make for more reliable windows and doors. And because we want to open up our patio doors in the summer and enjoy our gardens, our doors must operate reliably.
When you choose aluminium for windows, you get better-made windows
When you next visit a window and door showroom, selling aluminium and PVCu windows, take look at both of these products close up.
Aluminium windows have neat corners and mitres. PVCu windows typically have welded corners, with the excess weld cleaned off. The two look different and you’ll probably spot that aluminium window and door corners look neater. It is the same for the window mullions and transoms on PVCu windows. Many of these have quite unsightly grooves where the horizontal and vertical bars meet the frames. On aluminium windows you’ll see the mullions neatly join the frame with a lovely straight edge.
When you choose aluminium for windows, you’re getting a largely hand-made product, whereas PVCu windows are more mass produced. The better design and engineering of some of the best aluminium window brands like Reynaers, give you superior engineering, excellent performance and fantastic design.
Of course, PVCu windows today are secure, energy-efficient, reliable and weather-sealed. However, they are still a ‘plastic’ window whereas aluminium always looks and feels more premium.
Aluminium windows meet the latest design trends
Steel-look, industrial or heritage windows are one of the most popular design trends, taking inspiration from the iconic Crittall® windows. Whilst steel remains the genuine article, aluminium doors and windows now create some of the best steel-styled windows and doors.
The Reynaers SL38 system is one of the best on the market for creating this desirable style with the grid-like pattern that’s so popular for property renovations and new build homes. Five different styles perfectly replicate classic metal windows and meet the latest design trend.
Aluminium creates beautiful doors inside the home too
It is not just outside that you get better glazing when you choose aluminium for windows and doors. You can now get fantastic interior doors and screen, letting the light flow through your rooms and making your interior spaces feel bigger and brighter.
Whether you choose fully glazed doors or doors in the industrial style, you’ll never get this kind of style with PVCu doors.
All the security, energy-efficiency and weather protection with aluminium windows
The truth is, all modern window materials today provide peace of mind security tested to the latest performance standards. You’ll also get low U-Values giving you energy-efficient windows that help lower your energy bills. Of course, you can expect your windows and doors to provide excellent weather protection too.
When you choose aluminium for windows, you’ll benefit from slimmer, better windows, with more styling options, giving you larger glazed area, more light and windows that will never go out of fashion.
Highly insulated frames, a choice of more than 150 different colours, colour textures, metallic shades, and more. Aluminium windows and doors always cost a little more, but the investment is worth it.
At C & A Window Systems, we manufacture, supply and install the latest generation of aluminium windows for residential and commercial properties. Contact us today to discuss your project with us, or why not get in touch and arrange to visit our new aluminium showroom? We look forward to helping you transform your home.
