If you’re seeking out new home windows, aluminum windows must be on your radar. Known for their sturdiness, electricity, and glossy contemporary aesthetics, aluminum windows are a famous choice for homes and companies alike. In this newbie’s manual to aluminum home windows, we’ll cover all of the crucial records you need to understand earlier than shopping.
Table of Contents
What Exactly Are Aluminium Windows?
Aluminium windows are window frames and sashes (the part that holds the glass) made from aluminium metal. Rather than using wood, vinyl, or fiberglass like some other window types, they consist entirely of aluminum. This makes them incredibly durable against weathering and elemental damage.
Aluminium itself offers superior strength versus wood or vinyl. Its durability and resilience also mean aluminum windows have a very long lifespan, even in harsh climates. Simple, occasional cleaning is all they need to maintain their good looks for decades.
Benefits of Aluminium Windows
There are many reasons why aluminum has become such a popular window frame material:
Extreme Durability: Aluminium windows can withstand many years of sun, rain, snow, wind, storms, and temperature fluctuations without harm or aging. The robust aluminum body resists dings, cracks, decay, and extra. This additionally makes their lifespan numerous instances longer than many alternatives, saving the need for frequent replacements.
- Low Maintenance: Aside from the occasional wipe down, aluminum windows require little regular maintenance over their long working life. No loose joints, no rotting wood, no flaking paint. Just quality frames that retain their sleek looks year after year.
- Energy Efficient: Modern aluminum windows feature advanced glazings, weatherstripping, specialized insulating frames, and other elements that enable excellent thermal performance. They prevent heat loss in winter and heat entry in summer, reducing energy costs.
- Noise Reduction: Between the airtight seal when closed and the dense aluminum frame that dampens vibrations, aluminum windows insulate very effectively against outside noise. This creates a peaceful and quiet indoor environment.
- Strength & Security: Secure locking mechanisms combined with the aluminum frame’s sheer tensile strength make properly installed aluminum windows highly burglar resistant. This deters break-in attempts and protects your home or business contents.
- Customization & Versatility: From abundant color and finish options to custom opening designs, today’s aluminum windows can suit almost any aesthetic taste or architectural needs. Minimalist modern or ornate traditional – aluminum has you covered.
- Recyclability & Sustainability: Environmentally-conscious consumers appreciate that aluminum window frames are easily recycled at the end of life. Virtually all aluminum extrusions can be melted down and endlessly reused, reducing landfill waste.
Types of Aluminium Windows
There are several common types of aluminum window designs:
- Casement Windows: Hinged on one side with a swinging sash. Offers full ventilation when cranked open. Excellent for capturing breezes.
- Sliding Windows: Open and close via horizontal sliding action. Smooth and quiet operation. Great option for spaces needing generous ventilation access or emergency egress.
- Double/Single Hung Windows: Sashes slide up and down vertically in the frame, excellent at regulating airflow. The classic double-hung style features one stationary lower pane.
- Fixed Picture Windows: Non-opening style meant just to provide optimum natural light and beautiful outward views. Available in custom sizes.
- Bay & Bow Windows: Multi-panel assemblies extend the room space outwards. Bow windows feature curves, while bay windows traditionally have sharp angles. Gorgeous for rooms with a view.
- Specialty Shapes: Today’s flexible aluminum framing allows for all types of unique arched, round, trapezoid, or otherwise shaped windows above and beyond the ordinary square or rectangle. Get creative!
Installing Aluminium Windows
Proper installation is vital to gaining the full benefits of aluminum windows and ensuring optimal long-term performance. For this reason, professional window replacement by skilled technicians is always recommended over DIY. Reputable firms have extensive knowledge of critical structural considerations specific to aluminum.
The installation process begins by fully removing old window units, including frames, right down to the studs. Next, using precise measurements, the new custom-sized aluminum frame assemblies are inserted plumb and square, properly integrating them into the surrounding water barrier plane and vapor barrier integrity of the building envelope.
After confirming everything operates smoothly, all gaps are meticulously caulked for maximum insulation capacity before the siding trim caps are reapplied flawlessly across the border between the frame and facade.
The results are beautiful, sustainable aluminum windows that will serve reliably for years while elevating the look of your home or office building.
Aluminium Window Costs
In terms of upfront expense, aluminum windows fall somewhere in the middle price-wise – above basic vinyl units but below premium wood models. However, their outstanding longevity and nearly maintenance-free ownership make them extremely cost-effective in the long run. Never needing repainting also avoids compounding labor expenses over decades.
The major factors determining specific aluminum window pricing are the quality of manufacturing, types/sizes of windows needed, the difficulty of the installation site, and what options or customizations are specified, e.g., glazings, security features, finishes, operable vs. fixed units, etc. Replacement of one large picture window, for example, will be pricier than installing several smaller double-hung units. As with most home projects, shopping around for quotes rather than choosing the first bid often saves substantially.
Are aluminum windows worth it? For most homeowners, the answer is a resounding yes. The unbeatable lifelong durability and performance of these advanced modern frames make the investment very worthwhile. Not to mention their sustainability advantage and ability to significantly enhance a property’s resale desirability and value.
