Whatever your budget, you want to be sure you’re making the best selections for your house and getting the most value for your money when you’re making renovations to your property. Replacing the windows in your house is one of the most important decisions you will make since they will have an influence on both the interior and exterior of your home, and they must therefore leave a positive impression.
Because of their numerous advantages, both uPVC and aluminium are popular window materials. In this article, we’ll go through the advantages and disadvantages of each material so that you can make an informed decision when replacing your windows.
The Pros and Cons of Aluminium
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The main advantages of aluminium windows are their low price, great performance, easy installation, and lightweight design. The first three of these are the most obvious reasons to choose aluminium. It’s simply less costly to buy, install and replace windows in aluminium than in wood but definitely not uPVC.
Aluminium is also an extremely efficient material that is better at insulating your home from the elements than uPVC windows. This means that your home will stay warmer in winter, and cooler in summer.
Aluminium has other advantages over uPVC windows. They’re easier to install, they don’t need to be cut and fitted into the frame of the window like uPVC windows do, and they don’t require any special treatment for water and corrosion resistance. In fact, some aluminium windows don’t even need painting or varnishing.
When it comes to security, aluminium windows are stronger and provide better protection than uPVC windows, so they’re an excellent choice when you want to stop burglars from getting in. Aluminium windows are also designed to keep out insects and rodents. The best type of aluminium window can be made from powder-coated aluminium and these materials are perfect for home security.
There are a number of different brands of aluminium windows on the market, so you should check that the ones you’re looking at are well-built.
The Pros and Cons of uPVC Windows
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uPVC windows are also very affordable, very lightweight, very easy to install and very easy to maintain. Some of the biggest disadvantages of uPVC windows are the fact that they require a bit of maintenance, they can crack and chip easily, and they can get very hot to touch.
You will need to paint your uPVC windows regularly, which will add to your costs and the time it takes to renovate. You can also damage the interior of your house by using some cleaning products on your windows, so it’s best to be careful and clean them using natural methods instead.
It’s worth remembering that uPVC windows, although they are expensive, are also very durable. This means they won’t need to be replaced as often as you think and will last longer in the long term.
Although uPVC is a lightweight and easy-to-install window material, it’s not a good choice for home security or insect resistance. The main problem with uPVC windows is that they’re prone to warping and breaking, which can make them unusable in a few years.
If you want the maximum energy savings from your windows, you’ll need to choose uPVC windows that don’t allow heat to get through and let the heat into the home during winter and the heat out in the summer. uPVC windows will therefore need to be installed in such a way that they’re made of a hybrid of materials and not the traditional PVC material.
Aluminium vs uPVC, Which Is Best?
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The ideal window will combine all of these features.
According to experts at WindowFactory in New Zealand, if you want low maintenance, low cost, lightweight and easy-to-install windows, it’s best to go with uPVC. uPVC windows can also be very strong and last for a long time, which is great if you need your home to be in good shape for a long period of time.
However, if you want windows that are more secure and insect-resistant, or that can also offer your home more energy efficiency and warmth, aluminium is the best choice. These windows are also stronger and more durable, but they cost more to replace.
When you’re renovating your home, you need to make sure you’re not wasting money and that you’re going for the best windows that will provide you with the maximum value.
In reality, both UPVC and aluminium offer comparable benefits – most notably in terms of thermal efficiency, security and maintenance.
The three primary factors to consider when making a decision are as follows:
• individual preference
• Style and age of the property
• Budget
When it comes to choosing a material, it may be prudent to obtain a complimentary quote for both styles to assist you in determining which material is better suited to your property and your budget.
Other Window Considerations
Some of the other important considerations when you are looking at windows include your current property architecture and whether you will need planning permission for a new style, the energy efficiency of your windows, and of course the cost of installation. Aluminium and UPVC windows are certainly not the only options available to you. Many people prefer the timeless elegance of wood windows, or look for hybrids windows materials.
It’s well worth speaking to a window supply and installation expert to find out whether you are likely to need planning permission and find out the cost of installation if you are looking to change the size of your windows. If your windows if you are for a new build property then you’ll be more flexible on the styles that you can choose as long as the drawings from the architect represent the windows when you get any permissions.
If you live in a grade listed building or Heritage area then there may be more stringent rules for your Windows and you’ll certainly want to get some advice.
With new technologies it is possible to visualise your windows in different styles with 3D imagery and even virtual reality experiences. Technology has played an excellent role in helping people to
understand their choices and to see how they will look when installed on a property.
