If you are replacing windows in the market, or if you are comparing different home renovation projects and currently have aluminum windows, and you have done any research on aluminum windows, then you will definitely come across some information, at least a little bit of information. It seems that the only information is about how bad they are. In fact, you can hardly find any positive information about aluminum windows on the Internet, and the question I get the most from home improvement customers is, “Are they really as bad as they thought?”
Unfortunately, the answer is “it depends.” I know you want a quick and simple answer, but the fact remains that it really depends on what is important to you. If you want a quick answer, so you can continue to discuss a more interesting topic, no, aluminum windows are not as bad as most people think, in fact, when it comes to aluminum, there are many professional windows Depending on your situation, they may outweigh the disadvantages.
Pro #1-Structurally, aluminum is the strongest compound for making windows. If you put a piece of white aluminum window frame material in the sunshine of Death Valley for 20 years, wipe it clean except for some dust and debris, it will look exactly the same as it was 20 years ago. I doubt you can say that about vinyl windows, you definitely can’t say that about wood. PVC vinyl windows are getting better and better, but no matter how much UV inhibitor they add to the resin, vinyl windows can only withstand so much abuse.
Advantage #2-Large aluminum windows are possible. Due to the structural stability of aluminum, it is almost omnipotent when it comes to window size. This is why skyscrapers are built with aluminum windows; you see, there are no vinyl or wooden windows in skyscrapers. Therefore, if you are building a large custom house or are remodeling your house and want some large and spacious windows, you will most likely be pushed towards aluminum, otherwise your size will be limited. With few exceptions, almost all commercial buildings are constructed with aluminum windows or storefronts. You will rarely walk into a 7-11 or grocery store and see a wooden or vinyl entrance door. They are aluminum because aluminum has proven to have the longest lifespan of all available options. You will see fiberglass entrance doors in some commercial buildings. Yes, fiberglass is almost as unaffected by elements as aluminum. However, in the eyes of most designers, aluminum has a better finish, and fiberglass is still Need maintenance, such as painting or dyeing.
Advantage #3-Aluminum windows are a more cost-effective option, at least as far as the initial investment is concerned. Of course, the quality levels vary. Yes, brand A windows may be more costly than brand B vinyl windows, but for comparable quality levels, aluminum windows will be more cost-effective. For example, Milgard Windows, the lowest price window line is their aluminum window. The glass that makes up most windows is the same in all products, but aluminum windows are the cheapest windows they offer.
Pro#4-You usually have more aluminum color options. Colored vinyl windows are not fully ready for mass production, especially in extreme weather conditions such as southern Nevada, Arizona, and the California desert. Many window manufacturers refuse to sell their white or tan vinyl in the desert, let alone color versions. For wooden windows, you have a variety of colors to choose from, but again the color of the exterior aluminum material is different. In hot areas, aluminum windows are almost the only windows I believe in black or dark brown. Aluminum can be easily painted at a reasonable cost to match any color you like. This is why you still see them in large custom homes, because they are the only windows that can provide you with the color and size options that you often need when designing large custom homes.
So as you can see, there are a lot of positives, so why do they get such bad reviews? Well, there is only one real negative effect on aluminum windows, especially nowadays, which is a big negative effect.
Con#1-They are extremely inefficient in terms of thermal energy protection. Energy efficiency is a major topic today. If you want to sell a product, you’d better make sure that it is energy-efficient, otherwise it is doomed to failure. Therefore, all competing products continue to brag about how inefficient they are, and how energy efficient vinyl, wood, and fiberglass are. So there is nothing to say, the fact is that aluminum windows are not as energy-efficient as other alternatives.
Metal conducts heat. If it is hot outside and you are at home and feel the frame of the aluminum window, then it will feel hot. The same is true in winter, the frame will get cold, and aluminum will transfer this temperature difference to your home. There is nothing you can do about it. Therefore, you must decide whether energy efficiency is your main concern. If it is, I do not recommend buying aluminum windows.
However, if you are stubborn about aluminum windows but are frustrated with the overall energy efficiency issue, I have some good news for you. There is a way to get the best of both worlds. There is a product called “Thermal Break Windows”. These are aluminum windows, which are actually very energy efficient. In layman’s terms, aluminum is basically “decomposed” by a filament that prevents heat from passing through the window frame. Therefore, the outer and inner frame of the frame are separated by a rubber energy-saving compound, allowing you to have the robustness and reliability of aluminum while still maintaining energy efficiency.
