Aluminium is the choice when you want the frame to disappear. It is strong enough to hold a large pane in a slim section, which is why it turns up on extensions, rear elevations and anywhere the view is the point. It costs more than uPVC, and the reason to pay it is almost always the sightline.
What do you actually get for the extra cost?
Slimmer frames, larger panes and a harder wearing finish. Mostly you are paying for glass area and a thinner frame around it.
Aluminium is far stronger than uPVC for the same section, so the frame can be much slimmer while carrying a bigger unit. On a large opening that is a visible difference: more glass, less frame, and a cleaner line.
The powder coated finish is also more durable than a uPVC surface and holds a colour, including dark colours, without the fading that dark uPVC can show over time.
What does thermally broken mean, and does it matter?
It means an insulating barrier is built into the middle of the frame so heat cannot pass straight through the metal. It matters a great deal.
Aluminium conducts heat readily, which would make an aluminium frame without a thermal break a cold bridge straight through your wall, with condensation on the inside face in winter. The thermal break interrupts that path.
Any aluminium window worth fitting in an Irish house is thermally broken. It is worth confirming it is specified rather than assuming.
Where does aluminium make sense, and where does it not?
It makes sense on large openings and modern elevations. On standard sized windows in a typical estate house, uPVC usually gives you the same performance for less.
The slim frame advantage only shows up when there is a lot of glass to frame. On a small bedroom window the difference is marginal and hard to justify.
A common approach is to mix: aluminium on the big rear opening where the sightline matters, uPVC elsewhere. There is nothing wrong with that, and it puts the money where it shows. Our uPVC windows page covers the alternative.
Does aluminium need any maintenance?
Very little. Wash the frames occasionally, and keep the drainage slots clear.
Powder coated aluminium does not need painting and does not corrode in normal use. Near the coast, where salt is in the air, rinsing the frames a few times a year is worth doing.
The drainage slots along the bottom of the frame matter more than people realise. They let water that gets past the seal drain out again, and blocking them with dirt is what causes water to sit and eventually find its way inside.
Windows carry a ten year warranty against defects.
How it works
Send us photos, a short video and rough sizes of each window and tell us what you want. You get a free 3D design of the windows in your own house and one complete itemised quote, with every window and door priced on its own line. Once you agree it, we measure every opening on site before anything is made. Nothing is ordered and nothing is charged until you say yes.
Everything we supply is premium and made to the highest spec, and it is priced to that standard. Quality at this level is not a budget purchase, and we would rather say so here than after you have waited for a quote. If you are working to a tight budget, we are honestly not the right fit.
One team for the windows and the rest of the job
Our own team fits your windows, and we also do kitchens, fitted wardrobes and media walls and fitted furniture. If more than one thing needs doing, it is one contractor, one schedule and one point of contact.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do aluminium in any colour?
Powder coating covers a wide range of standard colours, including the anthracite grey and black that most people ask for. Colours are confirmed in the design.
Can I have aluminium at the back and uPVC at the front?
Yes, and it is a sensible way to spend the budget where it shows. We will price both on the same quote.
Is there a minimum order for windows and doors?
Yes. The minimum order is 5 windows or doors, in any mix: 5 windows, 5 doors, or 3 doors and 2 windows. We do not quote for one or two on their own, because the freight alone would cost more than the door or window.
Are aluminium windows colder than uPVC?
A thermally broken aluminium frame performs well. An aluminium frame without a thermal break would be, which is why we only fit thermally broken units.
Why does aluminium cost more than uPVC?
The frames are stronger, so they can be slimmer for the same pane. You pay for the material and the sightline, not better glass.