Timber Versus Aluminium Windows – Which Material Is Best?
Whether you’re replacing your homes’ existing windows or you’re choosing frames for a brand new house, it’s understandable that you want to consider a few different options. As with any significant purchase, you want to ensure you’re making the right choice and there are several factors that you must consider – budget and value being major ones. Cheaper is not always better, particularly if it means you’re going to have to replace the frames every couple of years.
Does Quality = Expense?
Most in the industry will tell you that timber windows cost more than aluminium ones. Generally speaking, this is true – but, as with any construction material, there are varying degrees of quality available. So let’s put cost aside for the time being and look at some of the other factors that you should consider when choosing between timber and aluminium windows.
Maintenance Requirements
Apart from the obvious material differences, the major differences between timber and aluminium windows are maintenance. Aluminium frames require minimal attention throughout their lives, whilst timber ones require regular care to keep them functional. This can be quite a burden for a lot of people – who wants to try staying on top of a maintenance inspection schedule?
Even if you have decided that you’re okay with undertaking regular maintenance, it’s important to remember that mistakes can be costly and even result in new frames being required. Using the wrong primer for the timber, for example, could lead to rot occurring in only a few short months. Aluminium, on the other hand, requires far less maintenance to keep it looking its best.
Look and Style
Another factor that should be considered when choosing between timber and aluminium windows is the aesthetic you are going for. They are, after all, quite different. Some people prefer the more traditional look of timber, particularly if they own a period home and want any changes to be in keeping with the home’s original style.
The wide range of powder-coat colours available for aluminium, however, can help you to achieve a similar aesthetic to that offered by your home’s previous frames. Getting advice and making informed design choices is another way that this is possible. If you want a more modern look and feel for your home, aluminium is by far the preferred choice.
What’s Important to You?
At the end of the day, it’s important to determine what is most important to you when choosing between timber and aluminium windows. Whilst cost might seem like an important factor on the surface, other considerations are likely to play a far more integral role in your decision. Some questions to ask yourself include:
Are you the type of person who can stay on top of timber window maintenance?
Would you prefer the easier lifestyle offered by aluminium?
Are you okay with paying someone to handle maintenance for you?
What aesthetic compromises are you willing to make?
What is it you’re hoping to achieve with your new windows?
Is safety, security and/or bushfire protection important for your home?
So, does quality really equal expense? That all depends on how you look at it. Timber generally is the more expensive option, both in the initial outlay and in ongoing maintenance, but this doesn’t necessarily make it of higher quality than aluminium. Both timber and aluminium windows can be really excellent quality, but they can also be really poor quality. There are factors besides cost that you should look into when making your decision.
The low maintenance requirements and overall aesthetic superiority of aluminium frames make them the preferable choice – at least, in our eyes.
