Aluminium doors and windows
Aluminium doors and windows: Everything you need to know
Aluminium windows and doors are a common staple of newer homes in New Zealand, despite the well-known fact that aluminium is not suitable as an insulator. However, they offer an affordable, durable and flexible material to work with and aluminium windows and doors offer a modern look for new home builds. Unfortunately, many owners have to deal with condensation issues and large heat loss via frame, even with double-glazed windows.
But here’s the thing — aluminium framing doesn’t have to be cold.
Thermal insulation
With insulated framing, aluminium windows and doors can greatly reduce the negative effect of cold by using plastic and foam insulation placed inside the window frame. Such an insulating blanket magnifies the low thermal expansion properties, allowing it to retain heat.
Sealants
Using properly fitted window panes and sealant will also prevent gaps from appearing between the frame and the pane(s) of glass, as well as between the walls and the window frame. Minimising these gaps is critical in avoiding heat seepage around windows and doors.
Glass
A typical factor in heat loss isn’t just the frame but also the glass used inside the frame. We suggest at least using double-glazing with a layer of argon gas between the panes. See our blog on ‘window glazing’ for more information.
Security
The greater the number of panes, the harder it is to break into a window. We can offer double-laminated glass panes for extra strength and safety. Aluminium framing is typically stronger than any other type of window or door framing, offering higher levels of strength and security.
For additional peace of mind, we offer fingerprint scanners for front and back door locks, which can be wired into the household alarm system. We also stock external roller shutters to provide an extra layer of protection against the sun and potential intruders.
Sizing
Because of the stability of aluminium as a material, a single leaf can reach up to 3.3m by 3.3m or 12m on a double slide track. These allow for wide-open spaces for much ventilation during the day, opening up the house to receive natural sunlight and air.
The thickness of the frame will also determine how insulated the material can be. At Koffman‘s, we offer both insulated and non-insulated frames from 50mm, up to passive house approved 102mm thick frames.
Opening types
We offer both standard bifold and sliding window types, which you can read more about in our blog here. Both are terrific options for letting more air into your rooms whilst keeping your windows secured on a slider.
The other more adventurous options we offer include tilt or turn windows and doors, which let you open your windows from the side, as you normally would, and from the top to allow ventilation even when raining. Our doors have an additional tilt and slide option, which means they swing open like normal French doors and can be tilted from the top to allow for ventilation.
Colour
The advantage of aluminium is that you can apply any colour to the material. We could apply a wooden colour laminate to your frame to give it an older, more homely feel.
Are there other non-aluminium options?
Aluminium isn’t the only option on the market for new home builds. For many, uPVC (Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride) windows are a preferable alternative because of the greater resilience they provide to UV light and the high thermal efficiency they offer. uPVC is a low-maintenance alternative to wood and a strong, plasticised synthetic polymer which is designed to last. While uPVC windows generally come as double or triple-glazed, we can offer the same options for aluminium windows, using advanced dry-fit glazing methods.
There’s no cut-and-dry better option when it comes to window framing. While uPVC is naturally a better insulator, aluminium framing can be treated to make it nearly as efficient. uPVC isn’t quite as versatile in its colour palette as aluminium but can be treated to include a range of different colours.
The main difference, however, is in the price of materials, which heavily depends on what sort of windows you’re after. Factors include the number of panes of glass, window size and thickness, insulating layers, add-ons and glass options.
To find out what’s the best solution for your project, talk to us, and we’ll give you a free quote based on your house plans. Contact us to book a time.
Sites sourced:
“Aluminium vs uPVC Windows (Pros and Cons Reviewed)” on The Aluminium Door Company. Date Accessed: 13th July, 2022. Site Link: https://bit.ly/3cbQkkD.
“Aluminium vs uPVC windows – Which is better?” on Checkatrade. Date Accessed: 13th July, 2022. Site Link: https://bit.ly/3axaZ2a.
Burgess, John. “Could windows be installed better?” on Build NZ. Date Published: 1st December 2017. Link: https://bit.ly/3Q9Z3Ds.
Gupta, Surbhi. “UPVC windows: All you need to know” on Housing.com. Date Published: 16th February, 2022. Site Link: https://bit.ly/3Slk9zU.
“Levels of Noise in Decibels (dB) Level Comparison Chart” on Sound Proofing Guide. Date Accessed: 5th August, 2022. Site Link: https://bit.ly/3byudoO/.
“Rethinking our windows—the case for using uPVC in New Zealand” on ArchiPro. Date Published: 21st July, 2021. Site Link: https://bit.ly/3OQnghl.
“uPVC vs Aluminium” on Hazlemere. Date Accessed: 13th July, 2022. Site Link: https://bit.ly/3yB3uPP.
“What is uPVC?” on Hazlemere. Date accessed: 5th August, 2022. Site Link: https://bit.ly/3yB3uPP.
