ᐅ Types of Windows: uPVC, Wood, or Aluminum? Recommendations and Experiences?

Created on: 26 Feb 2018 15:08
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blaupuma
Hello, I am currently looking into the topic of windows.

I originally wanted to have wood-aluminum windows and had already factored in the additional costs. However, I was told that wood-aluminum is slowly disappearing from the market because the wood underneath the aluminum tends to rot over time. Has anyone here had longer experience with this?

Pure aluminum windows are also rarely in demand for single-family houses.

Thanks for your information.
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Bookstar
26 Feb 2018 20:59
The lifespan of plastic windows is about 20 years. Wood-aluminum windows last around 35 years. This means the higher investment definitely pays off. Not to mention the increased living quality.

Go for wood-aluminum; we have had them for a few years in our new build and are very satisfied. Back then, we received very different quotes, so it’s really worth comparing. Price range was about 50%!
truce26 Feb 2018 21:03
Bookstar schrieb:
The lifespan of uPVC windows is about 20 years. Wood-aluminum windows last approximately 35 years. This means the additional investment definitely pays off. Not to mention the increased living value.

And what about uPVC-aluminum?
blaupuma26 Feb 2018 21:06
I believe uPVC windows last forever; what could possibly rot in plastic?

I would rather say 20 years for wood-aluminum and 35 years for uPVC.
The other way around.

Do you have any photos of yours?
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Lumpi_LE
26 Feb 2018 21:11
Where do these year figures come from? High-quality uPVC windows haven’t changed at all in 100 years.
I also wanted wood-aluminum windows, precisely because they look more premium both inside and outside, but they don’t actually offer any objective advantage.
The additional costs were around 70%... so in the end, we went with uPVC. Expensive ones also look good.
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munger71
26 Feb 2018 21:30
The plastic on the outside will discolor over the years, the plasticizer will leach out, and then it will become brittle. Aluminum on the outside lasts significantly longer. Wood or plastic on the inside is a matter of personal preference. I simply prefer wood on the inside.
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Mastermind1
26 Feb 2018 21:33
With some types of plastic, there is an issue where they warp or bow during the first significant heat exposure. After that, complaints are made to the window manufacturer. Of course, they have never encountered this problem before, so they install stronger hardware and tighten the mushroom-head anchors more firmly.

This issue is related to large-format dark-colored windows...

P.S. We have such a plastic window from a very large German profile manufacturer, installed by a local window installer (2009/2010).
Our color: basalt gray

Friends have the same profile — different window installer — same problem.
Color: anthracite

Neighbors also have a dark window profile from a more affordable manufacturer — their problem...
Color: anthracite

Conclusion for us: never dark-colored plastic windows again or only small formats.