Aluminium vs uPVC windows – ultimate comparison

What is the price difference between aluminium and uPVC windows? 

The main factor that will influence whether your customer decides to buy PVC or aluminium windows is the price. And this varies significantly and, depending on the profiles being compared, the difference is between 70% and 200%. Aluminium windows are almost always more expensive than PVC.

We compared the same set of PVC and aluminium windows. For PVC, the Salamander BluEvo 82 system and for aluminium, the Aluprof MB-86.

Windows. Included in the cost of the windows is the expense of servicing, the frequency of which depends on the durability of the window. 

What are the differences in the heat loss parameter?

We could spend a lot of time comparing irrelevant differences between thermal parameters. But the question is, does it make business sense to consider small differences? In fact, two factors determine the choice of a window with a specific thermal performance: building law and the type of building.

Before proposing a window system to your investor, check what minimum Uw requirement you need to meet. As a general rule, uPVC windows protect better against heat loss – they have a lower Uw parameter. The difference disappears when the window area increases because the thermal performance is mainly determined by the glass. However, at the end of the day, it is all about meeting the country’s requirements at an attractive price.

The Aluprof MB-86 profile is one of the warmer aluminium profiles, but if your investor needs an even lower Uw, you can offer him one of the passive aluminium systems, such as Aluprof MB-104 passive. However, you must remember that passive solutions involve higher costs. The question then arises about the cost-effectiveness ratio: how much will you pay extra and how much will you get in return for it? 

It’s another issue if you’re building a house for yourself and you want to put windows in the showroom. Showing the window system ‘live’ can help you to negotiate with investors and get a better margin for your investment. Our customers often make their home a showroom and are then willing to pay extra for an even lower Uw than is required.

Which window will give more freedom to the architect?

What if your investor wants a non-standard window colour? uPVC windows offer approx. 30 veneer colours and aluminium windows over 200 RAL colours (thanks to powder coating). However, they are more expensive.

What if your investor wants the look of aluminium, but the price is too high? You can offer him a PVC Gealan Linear window, advises debesto specialist Stanislav Bloszko. This is a frequent choice for our customers who want a better look and at the same time an attractive price. If this sounds interesting for you, you can check by yourself and compare PVC and aluminium windows corner samples. You may also check top-ranked minimalist uPVC windows with aluminium look.

The aluminium window is considered to be more exclusive than PVC; it has a thin frame, offers greater configurability and lets more light into the room. This is due to its lighter weight and the possibility of a larger size.

Large windows – should you choose uPVC or aluminium?

If a builder necessarily needs a very large window, then aluminium is probably the optimal choice. This doesn’t mean that a big size can’t be achieved with PVC. It depends on whether the builder wants one large glazing or whether a set of windows is acceptable.

Let’s find out the differences between the maximum dimensions of uPVC and aluminium windows. In the case of tilt and turn windows made of PVC, we can achieve a maximum of 150 x 160 cm (2.4 m2 ), while in aluminium the limit dimensions are 170 x 200 cm (3.4 m2 ), which is over 40% more. In the case of sliding sash windows, the possibilities for aluminium and PVC differ by a considerable margin, as the aluminium window can be almost 70 per cent larger. For example, the PVC HST Aluplast 85MM window has maximum dimensions of 510 x 250 cm (12.75 m2), while the aluminium HST Aluprof MB-77 HS Monorail has maximum dimensions of 660 x 324 cm (21.38 m2).

It should be recalled that in uPVC windows, steel is responsible for the statics of the structure, which is located inside the profile, whereas in aluminium, the frame itself provides the statics, so suppliers can make larger structures on aluminium profiles. Aluminium is more rigid and does not deform like PVC. In addition, it is lightweight and puts less strain on the hinges.