When choosing new windows for your home, you'll need to select the material for the frames as well as the type of glass for the windows itself. Three very popular options for window frames are wood, fibreglass, and aluminium; each has their own pros and cons, so note a few of those here, and this will help you to determine the best choice for your home.
Wood
Wood has a very traditional look that is attractive inside and out. However, wood windows in a home with timber floors, a wood deck, and other such timbers features may mean too much wood throughout the home! All that wood can soon look cold and bare, so it might be good to choose another material for windows if your home has timber floors and other such features. Also, wood needs consistent upkeep and maintenance, including fresh paint and sealant. The material can also easily hold mould and mildew and then rot and decay over time, so you may wind up replacing wood windows more often than any other material.
Fibreglass
Fibreglass is very durable and strong and may need little to no maintenance over the years. This material also helps to insulate a home and reduce drafts and air leaks around the windows. However, fibreglass may be one of the costliest choices for window frames, something to consider if you want to replace all the windows of your home. The material may also clash with wood floors, wood shutters or flowerboxes, and timber decking, as well as with aluminium doors or awnings. Fibreglass also has an artificial look and feel that may not work well with a very traditional home, although it can fit a modern decor somewhat easily.
Aluminium
Aluminium is a natural material so it may be more attractive than fibreglass, and it won't rot and warp, as does wood. The material is also resistant to rust and corrosion, so it's a good choice in tropical areas or those with lots of storms. Aluminium is also less likely to clash with timber floors or timber features outside the home, and can work well if your home has metal awnings. The material is also very affordable, and very easy to recycle; if and when you decide to replace your windows in the future, you can have your new windows recycled very easily, so you know they won't wind up in landfills. You might also be able to find new windows made with recycled or salvaged aluminium, which is a very eco-friendly choice for your home.
Share15 January 2018
If you want to find a way to care for your windows and to ensure that they remain in the best possible condition, then you are in the right place. My name is Peter and I would like to introduce you to a few simple concepts which can really help you to get the most out of the windows in your home. I am not a professional window contractor but over the past few months, I have been given some great advice by my brother-in-law who works for a large window supplier as an installation and maintenance worker. I hope you like my blog.
