Changing Timber Windows to Aluminium
C Lim
8 years ago
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georgi02
8 years agoC Lim
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Timber versus aluminium doors & windows
Comments (5)If you are considering using aluminium windows then ensure they are thermally-improved or thermally-broken frames, standard aluminium windows conduct a huge amount of heat into and out of your building, decreasing comfort and increasing running costs. Timber windows and thermally-broken aluminium windows are similar in terms of thermal performance. Well painted timber windows should be maintenance free for 10-15 years, yes they will require more effort over time than aluminium but it is not a weekly event. This is still a major factor for many people in making this choice. Accoya timber (have a Google) is relatively new but does appear to allow a painted finish to last even longer. Double glazing, yes it costs more but not twice as much. If you buy good quality frames why would you not also buy good quality glass (and vice versa). It can be relatively easy to replace the single glazing in your existing frames with double glazing although this depends on the frames themselves. These are probably the largest areas of glass in your home, if you use single glazing you will lose more than 50% of your heat through them (depending the level of insulation in the remainder of the building, possibly more) hence choosing the right glass is incredibly important. Building comfort is a product of many many factors, each decision contributes to the whole. Be mindful of 'death by a thousand cuts'. I hope this helps a little....See MoreHow to make brown aluminium Windows look better?
Comments (12)Honestly, cladding the house in grey because it is trendy right now is only going to date your renovations and is not going to do anything special to the house. What is the finish on the house now? I'm assuming you are cladding to save on maintenance which is very wise, but if you paint the windows you are only going to start another maintenance issue. The finish on them now has been designed to last - paint won't. I also note you have brown posts on the verandas, brown/cream tiles on the ground and a cream fence - this all has to be taken into consideration if you want to change to a grey palette and achieve something really special. It has to be a total package. Unfortunately, colours do not reproduce on computer screens so there is no point in me suggesting colours, but I would call in a cladding specialist or 3, they are used to doing this type of work and generally know what the finished result will look like to advise you. They should be able to suggest colours that will blend better with the browns and creams but still give the house a more individual and timeless look. If you are still not sure, put the photos of your house onto a Paint Company's website and paint it in a similar colour. To me though, this house really needs some softening, I think a bit of a cottage look will make it look much more warmer and welcoming. It is just not blending in with its environment. Work on your landscaping - look on Houzz for some ideas for a front path to lift your home out of the ordinary, you don't have to spend a fortune, just be creative, change the hand railing, maybe even fence the veranda or grow a hedge in front of it and screen one (or both) ends of it to give you some privacy to sit out there, Perhaps grow a creeper across under the guttering to really soften the front of the house and make the veranda more welcoming. Beautiful, well kept lawns and gardens and some special outdoor areas in your back garden will really enhance the house so the brown windows will cease to become an issue....See MoreCream aluminium window frames - help!
Comments (1)I would paint the walls white! It will contrast nicely with the timber window frames. It will also complement the cream. Go white! Post an after photo if you can....See MoreAluminium or Timber bi-fold doors for extension on heritage home?
Comments (11)Hi again, thanks everyone for your input. I have been to a well known window/door manufacturer today which makes aluminium, timber and alu/timber composite to compare all options. It was a local company also so they were able to advise based on knowledge of our climate. The composite was higher in price but was also too contemporary in design, the aluminium was also too contemporary in design and not all options suitable for double-glazed glass, so we have returned to the idea of the solid timber but have taken all the advice on board and are opting for a pair of hinged french doors with sidelights in size to match and fanlights above so we can still retain the overall height and look but the actual doors will be closer to standard 2100mm height. Hopefully this will also eliminate any difficulty with opening them which we would probably have found had we had a bi-fold system or 2.7m door height. FYI the salesperson I spoke with also advised that there is a product available (sold in our local area from Inspirations Paint company) which when applied to the timber doors/windows gives 7 year protection from rot and fading due to rain and UV. He had used this himself on his own timber doors which were also exposed fully to the weather and highly recommended it - so I will post what this treatment is when I have more information on it. Thanks again everyone who helped out with their advice...See Moregeorgi02
8 years agoC Lim
8 years ago- PRO
MB Design & Drafting
8 years ago C Lim
8 years ago- PRO
MB Design & Drafting
8 years ago
bigreader