I agree with bigreader. There are lots of cheap, aluminium windows made with flimsy narrow frames, that would look wrong with your home. At the top end of the market there are some aluminium window manufacturers that make chunky aluminium frames that have the same proportion as timber framed windows, but they are more expensive. There are also hybrid windows, which have the right proportions for your home, are aluminium on the outside and timber on the inside. Best to visit a few showrooms and get a look and feel for what is available - don't make a decision based on price and a glossy website.

https://www.miglas.com.au/aliclad

Best of luck,

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls

Thanks to both of you. I agree with bigreader too that we may lose the charm with aluminium windows which is why I'm hesitant to go that route. And there's so much conflicting information out there.

Thanks for the link to Miglas, Dr Retro. They're close to us so we will pop down and have a look once they are back. Never new such an option existed.

Timber vs aluminium is a continuous discussion with almost every client.

Due to increasing thermal efficiency requirements it will no doubt continue to be that way.....

and thats before we discuss the configuration - sliding, double hung, louvre, etc....

Timber is also a 'sustainable and environmentally friendly' material. Aluminium is not really a 'sustainable' product but is fantastic for recyclability.

Nevertheless, I would say its what will suit the house and how much money you have.

Replacing every window and door is an expensive exercise, even more so if you want high quality and high performance systems.

If the house has timber weatherboard then why not more timber? Feels great, thermally efficient thats usually better than aluminium and can match the existing house design. Maintenance is regular cleaning and painting when the rest of the homes needs painting. Tight budget could mean replacing only the non salvageable items and use timber that matches throughout the rest.

Why not use timber in the new addition?

Timber vs aluminium is a continuous discussion with almost every client.

Due to increasing thermal efficiency requirements it will no doubt continue to be that way.....

and thats before we discuss the configuration - sliding, double hung, louvre, etc....

Timber is also a 'sustainable and environmentally friendly' material. Aluminium is not really a 'sustainable' product but is fantastic for recyclability.

Nevertheless, I would say its what will suit the house and how much money you have.

Replacing every window and door is an expensive exercise, even more so if you want high quality and high performance systems.

If the house has timber weatherboard then why not more timber? Feels great, thermally efficient thats usually better than aluminium and can match the existing house design. Maintenance is regular cleaning and painting when the rest of the homes needs painting. Tight budget could mean replacing only the non salvageable items and use timber that matches throughout the rest.

Why not use timber in the new addition?

hi there the after shot looks great - where did you source the garage doors from?

Timber every time for me, strongly dislike aluminium . Can I ask why you are removing the existing windows? If they are original timber ones then I would keep them, as they will 'look right' for the period of your house. Timber window sashes etc can be repaired if they have rot in them rather then replacing the entire window.

Ok. In that case I would replace them with new timber windows, I just think they look so much nicer than aluminium, and will suit your house style better. We put double glazed timber windows in our previous house, we were advised that they have a better thermal mass than aluminium, which will help with your energy ratings. Best of luck with your reno.

ks Jo. Yes I prefer timber, but it's hard when everyone keeps telling you to go aluminium. I guess many people don't want the hassle of painting. I'd rather make a bit of an effort for the look I like.

Hi there, depending where you live, we put in oiled timber for visual effect but we live in sub-tropical climate and they are continually growing mould. We are now faced with the problem of what to do. The recommendations from suppliers did not stop mould. If I built again I would certainly consider high quality aluminium.

Hi Sars

I agree with the Community, you should look at selecting the product with the best performance before moving onto the decisions of both colour and style. Rylock Windows and Doors are custom fabricated locally in Melbourne and our product's aluminium profile has been designed to emulate the look of timber. We offer a thermally broken product range which features a polyamide strips to insulate the inner & outer parts of the frame which significantly minimises heat transfer through the window; and 25 standard hand-coated premium powdercoat colours. You can visit our website at rylock.com.au or one of our showrooms in Dingley and Coburg North.

Kind regards

Emma

your rylock windows look amazing, love that they’re aluminium with the look of timber without the maintenance of timber. Great product

Thanks for that info, Emma. I had tried to go to the Nunawading showroom as listed on your website but it appeared to be abandoned. Will try one of the one's you have mentioned.

Hi Sars

Thanks for your reply. Rylock Nunawading is a licensee fabricator of a select number of Rylock products. If you are interested in our thermally broken range, it's a great idea for you to visit a Rylock Australia showroom in Dingley or Coburg North as we're the sole manufacturer of this product series.

Kind regards
Emma

One thing to bear in mind with your decision is condensation. Whether you have double glazing or not, aluminium frames will still give you condensation. Many a customer has been disappointed with their new aluminium double glazing because they don't realise they will still get condensation. Timber is warmer and if double glazed you will not get condensation.