It is the big question. The great question. PVC windows or aluminum windows. Which is better? Which one should I choose and why?
It is not fair to give an absolute answer to this question. PVC and aluminum are two very different materials with different values ​​capable of meeting different needs. So, first of all, we always recommend that you seek the advice of a good professional in the sale and installation of windows who can help you determine the characteristics of your home and choose the option that allows you to enjoy the best quality of life.
Of course, it is also not fair to compare the best and most equipped PVC window with the most straightforward aluminum window or the best aluminum window with the most straightforward.
That said, we want to offer you a complete but simple guide to the characteristics of each of these windows, emphasizing their virtues and their weak points.
We hope that it will be of maximum use to you.
Comparison between PVC and aluminum windows. What to Consider
When opting for one type or another of exterior carpentry, we have selected six issues on which we think it is necessary to reflect to choose between PVC and aluminum windows:
- Thermal and acoustic insulation performance. What material is more insulating and will allow me to enjoy greater comfort and quality of life?
- Savings contribution. Which window can help me save on heating and air conditioning bills?
- Energy efficiency and ecological respect. Which material has the most negligible impact on the climate and the environment?
- Resistance and durability. Which system will be better preserved over the years?
- Home security. With what system can I have greater peace of mind?
Aesthetic possibilities. Which window will best suit the style of my home?
Of course, a seventh point to consider would be the price, although it does not seem to us the most relevant aspect. Still, we will try to present a reasonable comparison.
Advantages of a PVC window compared to an aluminum one.
- First of all, PVC is a material that is 1,100 times more insulating than aluminum, so PVC windows offer greater thermal and acoustic insulation. This translates into greater comfort, savings, and energy efficiency. And not only because of the material itself but also because the corners of the PVC windows are hermetically welded, not screwed, which makes them more solid and prevents air from leaking through them from the outside.
- In this sense, a study by the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, and Commerce of the Government of Spain (study) concluded, after analyzing 14 types of windows, that the windows save the most energy and contribute to reducing COâ‚‚ emissions into the atmosphere are windows PVC.
- Delving into this topic of ecological respect and preservation of the environment, PVC is a resin composed of 57% common salt, a practically inexhaustible and natural material. And it is 100% recyclable, something in which our colleagues at VEKA were also pioneers since 1993 when they created the first PVC profile recycling plant in the world.
- PVC maintenance is straightforward: only soap and water are required, thanks to the fact that it remains unaltered by weather and pollution. Thanks to these properties, PVC is a very resistant and durable material. A good PVC window is for life.
- The PVC profiles, designed with different air chambers inside to increase their insulating properties, are reinforced with galvanized steel to guarantee their structural solidity and resistance. Even PVC windows are capable of achieving the RC2 security certificate, guaranteeing their protection against intruders.
- In addition, PVC is a self-extinguishing and hardly flammable material; it does not spread flames and does not drip.
- The aesthetic section was, 30 years ago, the weak point of PVC windows, which could hardly escape the white base color. However, nowadays, thanks to the development of the foliated technique, PVC windows can perfectly imitate both wood and metal, with smooth or even textured finishes, with a different finish for the exterior and the interior. Inside. In addition, VEKA and Ecoven plus have recently launched innovative and exclusive Spectral technology, ultra-matte, and silky touch, causing a real revolution in the market.
PVC or aluminum windows. Which one to choose and why?
Advantages of an aluminum window compared to a PVC one
- Aluminum windows emerged as a cheap alternative to costly wooden windows. Over the years, they have been consolidated as one of the preferred options for exterior carpentry, in direct competition with PVC windows, the option that already predominates in the rest of Europe.
- To improve their insulating performance, aluminum profiles can be equipped with an RPT Thermal Bridge Break. This plastic piece is placed between the metal exteriors to reduce heat and energy losses, increasing efficiency.
- Aluminum is a light and very resistant metal that, once it has been lacquered and preserved from contact with water and air, is protected from corrosion and offers excellent durability.
- On an aesthetic level, aluminum windows have unparalleled adaptability. They are offered in an almost unlimited range of colors, woods, and metallic finishes through lacquer or foliate.
- In addition, aluminum is a very versatile material in any work, with countless profiles and complementary system make; it is; able to adapt to all sizes and straight and curved shapes and solve the most complex design challenges.
Thermal transmittance values ​​U between PVC and Aluminum windows
The U value, or thermal transmittance, is one of the concepts that has caused and continues to cause the most doubts and deceptions in this sector.
Without getting too technical, transmittance represents the speed at which the window lets cold and heat in and out. Therefore, the lower the transmittance, the higher the comfort.
U-values ​​for the different parts of a window
We can talk about the U values ​​of different pieces: the U of the glazing (Ug), the U of the profile (Uf), and the U of the full window (Uw)Glazingng is always the most insulating element of the wind; therefore, the U of the glass (Ug) is the smallest. Advertising the thermal transmittance of the glazing as if it were that of the entire window, with the name U minus the subscript g, is misleading the consumer.
Furthermore, the transmittance of a finished window depends on both its size and the proportion of glass, so two Uw cannot be compared without further data.
Thus, for example, when we say that our Ecoven plus s82, the first Passivhaus-certified PVC window in Spain, can reach a Uw transmittance of 0.76 W/m2K, it is because a specific test was carried out with a specific window. Of specific characteristics that in a certified test achieved that result.
But we know that another Ecoven plus s82 window, specifically equipped and in another completely entirely context, would be able to lower that value. That’s why:
Two Uw values ​​are not directly comparable if no further information is available.
That an external approved agency (such as the Passivhaus Institute or AENOR) certifies that a window reaches a certain level of transmittance is the surest proof that said window deserves trust.
Comparison of price in PVC and aluminum windows
As anticipated, the sale price does not seem to us the most relevant aspect in this comparison. A product is not expensive because its price is high but because it does not offer the equivalent value that justifies making that investment.
In addition, the sale price does not include future costs or savings. A window with a higher price may be the cheapest option if its maintenance cost is meager and if each month it is helping us save on the heating or cooling bill.
The truth is aluminum is more expensive and less insulating than PVC. Therefore, an aluminum window will have a higher price than a PVC window with the same features. And if an aluminum window and a PVC window have the same price, the latter will offer much higher efficiency and thermal and acoustic insulation.
Many models and brands of windows are made of one or another material. Still, to offer a realistic figure, a 70 mm deep RPT aluminum window can have a price 30% higher -or even more- than that of a PVC window of the same depth and performance. The differences between some types of windows and others can also be considered in each metamaterial each material.
Of course, the price of a PVC window of Asian origin, with 57 mm depth, three chambers, single pane glazing, and simple hardware, cannot be compared with the price of a Passivhaus-certified Ecoven plus s82, with 82 mm width.
However, the Asian window is undoubtedly more expensive since it cannot offer the slightest level of comfort or security in the home, nor can it contribute to any savings due to its enormous energy losses, nor will it have the same durability.
And so the next question is answered…
