PVC or Aluminium Windows?
Which is the best option for your windows
Changing the windows of your home or choosing those for your new house is a very important decision.
Considering that the useful life of our windows is 40 to 50 years — although most of my clients reply when I make them think about this that "I won't be here in 50 years" — the truth is that this fact is crucial and must be taken into account when choosing our windows.
Primarily, based on my professional experience of more than 25 years in the window sector, having worked with some of the largest window manufacturers at national level as a commercial technician and trainer for workshops and metal joinery companies, and also taking into account my personal experience, I can say that:
PVC windows provide better thermal and acoustic insulation and their price is more competitive.
Aluminium windows are more rigid; aesthetically they have the advantage that the profiles are slimmer, giving us a larger glass surface. Their insulation is always lower and their price is higher than PVC.
Starting from this basis, we can go deeper into the details and compare each material more thoroughly.
I would also like to clarify that there is no clearly superior material, as each has its advantages and disadvantages, strengths and weaknesses. The choice of window material will depend on our tastes, needs and, I would dare say, priorities.
For many years in Spain, architects and decorators preferred aluminium and treated PVC as a second-class product.
The aluminium industry did an excellent marketing job positioning its product as superior, but the technical reality is different: PVC offers better thermal and acoustic insulation at a lower price.
Advantages of PVC
- Better thermal insulation: Uf values from 1.0 W/m²K
- Better acoustic insulation thanks to its multi-chamber structure
- More competitive price for equivalent performance
- Minimal maintenance: does not rust or corrode
- Available with Passivhaus certification
- Wide range of colours and finishes, including wood effect
Advantages of aluminium
- Slimmer profiles: larger glass surface
- More minimalist and modern aesthetic
- Greater structural rigidity for large openings
- Ideal for facades and large-format windows
- Better performance in coastal environments with salt air
Which to choose for the Costa Brava and Girona?
For standard residential homes on the Costa Brava and in Girona, PVC windows offer the best quality-to-price ratio. They withstand the marine environment well and provide excellent thermal insulation, very important for the cold winters of inland Girona.
For design-led homes or those with large openings, aluminium may be a better aesthetic option, although the cost will be higher.
At Instal Tancaments we advise you with no obligation to find the best solution for your project. Request your free quote.