Aluminum profile for windows: choice, manufacturers, prices

The list of materials that make window systems is not limited to plastic. PVC windows are very popular, but there are structures made of wood and metal that surpass them in many respects. New technologies have eliminated the shortcomings of these materials, so the aluminum profile for windows is increasingly used for glazing houses and apartments.

Advantages of Aluminum Windows

Modern windows made of aluminum profiles are different from those used in construction several decades ago. The list of their advantages is long:

• High strength material. This allows you to make frames thinner than plastic, which increases the illumination. The aluminum frame is less susceptible to mechanical damage, and the margin of safety is designed for double-glazed windows with a large weight. The risk of sagging or warping the fold is minimal.

Magnesium and silicon are added to aluminum during production. Such an alloy makes the profile more rigid and resistant to corrosion.

• Durability: the manufacturer's warranty is 50–80 years, but with timely replacement of the seal and accessories, the windows will last longer. Aluminum is not afraid of exposure to moisture and the sun, quietly withstands significant temperature extremes (from -80 to +200 C °)
• Lightness: important when glazing of remote structures on balconies, loggias, when decorating windows in doors, whose weight to increase is extremely undesirable.

• Burglar resistance. The aluminum frame, even without special fittings, can withstand a cracker’s hand tool for at least 10 minutes.
• Possibility of repair: if damaged, the frame is easy to repair. Seals, accessories - handles, locks, latches - it is easy to replace yourself. You don’t have to drill or mill anything: the old element is removed, and a new one is put in its place.
• A wide selection of colors, durability of the coating. The aluminum profile is powder coated in any shade from the RAL catalog. Another option is anodizing elements.

• Plasticity: allows you to create frames of curved shape - lancet, round, oval.
• Many types of designs: blind, rotary, folding, sliding, combined frames.
• Safety: aluminum does not burn unlike wood or PVC, does not emit harmful fumes or impurities.

disadvantages

There are disadvantages, although there are not so many:

• High price: 2–2.5 times higher than plastic structures. Given the long life, it is justified, but you will have to spend money on installation. This moment scares away potential buyers.
• In terms of heat conservation, the frames of the budget segment are inferior to wooden or plastic counterparts.
• Windows made of aluminum profile do not "breathe", so you will often have to ventilate the room or equip forced ventilation.

Aluminum window profile cold and warm

There are two types of aluminum window profiles: warm and cold. With the same thickness, they differ in the internal structure. To see this, it is not necessary to cut the element in half: manufacturers post on the Internet drawings of sections of models in DWG format. And to understand the difference between the two varieties, the following photo will help.

Cold profile does not contain insulation elements. Inside there is only one camera without additional layers, so in winter it will freeze. Aluminum structures of the cold type are suitable for a balcony, unheated loggia, utility room, veranda. The advantage of this option is the minimum weight and light fittings.

The warm profile contains a longitudinal insert made of polyamide with fiberglass. These materials have a low coefficient of thermal conductivity: 150 lower than that of aluminum itself. An insert with a thickness of 1.8 to 3.5 cm - thermal break - does not allow cold. This design allows aluminum windows to come closer in terms of heat conservation to frames made of wood or PVC, so they are installed in residential premises. The heat transfer resistance coefficient (R0) is 0.55–0.57 m2 • ° C / W. With a thermal break made of a multi-chamber profile made of fiberglass with a width of 30–40 mm, R0 rises to 0.62 m2 • ° C / W.

In low-cost products, the thermal break chamber is hollow, therefore, even at -10 ° C they are covered with condensate. Such structures are the coldest, the coefficient R0 does not exceed 0.45 m2 • ° C / W.

Accessories for aluminum profiles

Accessories for aluminum window frames differ from elements for PVC structures. It is divided into 2 types:

• With hinges on the frame with screws that screw into pre-made holes.
• With hinge locking using clamping terminals. They do not need additional holes, a template, so they are considered more technological.

Sealant

The sealant protects against drafts and also protects the profile from mechanical damage, prolonging the life of the entire structure. It is used on all windows and doors with any opening method and is divided into three types:

• TPE - it is considered high-quality, but cracking in severe frosts;
• VMQ - not afraid of any temperature, suitable for harsh climates, but expensive;
• EPDM - successfully resists heat, frost, moisture, aggressive substances, relatively inexpensive, but inferior to VMQ in terms of service life. The most popular option.

When replacing the seal, it is advisable to buy material from the same company that the manufacturer uses. In the store you need to make sure that the seal stretches a little and has no cracks.

Manufacturers of aluminum profiles for windows: which are better

The quality criteria of aluminum window systems are specified by GOST 21519-2003. Top manufacturers rankings based on customer reviews include:

• The German company Schuso ("Schuko"). It produces window, door, sliding and rack-and-beam systems with a maximum, high and low degree of thermal insulation. Models contain built-in ventilation systems, protection from sunlight, condensate removal, noise reduction.

•  Provedal (Spain). Profile products are manufactured using the anodizing process. After it, a protective film forms on the surface of the element. The main area of ​​use is cold glazing. Profiled profiles are used by many manufacturers in their window blocks, for example Kaleva-Light. This is a glazing system for loggias and balconies, which makes it possible to efficiently use the available space and ensure maximum luminous flux through the windows. Kaleva-Light is indispensable on "broken" loggias, while various schemes for opening windows are possible.
• Belgian company Reynaers. They are slightly inferior to Schuco profiles in quality and manufacturability, but they are cheaper. A wide range, including warm and cold types of profiles of various colors (more than 400 shades), wood-aluminum windows.
• Russian manufacturer Vidnal Prof. It produces facade profiles for cold glazing, insulated options for windows, doors and stained-glass windows. The company's products are adapted to Russian conditions, and the price is lower than foreign models with pretty good quality.

How much does a aluminum profile window cost: what makes up the price

In order to choose a suitable design and immediately understand how much it will cost, you need to consider the parameters on which the final price depends. These include:

• Thickness of profile and thermal break insert. The larger it is, the warmer the window and the more expensive it costs.
• Accessories, gaskets. The cost depends on the quality of components. Multi-circuit seals will increase the price of construction.

The best manufacturers of fittings are Roto (Germany) and Giesse (Italy).

• Type of double-glazed window. The price is affected by the number of cameras, the presence of a coating, an energy-saving layer.
• Brand The reputation of the manufacturer of the profile and the company that collects the windows matters.

The cost of a window construction made of cold-type aluminum with a single double-glazed window or with glass starts from 3,700 rubles / sq. m. A warm window with a double-glazed window will cost in the amount of 4 300 rubles / sq. m

When ordering a design, pay attention to the warranty. It should be given to all the details of the window unit.

The high price does not guarantee long-term operation of the window without breakage. The right choice, installation and care come to the fore here. Subject to these conditions, the aluminum construction will last for many decades.