How durable are wood-aluminum windows?
My husband and I are going to buy windows for our new building. We want wood-aluminum spruce windows. What should we look out for in terms of quality?
Our favorites diverge mostly on two issues:
Proposition A: The aluminum shell has a mechanical angle joint, the wood consists of triple glued beam.
Proposition B: The aluminum shell has a welded corner joint, the wood consists of a single piece of wood
1. According to claims in our circle of acquaintances, the welded joint is better.
2. Comparing windows on the internet, I have found that most suppliers use triple glued wood and advertise better stability and therefore longer life.
We have already visited homes with windows installed from both companies and they looked good and high quality. However, we have no long term experience and the longevity of the windows is very important to me.
If anyone can help me on these issues, I would greatly appreciate it.
Answers
First of all, regarding your question in the title ("what to look out for"): that they are more expensive than pure aluminum windows, otherwise they would not be good, i.e. they would not offer the desired high quality. I would only recommend PAX AG from wood-aluminum.
The second cost indicator after price (index: about 140 compared to 120 pure aluminum, 100 PVC and 70 PVC discounted) is the angle joints of aluminum casings: welded is not higher quality, but stupid (because gaps are important to compensate for different expansion coefficients – incompetent suppliers all praise welded joints as an "advantage"). Glued wood is no more stable, only about as good, the advantage (not for the customer, but for the manufacturer) is in the manufacturing.
By the way, aluminum windows can also be veneered with foil – with a decor that impresses even the experts.
Beyond appearance, don't forget functionality .....
Contrary to popular belief, standard triple glazing today has a worse DB than old glazing.
Now, as a builder, you're thinking, "Well, I live in a quiet village, so I don't need soundproof windows."
But I do. I would recommend at least 36 or 39 dB instead of the standard 32 dB.
Otherwise, you'll wonder later why your new apartment is so much louder than your previous apartment from the seventies.
