Aluminium windows and doors

[A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]

Anyone who has aluminium windows or doors, would you recommend or are they drafty or cold? Our bay windows need replacing, and we're planning thin sightline sliding doors across the back - the fitter is saying even thermally broken aluminium will be cold with condensation, and we should go for upvc with cladding.

If you have aluminium, what are your thoughts?

Alu clad windows would give you the look of almuninium with the superior thermal efficiency of timber. Not sure how the cost would compare though

Modern aluminium windows are not thermally broken, that was an issue with the old Crittal windows. Many are rated A for energy efficiency. Look at some brands you like, we have the Heritage line from Alitherme for our kitchen. Although these are Crittal french door remakes, not sliding doors. Can't see why sliding doors should be different. Otherwise, why not go for Frensh doors? Aluminium looks and ages soooo much better than upvc.

Does your fitter only fit uPVC windows?!

Aluminium is colder to touch than uPVC which is plastic which seems a fair trade for more window as they are more slimline and less bulky.

They're so insulated that in very cold weather in a highly insulated house, you can get condensation on the outside early morning when cold air hits a warm surface. I had the same with uPVC in a different house. Here it’s only on one window which faces a particular direction. It clears up quickly as the day warms.

They are much more expensive so do consider resale value of the house etc.

I have fitted Alu windows in some of my house and they do have more condensation on the frames than the ones that are still upvc. the sliding patio alu doors don’t seem to have the same condensation.

the upvc ones do have water that runs off so maybe the alu is keeping the water attached. I haven’t got to bottom of it. It’s quite hard to find answers.

My windows are from Smart systems they do claim to be thermally broken but it’s obviously not very effective.

Thanks so much for the responses. I much prefer the look of the aluminium too, and think it'll suit the house a lot more. No, they fit everything (and it's a family friend we were getting some advice on what the architect had drawn)! The alu clad pvc ones look chunkier to me. But he said architects design stuff they don't have to live with, and they're thermally a lot less efficient.

The ones we're looking at are A rated also. So it's reassuring that you've for the most part had pretty good experience with them. Really appreciate the comments

we have pvc windows ( evolution ) and aluminium French doors ( origin ).
the only difference I have noticed is that when it’s really cold like it was for the week before Christmas then the aluminium does feel colder to the touch than pvc , when it’s milder +5 then there’s not much difference.

when it was really cold I held the back of my hand/ fingers near the glass and the frames ( couple of millimetres away ) and there was no noticeable difference in either, it’s only when you touch the aluminium it feels colder.

we don’t really get any condensation on either so I can’t help much there but any moisture will always settle on the coldest surface first and that is usually metal then glass.

There are no draughts with the doors they seal the same as pvc ones. I prefer the slimness and the squarer angled finish of the aluminium doors than pvc ones.

We have aluminium bifold doors and uPVC windows. Never noticed any condensation on either - at least, not on the inside. You do get condensation on the outside of both on a cold morning, because they're well enough insulated for the outside to be cold enough to attract condensation. This is a good thing in my book as it means they're well insulated.

Aluminium may feel colder to the touch as others have said, but this doesn't mean they are less well insulated, that the house will be colder, or that condensation will form on the insides of the frames. Even if the surfaces are at the same temperature, the aluminium will feel colder because it conducts heat away from your hand better than the uPVC. Try taking a metal container and a plastic one out of the kitchen cupboard. If they've been there for a while they will be at the same temperature, but the metal one will feel cooler.

I have both types of windows in my house and the ali are much worse for condensation. We also have ali bifold doors and they are fine. Not sure if it's because the ali doors and upvc windows are on the back of the house though, as that's SE facing. The ali windows are on the front which is cooler anyway. They definitely look nicer, especially as we have Georgian bars.