Pros And Cons of Aluminum Window Profile for Your Tiny House

Aluminum window profile is suitable for glazing non-residential premises: balconies, loggias, verandas, gazebos, public and commercial buildings. Lightweight and durable material protects the entire house or apartment, not just the balcony area, from dampness and drafts. Windows with aluminum profiles last for decades: the profile is corrosion-resistant, durable, and reliable. This article is devoted to the topic of the advantages of choosing windows with aluminum profiles and the cost of installing such windows.

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Types of Aluminum Glazing For Loggias And Balconies

If you are focused on installing windows with aluminum profiles, it is worth knowing about the types available on the market. This will allow you to make choices that exactly match your needs.

Cold

It is used to protect the premises from wind, precipitation, and dust. It is organized in rooms that do not require thermal insulation. Such windows can be installed in workshops, winter gardens, warehouses, and balconies.

Warm

Such windows are installed in living rooms, on warm loggias made of aluminum. To protect against cold, a heat-insulating polyurethane liner is placed inside the profile. It reliably insulates the cold.

Frame

It is mounted from a standard width profile. Looks attractive. It is easy to install and therefore costs less. Compared to frameless windows, such windows let in less light, but they are stronger - you can glaze large loggias.

Frameless

It maximizes the natural light in the room. It is created from a profile of a small width. The seams are invisible from the street, which creates the impression of a single glass sheet. With such glass, winter gardens and loggias equipped for summer leisure look beautiful.

Swing

It is most often used on spacious balconies, bay windows, and loggias. Hinged doors are typical for a warm profile. They require more space when opening and allow you to safely wash windows inside and out. Often, hinged sashes are combined with blind sashes - this way you can save on the profile system and fasteners. Sometimes this is required by the shape of the balcony room.

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Advantages of Installing Windows With Aluminum Profiles

The aluminum profile has many advantages. Let's look at them, perhaps some will influence your final choice.

• An aluminum profile is 2-3 times cheaper than a wooden or plastic one. Metal without a thermal insert is inexpensive but practical.
• Lightweight structures do not load the floors. In old houses, it is dangerous to weigh down the loggias. Light metal will eliminate the cost of supporting pillars and other methods of strengthening the balcony.
• Portal systems save space. Portal (sliding) windows and doors are popular on loggias, verandas, extensions, and gazebos: you won’t hit your head on them, and the sharp corners of the open casements won’t cause injury.
• Fireproof frames provide additional protection against fire. Non-flammable aluminum does not smoke when heated and prevents the spread of fire.
• Balcony blocks are equipped with protective fittings with hidden locking mechanisms. They create an additional barrier in the way of an attacker.

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Disadvantages of Windows With Aluminum Profiles

However, windows with aluminum profiles are not without disadvantages:

• Aluminum conducts heat easily. Its low thermal insulation is acceptable for loggias, commercial, and public buildings. Living spaces with aluminum windows are cold in winter and in the off-season.
• The hollow profile does not protect against noise. Sound waves easily pass through the hollow barrier of the metal frame, penetrating into the room. With aluminum frames, the noise of cars, voices from the street, and the sound of alarms distract you from rest and work.

How Much Does It Cost to Install Windows With Aluminum Profiles?

On average, national window installation cost is about $1,000 – $5,000, including material and labor. However, the final cost is influenced by several factors, including frame material, window type, as well as the brand of windows, and much more. For example, the cost of replacing aluminum windows averages $300 - $850, and the cost of wooden windows is about $647 - $1,620. You can use the window replacement cost calculator on MyHomeQuote to more accurately calculate your costs.

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Is It Possible to Install Windows With Aluminum Profiles Yourself?

You can significantly reduce the cost of installing windows if you dismantle the old frames yourself and get rid of construction waste without the help of contractors. When installing profile systems, monitor several nuances:

1. Level position of the profile in space. It should not bend. Due to such defects, the windows will not be airtight.
2. The maximum gap between the window block and the opening is 5.5 mm. A wider gap must be filled with polystyrene foam or brick.
3. Production technology. Trust the production and installation of windows to a reliable company. Experienced craftsmen must have a permit-certificate. Check that the glazing is covered by a warranty. Typically, reliable window companies provide a guarantee on work and materials.
4. Multilayer assembly seam. The second layer is applied to the first after 2-3 hours. All seams are treated with sealant and insulated from moisture with translucent butyl tape.

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Why Choose Windows With Aluminum Profiles?

Aluminum is an environmentally friendly material, capable of withstanding large temperature fluctuations, and does not emit harmful substances into the atmosphere even with strong heating. In addition, the metal is not susceptible to corrosion, has good rigidity, does not deform, and does not lose its physical properties over time.

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Other advantages of aluminum windows:

• good combination of price and quality (you can find out the cost of installing windows with aluminum profiles using the window replacement price calculator on the MyHomeQuote website);
• metal frames are thinner and more accurate than plastic ones while being stronger and more resistant to stress than plastic windows;
• thin-walled profiles and the ability to install sliding systems help save space in a small area;
• not wide and neat frames increase the glazing area and allow more light to penetrate the room.

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Wrapping It Up

The popularity of aluminum profiles is growing every day. Lightweight, durable systems with excellent decorative qualities look great in apartments, houses, or commercial premises. If you want to use windows with aluminum profiles, remember that the main advantage of this solution is the price, the main disadvantage is the cold air in the room in winter. When installing windows, an important factor is the correct choice of contractors, since their professionalism depends on the microclimate in your home. We recommend turning to MyHomeQuote, a service that helps you find reliable contractors, as well as calculate the cost of installing windows using a calculator, taking into account various factors.