COST of timber windows vs thermal broken/composite aluminium windows & doors?

Alternative Technology Assn Forums » Sustainable Building

COST of timber windows vs thermal broken/composite aluminium windows & doors?

(15 posts) (10 voices)

Started 6 years ago by Jayar
Latest reply from Andrew2279

Tags:

Jayar
Member

Wondering if anyone had any idea on the different approx costs between window & door frame materials.

I love WRC timber (my own place is done in it) but its soft and requires maintenance, not something all my clients are happy with, so wish to investigate thermally broken aluminium systems or the composite aluminium-timber options. Or even cheaper non-WRC timber frames.

I dont know how the costs compare between them - anyone have any experience?

I'm based in Adelaide and havent yet done the ring-around of suppliers to see who does what yet, though costs may affect the design too.

All a bit confusing when you dont know how they all compare, thanks in advance!

Posted Wednesday 2 Mar 2016 @ 5:46:51 am from IP #
Annette
Member

Best to call around and get a price based on exactly the same size and window type. Not sure about Adelaide prices.

Posted Wednesday 2 Mar 2016 @ 7:26:29 am from IP #
Rick
Member

I looked around (a few years ago) for replacement windows, double glazed. The prices vary from timber framed units to composite frames with a thermal break. Approx twice the price I recall for made to measure aluminium/timber composite compared to a stock timber framed double glazed unit. (different manufacturers)
I have used Trend as they have quoted efficiently and include delivery. Have not used their thermAL range. I have used their sizing chart to select from their wide range/style. Thus avoiding extra costs of made-to-measure units.
http://www.trendwindows.com.au/producttype/trend_thermal/

If you are comparing manufacturers, know exactly what you require so like sizes & styles can be compared. (As Annette mentioned)
Awning
Casement
Double Hung
Sliding
Bay
Bifold

Posted Thursday 3 Mar 2016 @ 12:54:43 am from IP #
Jayar
Member

Yes, makes for more frustration when some manufacturers dont supply certain types of windows/doors - plenty dont seem to have double-hung for example.

I will have a door & window schedule made up to take to manufacturers for prices, however as mentioned above, its of limited use if not all types are made by each supplier.

Posted Sunday 6 Mar 2016 @ 10:13:04 am from IP #
Annette
Member

I think you should just send requests for quotes to companies that do the type of windows you want. Specially if you require double hung ( though these aren't that great for southern climates).

Posted Sunday 6 Mar 2016 @ 11:25:11 am from IP #
axess
Member

Jayar,

The window schedule is a good idea and common building practise. The issue is what the client is willing to accept in terms of price, performance levels and aesthetics.

I recently organised quotes for 3 windows on a new build extension. The windows were- 2 at 2700W x 2100H and 1 at 600H x 800W in various configurations. The extension would have high levels of insulation.

The lowest quote was uPVC at approximately $8000 installed. The middle cost was approximately $9000 uninstalled for "thermally improved" aluminum, and the final cost was $24000 for state of the art European timber windows installed.

We opted for the final quote as we had more options in finishes architraves etc and could see the quality. After seeing the weight of DG products in the past and the potentially high cost of damage, an installed price was necessary.

We also have a mixture of DG double hung uPVC and cedar sash windows in our house and they perform quite well using modern sealing and operating systems.

Good luck with the window schedule.

Posted Sunday 6 Mar 2016 @ 9:44:06 pm from IP #
Greg C
Member

I would be careful of Trend windows. In the extension to our house we had Trend double glazed units put in. The distance between the double glazing is very small, 4-6mm and I can't really tell much difference between them and the single glazed Trend units in the original part of the house.

I am considering replacing all windows with a hybrid aluminium/timber frame units from some place like this.

http://www.miglas.com.au

I think there are other manufacturers that do them as well.

Posted Wednesday 9 Mar 2016 @ 12:00:14 am from IP #
iank
Member

Hi I tried asking trend for performance figures and test results for their DG aluminum window range. Still waiting for a response from their customer service other that "visit a sales centre"

May I ask if anyone has any recent research on the best value double glazed aluminum (pref thermal break) compared to upvc double glazed. We are building a new home.
thanks

Posted Thursday 17 Mar 2016 @ 2:08:18 am from IP #
Annette
Member

WERS website?

Posted Friday 18 Mar 2016 @ 1:12:52 pm from IP #
iank
Member

thank you will take a look

Posted Saturday 19 Mar 2016 @ 11:53:47 am from IP #
amberc
Member

We got quotes on a number of brands of thermally-broken aluminium casement windows and found ThermalHeart to be the most economical. Dowell ThermaLine windows were less again but they didn't do casement.
We also looked at the Stegbar siteline windows which are WRC with aluminium on the outside (as we were keen for low maintenance) but these were considerably more expensive.

Posted Saturday 19 Mar 2016 @ 10:22:24 pm from IP #
iank
Member

thanks for that info its much appreciated

Posted Tuesday 22 Mar 2016 @ 11:22:50 am from IP #
keydefender
Member

There is a few double glazed suppliers in Adelaide. My research found Oknalux on south Rd St Mary's. Their price in uPVC in double glazed (cedar look) was cheaper than most wood joiners around town (woodlite, MF Gordon) in single glazed. They had Aluminium and also wood, but prices were dearer. I liked the idea of uPVC.. no maintenace and had better thermal properties.

Posted Tuesday 5 Apr 2016 @ 5:46:43 am from IP #
Rzrct
Member

I too have dealt with the same company called Oknalux, in St Marys, SA. They import from Europe, their quality is very high.

My experience with them was good, they spend the time to discuss the pros and cons of each type of frame.

The price of their composite frame was more expensive then there thermally broken frame.

Posted Tuesday 11 Jul 2017 @ 4:17:06 am from IP #
Andrew2279
Member

Morning, we have a few houses and buildings around Canberra and have tried a few major companies around Canberra for all our windows. We find the bigger companies quite rude in the approach to us(all about the dollar). We have found ADS Fixing to be on time,very helpful in explaining things to us, with the quality and price being better then the bigger guys. He has even talked us out of wasting extra money on things which would've made very little to no difference. We were lucky enough to be handed he's card from another friend because they dont seem to advertise.

Posted Friday 1 Sep 2017 @ 8:44:41 pm from IP #

RSS feed for this topic