PVC, Aluminum or Wood?
The most important aspect of a home is the quality of the carpentry of the doors and windows. The material from which they are made affects the appearance of your home and at the same time the energy consumption required to retain the heat.
Each material is distinguished by some fairly minimal specificities, but which can help you make the best choice.
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There are three main categories of materials to choose from, and in the following they will be presented successively in a comparative study in terms of advantages, disadvantages and costs of installation and maintenance.
Aluminium
Paradoxically, aluminum joinery with a very low weight is strong, durable and maintenance-free. The profiles have three chambers, two of which are tubular, mounted using insulating rods, offering a modern and thermally efficient design.
Because aluminum is a​​ metal, it has an extremely high coefficient of thermal conductivity and to counteract this, a carbon fiber boot is placed in the profiles for insulation. This detail makes this option quite an expensive choice, but one that will always be just as effective in the long run, unlike PVC or wood joinery.
PVC
PVC is an abbreviation of polyvinyl chloride, a substance with an amorphous structure that belongs to the category of plastics and can easily be processed when heated to a certain temperature.
It is mainly used in construction through the process of extruding double glazing, which consists of two or more layers of glass, forming a space between them with dry air, gas which is a very good natural insulator.
In addition, the PVC profiles are equipped with small air-filled chambers that provide increased energy efficiency.
Taking into account the construction features and the available budget, you can opt for profiles with a maximum of 6 chambers and an installation depth of 86 mm. Depending on the thickness of the outer walls of the profiles, they fall into two classes: greater than 2.8 mm (class A) and less than or equal to 2.8 mm (class B).
PVC joinery is white or colored and can even mimic wood for a special look in your home. Due to their increased malleability, they require a profiled bar reinforcement of galvanized steel, which is fastened with self-tapping screws for better mechanical strength.
Wood
Thermal insulation consists not only in applying a layer of polyurethane foam on the interior walls, but also in using high-quality materials for doors and windows, which are ports for cold air.
A very important aspect is that this insulation must not be airtight and must allow the home to breathe. Because of this need, the use of wood is recommended. However, there is a high risk of cold air entering the home.
Laminated timber profiles have long been one of the most convenient choices, both financially and practically. Currently, these profiles can be coated in aluminum, which provides a guarantee of supporting a greater number of windows and long-term resistance to external factors such as rain or snow.
