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Planning an extension and we will need to add new windows to the back of our house. Currently they are steel, single glazed Crittal windows so we are looking to replace with something similar but less draughty!
Steel is horrifically expensive, but some of the aluminium framed ones look pretty good and are much cheaper. Does anyone have any experience with any decent suppliers? Had quotes from Dimension (supply only) and Met Therm (supply and fit) so far.
We've just had (or, rather, are currently having as the guy is still here!) some Crittal-style French Doors fitted. The supplier said they could do either Crittal or the alu ones, but the price difference was over double, and the benefits minimal. We drew up the design based very much on the Crittal originals and they look good - the design is very similar, but achieved throgh larger panes and decorative glazing bars rather than lots of smaller panes. This pic is without the bars fitted - the DG units have a spacer bar fitted internally too.
One thing the installer did say when quoting was there can be a cold bridge with Crittal frames, but the alu ones minimise that. We have had old wooden doors replaced which were massively drafty, so can't comment on that ATM.
The supplier and installer was Panoramic Windows in Bristol. The model is Slenderline 31 I think.
They look great. Will check them out. We are in North Worcestershire. We have one door/window combo which is 8ft wide that we won't replace but we want the replacements to tie in as best as possible. UPVc will just look out if place and the extra light from the larger glazing panels makes a huge difference.
No experience of Aluminium windows (yet) but the 3 sets of aluminium bifolds and front door with side panels we've fitted have been excellent.
Replacing the wooden front door with an aluminium one is just fantastic.
I'd certainly be looking at aluminium windows if we were in that market.
I'm specing/pricing windows up for our converted industrial building home.
The closest aluminium profile - ie smallest sightlines is Raynaers SL38 profile. They have a list of supported on their website. I got quotes from 4 or 5 supplier's and they were all around these price save for one that was ~£2k lower (~£12k Vs ~£14k)
As mentioned above Critall windows aren't thermally broken, they advertise a profile that is but it's not commercially available yet. There is an EU manufacturer of steel thermally broken window profiles but Critall are ~ X2 the cost of aluminium already - the thermal break steel profile lookedeven more expensive so I didn't persue.
We have powder coated aluminium windows and live on the side of a hill, they look like new 8 years later 👍 bespoke by a local manufacturer so cant help with that bit, but they are great 👍
You definitely want thermally broken aluminium.
Upvc is best for thermal properties. Looks a bit guff though - sight lines will be much thicker than ally but 2/3 cost of ally.
Some Scandinavian ones can be ally exterior with wooden interior, great thermal properties bit pricier than ally and much more hassle to get fitted as installers less common. You can go direct but that adds to the hassle factor - I looked in to it but I couldn’t be bothered to research all of the different permutations of a window to work out exactly what I needed and didn’t fancy paying them 1k or something to come and do a survey.
Some Scandinavian ones can be ally exterior with wooden interior, great thermal properties bit pricier than ally and much more hassle to get fitted as installers less common
The Raynaers supplier in Chorley we visited were also the agent for Internorm - aluminium outside / wood inside and looked great but had a thicker sightline than we were wanting.
The Raynaers SL38 is available in three different profile styles with 'Ferro' being the smallest and most steel like.
It's what we are going to go with.