Aluminium vs UPVC Windows: An Honest Comparison

Aluminium and UPVC are the two materials most people consider for new windows in Ahmedabad. Both last far longer than old timber frames, and both can make good windows. But they behave differently, and the right choice depends on the opening, the room and what matters most to you.

A word of honesty first: most of what we make is in aluminium, so you might expect us to favour it. We’ve tried to write this comparison so it’s useful whichever way you go — and there are windows where we’ll tell you UPVC is the better fit.

What each material is

Aluminium windows are made from extruded aluminium sections, finished with a powder coat or an anodised surface, and fitted with glass, gaskets and hardware. Aluminium is a strong, rigid metal that doesn’t rust.

UPVC windows — unplasticised polyvinyl chloride — are made from rigid plastic profiles. The profiles are hollow inside, divided into chambers and sometimes reinforced with steel for strength, and they’re welded together at the corners.

Strength and frame size

Aluminium is considerably stronger and stiffer than UPVC. That means an aluminium frame can be much slimmer for the same size of window, so you see more glass and less frame.

UPVC frames need to be chunkier to be strong enough, particularly on larger windows. On a standard bedroom window this may not matter much. On a wide opening with a view, the difference in how much frame you look at can be significant.

Large openings and sliding systems

For big openings — full-height glazing, wide sliding doors, corner windows or sliding-folding systems that open a whole wall — aluminium usually wins. Its strength lets large, heavy glass panels move on slim frames without flexing or sagging over time.

UPVC is best suited to standard-sized windows and doors, where the frame size and stiffness are comfortably within their limits.

Heat and insulation

UPVC doesn’t conduct heat the way metal does, so a UPVC frame on its own insulates better than a plain aluminium frame. This is UPVC’s strongest argument.

Two things put it in perspective:

• The glass is most of the window. In most windows, far more heat passes through the glass than through the frame. Choosing the right glass — double glazed units, or tinted and reflective glass for west-facing rooms — often matters more than the frame material.
• Aluminium systems vary. Some aluminium window systems include a thermal break, an insulating strip that separates the inner and outer parts of the frame. Whether that’s worthwhile depends on the project.

Sun and UV

The Ahmedabad sun is intense, so it’s fair to ask how each material copes with years of it. Good-quality UPVC is made with UV stabilisers for hot climates. Aluminium isn’t affected by UV itself, and a quality powder-coated or anodised finish is made to be weather-resistant.

For very large frames in full afternoon sun, aluminium’s stiffness and stability usually give it the edge.

Looks and colour

Aluminium can be powder-coated in any RAL shade, in matte, textured or wood-grain finishes. Slim black frames, bronze tones or a warm wood finish are all possible, and the same colour can run across the windows, doors, louvres and railings of a house.

UPVC is most commonly white. Some systems offer colours or wood-effect finishes, but the range is narrower.

Maintenance and lifespan

Both materials are low maintenance compared with timber: no painting, no rot and no termites.

• Aluminium frames need a wipe with soapy water. The finish should be treated gently, without abrasive pads or harsh solvents.
• UPVC frames also clean with soapy water and never need painting.

For both, the parts that need attention over the years are the same: rollers, hinges, locks and gaskets. A window with good hardware and good sealing, fitted properly, will serve you well in either material.

Cost: why simple comparisons mislead

People often ask which is cheaper. The honest answer is that it depends — on the window system, the size, the glass, the hardware and the installation. A basic window in one material can cost less than a high-specification window in the other, and the other way round.

Instead of comparing materials in general, compare quotes for your actual openings, like for like: the same window types, the same glass, the same number of opening sashes and a clear list of hardware. An itemised quote makes that possible.

At a glance

So which should you choose?

• Choose aluminium for large openings, sliding and folding systems, slim sightlines, strong colours or wood-grain finishes, and for window and door styles that should match across the house.
• Consider UPVC for standard-sized windows where frame insulation matters most and a white or limited colour range suits the design.
• Either way, put your attention on the glass, the gaskets, the hardware and the installation. They decide how a window performs far more than the headline material does.

Mixing materials in one home

It isn’t an all-or-nothing choice. Some homes use aluminium where it shines — sliding doors onto the balcony, a wide living-room window, a folding system onto the garden — and UPVC for standard windows in bedrooms. If you do mix, think about how the frames will look side by side from inside and from the street, and whether the colours will work together.

Talk it through on site

Every home is different, and many use more than one type of window. At a free site visit we look at each opening and tell you straight which material and window type will work — whether that’s aluminium windows, UPVC windows and doors or a mix of both. Book a free site visit; it usually happens within 48 hours.

General guidance — every opening is different, so ask us to look at yours before you decide.