When choosing to undertake any type of home improvement project, it’s always important to assess and weigh up all of the options on offer. Choosing a window frame material is no different!

The three most common window materials used today are timber, aluminium and uPVC. The window material you ultimately go for will absolutely depend on your individual requirements and tastes. Newview Windows & Conservatories have put together a handy guide so you can make the right decision for your property.

Whether it’s the traditional authenticity of timber, natural strength of aluminium or the low maintenance qualities of uPVC, all three materials provide their own advantages and benefits. Like homeowners, every property is different and as such should opt for a material to suit their specific climate, budget, required features and visual style.


Ξ Benefits of uPVC windows:

» Extremely affordable

uPVC is without question the most cost-effective window material currently available to homeowners today. Despite their original reputation as being a 'cheap and cheerful' solution for lower economic areas, modern uPVC windows deliver great visuals and performance at an affordable price point.

» Very little maintenance needed

uPVC window frames are continuously praised for their exceedingly low maintenance qualities, never needing to be re-painted, tended or buffed to stay looking great. Should the frame ever become dirtied, it only takes a simple wipe down to restore the window to its former glory and will never be at risk of corroding.

» Highly durable and secure

Being manufactured from plastic, uPVC windows are heavily durable so that they can be adapted to almost any shape or size. This is achieved whilst still retaining the frame’s natural hardness, making it extremely difficult to break into or damage. uPVC windows provide great design options as well as being very secure.

» Great insulation for a warmer home

uPVC windows boast multi-chambered frames to better trap the warm air already present in the home. This means a home is able to stay warmer for longer, whilst providing great energy efficiency and insulation qualities also.


Ξ Benefits of wooden windows:

» Traditionally authentic for indistinguishable visuals

One of the biggest advantages of timber windows are unquestionably their authentic visuals capable of replicating their original traditional style. If you live in a heritage-style property, timber frames can help retain your home’s sense of charm and elegance whilst being high performance also.

» Naturally thermally efficient

Timber is a naturally insulating material and as such deliver exceptional thermal efficiency when compared to aluminium frames that have to be enhanced further. Even without additional glazing options, timber frames are able to bring impressively low U-values to any style of home, more than making up for their asking price.

» An expected lifespan of half a decade

Whereas the average lifespan of a uPVC window is expected to last no longer than 30 years, timber windows made to Wood Window Alliance standards can last anything up to 60 years, making it a worthwhile investment. In all tests undertaken by the relevant authorities, timber windows had a service life of at least twice that of uPVC windows.

» Customisable colouring

Unlike both uPVC and aluminium window frames, timber is the only window frame material that can be repainted over time, meaning that if you wish to customise their visual style every couple of years or so, it’s entirely possible.


Ξ Benefits of aluminium framed windows:

» Slim sightlines for uninterrupted views

When compared to other window styles that can sometimes suffer from thick or chunky window sashes, aluminium frames offer homeowners exceedingly slim sightlines to make for some impressive views of the outside.

» Sustainable and eco-friendly

For those looking to reduce the carbon footprint of their home, aluminium windows are the ideal choice. It’s a window material that can be easily recycled for other applications after use and utilises the least amount of energy to produce when compared to either uPVC or timber.

» Available in hundreds of finishes

Aluminium windows are generally coloured using a powder coating process meaning that they can effectively be coloured to hundreds of available RAL colours relatively easily. For those living in traditional properties but still wanting to benefit from the robustness of aluminium, the window’s frames can even be wrapped in an authentic woodgrain style.

» The strongest window material

Because aluminium naturally has an impressive strength-to-weight ratio, aluminium frames are able to accommodate larger panes of glass, a big reason as to why they’re chosen for large scale commercial projects. More glass also means that more light will be able to enter the home, brightening any room’s mood and atmosphere instantly.


Ξ Composite windows – the best features of all materials in one window

Composite windows represent the latest development in window profile design, originally being engineered for the chilly climates of Scandinavia and Canada. As such, they are specifically designed to reduce heat loss as much as possible. Composite windows incorporate two or more materials to offer multiple benefits. Some of them are made using aluminium-clad timber for naturally insulating frames and a weatherproof exterior. Other composite windows have a uPVC core instead.

At Newview, all window products can be made to specific colours, styles and sizes so that they match your property’s existing features. Whether you opt for aluminium, uPVC or timber, we can supply and install windows designed to your exact style requirements.