Top 10 Things to Know About Aluminum Windows

When it comes to our kit-of-parts for a residential project, one of the most important components is the aluminum window package. We use aluminum windows for a bunch of reasons: they’re extremely functional, maintenance free, and complement the attenuated clean lines of modern design. They’re more expensive than vinyl (thumbs-down), but much more cost-effective than wood or steel windows. Certain aluminum window packages also meet the new, stringent energy code here in Washington State. For all of these reasons, we’ve been using Marlin’s 1505 series AT-17 fixed, casement and awning windows for several years now. As far as finishes go, we like the clear anodized aluminum; the bronze anodized aluminum is also a nice look under the right circumstances. These profiles and finishes also do a nice job of matching the other aluminum components we specify like garage doors, sliding doors and accordion doors. While these decisions and specifications produce a successful window package, there are number of additional considerations that lead to a successful end result. Here are our top 10: 1. The window panes are more energy efficient than the aluminum frames; therefore the more vertical and horizontal breaks a window has, the less energy efficient it is. We believe that the potential energy loss through the frame is more than offset by the durability, low maintenance and clean aesthetic…. http://blog.buildllc.com/2012/12/top-10-things-to-know-about-aluminum-windows/