The specification differences that justify an aluminium price, and the cases where they don't.
Aluminium windows almost always quote higher than uPVC of the same size. That gap is not arbitrary — it comes from the frame system, the finish and what the material lets you do structurally.
This guide explains what the premium buys so you can decide whether it is worth it on your project, opening by opening.
The price difference is concentrated in a few places:
On standard-sized openings where the frame is largely hidden by reveals, curtains or a deep sill, the visual benefit of aluminium is small and modern uPVC performs very well thermally.
We'll happily quote both side by side on the same openings so the comparison is real rather than theoretical.
Colour choice (standard RAL vs special), dual-colour finishes, opener count, glass spec and whether the system is a residential or commercial-grade suite all move the figure. Ask which suite is being quoted, not just 'aluminium'.
We'll quote both, itemised, so you can see exactly what the difference buys you.
Modern thermally broken aluminium systems perform very differently from the unbroken frames of decades ago. The thermal break is the detail that matters — ask for it explicitly.
Yes, dual-colour powder coating is available on most systems, usually at a modest premium.
Very little beyond cleaning the frames and lubricating hardware. The powder-coated finish does not need painting.