uPVC and aluminium windows and doors

PVC or aluminium windows: a quick comparison

Both materials make good windows when the profile and installation are right. The choice depends on the size of the openings, the type of building and how you want the façade to look.

• PVC windows. Good insulation at an affordable price and easy care. Suitable for most windows and balcony doors in houses and flats.
• Aluminium windows. Stronger and with slimmer profiles, so they allow large panes, sliding doors and shopfronts. For heated rooms, thermally broken profiles are used.
• A mix. Many houses have both: PVC for the ordinary windows and aluminium for the large sliding door to the terrace or for a shopfront.

What makes a good window

When comparing quotes, don't look at the material alone. A window's quality comes from several parts working together:

• The profile. With PVC, the depth, the number of chambers and the steel reinforcement inside matter. With aluminium, the key question is whether the profile has a thermal break.
• The glazing unit. Double or triple, and the glass coating and the spacer between the panes matter too. It is the largest surface of the window and has the biggest effect on warmth.
• The hardware. The mechanism that opens, locks and presses the sash against the frame. Good hardware can be adjusted and lasts thousands of openings.
• The seals. The rubber seals on the sash and frame stop draughts and noise.
• The installation. Even the best window will be draughty if it's fitted badly. What matters is how it's fixed in the opening and how the joint between frame and wall is sealed.

What drives the price of windows

We don't give a price per square metre without a site visit, because the same square metre costs different amounts depending on what it contains. The price of PVC and aluminium windows depends on:

• the material and profile system;
• the type of glazing unit;
• the size and shape of the windows: small windows cost more per square metre, and unusual shapes take more work;
• how they open: fixed, tilt-and-turn or sliding;
• the colour: white is the simplest option, while anthracite and wood-effect finishes are laminated;
• extras such as insect screens, blinds and window sills;
• removing the old windows and the amount of work around the opening;
• the floor, access and the number of windows in the order.

What to check in a quote

Two quotes for “the same” windows often differ because they include different things. Before comparing, check:

• which profile system and glazing unit are offered;
• whether removing and disposing of the old windows is included;
• whether making good the reveals inside is included or left to you;
• whether inside sills, outside sills and insect screens are included;
• how the installation joint between frame and wall will be sealed.

Care and adjustment of windows

PVC and aluminium windows don't need painting and are easy to look after. A few habits make them last longer:

• Wash the profiles with water and a mild cleaner, without abrasives or solvents.
• Once or twice a year, lubricate the moving parts of the hardware and clean the seals.
• Keep the drainage holes at the bottom of the frame clear.
• If a window becomes draughty or catches, don't force it. On most systems the hardware can be adjusted, and on many you can also set how firmly the sash presses on the frame: tighter for winter, looser for summer.

How an order with us works

We make every window to the size of its opening, so the work always starts on site:

• Enquiry. Write to us through the quote form or call, and tell us how many and which windows and doors you want to replace.
• Free site visit. We measure every opening separately and check the wall and the old windows.
• Quote. You get a quote describing the profile, glazing, opening type and extras.
• Production. The windows and doors are made to the exact sizes.
• Installation. We remove the old windows, fit the new ones and adjust the sashes.

Windows in Ruse, Shumen, Razgrad, Silistra and Dobrich

Our showroom is in Ruse, at bul. Lipnik 135, where you can see profiles and samples. From there we come for site visits all over North-East Bulgaria: Ruse and the surrounding area, Razgrad, Shumen, Silistra, Dobrich, Varna and Veliko Tarnovo, and the rest of the country too. The visit and the quote are free.

Before starting in Bulgaria we worked for more than 15 years in Germany and the Netherlands, and we care about precise measuring and clean installation. If you're looking for PVC windows in Ruse or aluminium windows for a house in the region, book a free site visit. You'll find a detailed comparison of the two materials in the article PVC or aluminium windows, and for aluminium see also what a thermal break is.