Replacing your frames: The factors to consider before your final decision

Weather Conditions

One of the most important factors to consider before purchasing window and door frames are the weather conditions at your home's location. Areas with strong winds, heavy rainfall, or proximity to the sea require frames that can withstand potential damage. That’s why you need a system that not only stands the test of time but also offers high levels of watertightness and wind load resistance. If your home is in a region with extreme temperatures—either very hot or very cold—investing in frames with high thermal insulation performance is essential to prevent energy loss. For houses in coastal areas, aluminium systems that have undergone anodizing or pre-anodizing treatment are a safe and highly reliable choice, providing long-term protection for the frames.

Light in the space

Natural light is crucial, as it can enhance the interior and positively impact the mood of the residents. If your room has large openings, selecting frames that allow light to enter unobstructed is ideal. In this case, aluminium systems are the most suitable, as they can support structures with a minimal design while maintaining the necessary robustness and stability. Additionally, if controlled shading is desired, it's important to explore shading system options that complement your new frames, ensuring the final result meets your needs.

Get inspired and get ideas for systems that enhance natural lighting in your space.

Enhanced security

Windows and balcony doors are potential entry points into your space. It’s therefore essential to prioritize choosing frames that provide security against potential burglary risks. In this case, it’s important to be informed about the certifications of the frame systems you select and confirm whether they have undergone internationally required burglary resistance tests.

Finally, it is worth noting that what is important in the field of security is not to find a completely inviolable system, as such a system does not exist. However, what really makes the big difference is the resistance the system can offer against any would-be burglar, as well as the amount of time it will take them to breach it. The higher the system's performance in these areas, the less likely it is that any attempted intrusion will succeed, thus enhancing the residents' sense of security.

The importance of the glass

Glass panes occupy the largest portion of your window or door frame system, making them a key factor in its overall performance, including thermal insulation, sound insulation, and anti-burglary protection.

Here too, our choices vary, depending on our needs and budget. We can choose from single, double, or triple glazing, as well as energy-efficient or impact-resistant glass panes. Regardless of the selected frame, the accompanying glass is crucial to the system's overall performance.

Aesthetic that captivates

Besides technical characteristics that are key in choosing the right window frames, the aesthetics of our space are just as important as a selection factor. So, we need to decide if we want classic or minimal lines, hinged or sliding windows, and with which color shade we wish to proceed. Aluminium or wooden window frames allow for customization to achieve the desired result, while the choice of plastic limits our options in this area.

Regarding color, if we want earth tones, we can choose wood (though this requires significant care and maintenance to preserve the original hue), composite wood, or sublimation, a method of surface treatment for aluminium profiles that visually imitates wooden surfaces. Finally, if we want a wider range of colors, aluminium frames offer a broad palette, because it is a material that can undergo a variety of painting treatments.

Evaluation of the investment budget

The financial aspect of the decision is crucial and will likely determine the outcome of our search. Since we typically buy new frames once or twice in our lifetime, it is wise to base our decision on a long-term plan.

For more cost-effective solutions, we can opt for aluminium frames with basic thermal insulation or plastic frames—though even within plastic options, costs can vary depending on specific features.

For mid to high-price range solutions, which combine high performance with elegant design, we can consider either wooden constructions or advanced thermally insulating aluminium frames.

If you’re aiming for a minimal aesthetic, the latest aluminium systems, which marry top quality with modern lines, are perfect for contemporary constructions with large openings. These options deliver impressive results while maintaining high standards in thermal performance, sound reduction, watertightness, and robustness.

Furthermore, it’s important to note that investing in aluminium systems helps protect the environment, as aluminium is an infinitely recyclable material. This capability makes it particularly eco-friendly, as 95% less energy is required to produce secondary aluminium (resulting from recycling, scrap sorting and recasting) compared to the primary one.

One step before the final decision

Choosing new frames is a complex process that involves carefully weighing multiple factors to find the perfect match for our needs.

The key to making the right purchase decision lies in knowing where to focus our attention and understanding the essential details. The more informed we are about the options, the better equipped we’ll be to choose the most suitable frame system.

*In the "Aesthetics that Captivate" section, photos from the Lap Pool House project, posted on alumil.com, were used.