As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, home and business owners are trying to do their part in protecting our little blue planet with more sustainable and eco-friendly options for their homes and workplaces. With advancements in furniture, doors, and windows, it has become entirely possible to have spaces that combine aesthetic beauty and functionality while minimising the environmental footprint.
A byproduct of these advancements is alu-clad timber doors and windows. Timber is among the most popular options for door and window solutions, as it’s naturally beautiful and warm, and when you combine that with the durability and low maintenance of aluminium, you get a perfect mixture for your home or office.
What Is an Alu-Clad Timber System?
Alu-clad timber doors and windows are made by using a sustainably-sourced timber base that’s cladded, or covered, with a slim powder-coated aluminium sash profile. With this system, you get the best of both worlds with the popular timber windows and an added bonus of the insulation and sturdiness of aluminium that extends the shelf life of your windows by decades, protecting your windows from various weather conditions and strains.
Alu-Clad Systems Protect Your Space and the Environment
If you care about sustainability and eco-friendly solutions, then the alu-clad system is perfect for you. The internal timber base of alu-clad doors and windows is sourced from FSC-certified forests, meaning you can rest easy knowing the trees where your wood came from were responsibly harvested, and many suppliers like okoHaus have the Chain of Custody certification that enables you to pinpoint the exact harvest the timber for your door or window came from.
As for the aluminium part, it’s usually made from recycled aluminium that has a far lesser carbon footprint, as saves more energy to produce than primary aluminium. In this case, alu-clad options become significantly more eco-friendly than other materials such as uPVC (Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride).
Alu-Clad Systems Are Energy Efficient
The timber and aluminium elements of alu-clad windows and doors work in tandem to insulate your space and provide protection against weather conditions, but because aluminium itself is not the most thermally efficient material, manufacturers such as Velfac have added thermal breaks into their window frames for triple-glazed windows, ensuring maximum insulation to keep you warm in the winter months.
As energy saving and climate change are becoming more concerning topics, not only would you be saving your environment, but you would also be saving more money on energy bills in the long term with your energy-efficient doors and windows.
Save on Maintenance with the Durable Alu-Clad System
There’s nothing worse than having to repair your doors and windows every so often, but thankfully, the aluminium cladding of alu-clad systems relieves you of that headache with their durability, saving you lots of money on repairs in the process. On the other hand, while the timber frame may need some painting or staining work every now and then, you will still be calling for maintenance far less than with traditional windows and doors.
Customise Your Alu-Clad Systems for Even Better Aesthetics
Other than the versatility, sustainability, and durability of alu-clad windows and doors, beauty and aesthetics are a major component. The timber provides a classic and warm aesthetic that goes well with aluminium’s more modern and rigid look, and that goes for several styles of windows and doors like casement windows, sliding doors, and bi-fold doors. Of course, you can also customise your doors and windows with different colour options to fit any interior design you pick for your home or office.
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To sum up, alu-clad doors and windows combine beauty, durability, sustainability, and energy efficiency into one system that is sure to upgrade the look and feel of your home or workspace. Choosing the alu-clad system not only benefits the now but also the future for years to come with less maintenance for you and less carbon footprint for our planet. Think of a green, convenient, and versatile solution, and you get alu-clad.
Alu-Clad Timber Windows and Doors FAQs
What are alu-clad windows? Windows with an external aluminium capping/surface. They are generally timber internally. Timber is a great sustainable building material and highly thermal, and the external aluminium cladding helps to protect the timber from weather, massively decreasing the amount of maintenance required.
What are eco-friendly windows? Products made from sustainable materials (certified timber being a renewable resource) that achieve low U values (high thermal performance). They are available in various designs and finishes to complement your home perfectly while reducing your energy costs, with low environmental impact.
Are uPVC windows eco-friendly? uPVC is a product of the oil industry, so is not sustainable. It's a finite resource and requires mining or drilling as well as further processing to make uPVC. uPVC windows have a shorter service life when compared to timber and aluminium doors and windows, so will likely need to be replaced more frequently.
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