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Product Comparisons · Flagship guide
Choose by building, not by material. Aluminium suits large openings and slim sightlines, timber suits period and high-end joinery contexts, and modern uPVC suits ordinary openings where value matters.
Written by Windows in the Lakes · A trading name of Home Glazing Ltd · Last reviewed 21 September 2026
In short: aluminium is the right answer where openings are large, sightlines should be slim and the finish must last on an exposed elevation. Timber — including aluminium-clad timber — is the right answer where the building wants depth, warmth and traditional profiles. Modern uPVC is the right answer where openings are modest, the frame is barely seen and the budget is better spent elsewhere.
We install all three families, which is why this guide is not written to push one of them. The most expensive mistake in glazing is a material chosen before the building has been looked at.
| Aluminium | Timber / aluclad | uPVC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sightlines | Slimmest of the three | Deeper, with traditional profiles available | Widest, though flush systems have improved |
| Large openings | Strongest — the natural choice | Good, especially in aluclad | Limited; needs reinforcing and heavier frames |
| Maintenance | Wash down | Aluclad washes down; exposed timber needs a finishing cycle | Wash down |
| Thermal performance | Good with a well-engineered thermal break | Best in class in timber and aluclad | Good |
| Heritage suitability | Depends on the profile; heritage ranges exist | Usually the easiest to get approved | Case by case, and often resisted in sensitive contexts |
| Appearance indoors | Engineered and minimal | Warm and tactile | Functional |
| Relative cost | Higher | Higher, and highest in aluclad triple | Lower |
Regulatory and technical points in this guide should be checked against the current published guidance below, and against the specific circumstances of your property.
Guidance last reviewed 21 September 2026 by Windows in the Lakes
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Flagship guide · 8 min read
Aluminium and modern timber-look uPVC are both good materials. The right choice depends on the age and style of your house, your budget, and how the frames will be used, not on which one is fashionable.
Product Comparisons · 4 min read
Choose aluminium for the slimmest sightlines and largest panes; choose timber-look uPVC such as the Residence Collection for the most convincing painted-timber appearance at a lower cost.
Product Comparisons · 3 min read
Often not — and we will tell you when. Aluminium earns its premium on large openings, slim sightlines and exposed finishes, not on a row of standard casements.
Product Comparisons · 5 min read
Aluminium is exceptionally capable, but material capability is not the same as suitability for every building.
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