Timeline for Should I choose PVC or aluminium window frames in a hot, humid climate?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
6 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2014 at 10:10 | vote | accept | Faheem Mitha | ||
| Jun 14, 2014 at 0:41 | comment | added | Kurt Granroth | Anodized aluminium is intended for more durable aesthetic coatings. Its lower thermal conductivity and such actually work against it, due to its differences from the aluminium (it can crack, if the temp changes too much). Aluminium can be made more thermally responsible by inserting a thermal break in the middle of the frame. With the right design, it can get close to the thermal properties of vinyl. Cost becomes a factor, then. | |
| Jun 13, 2014 at 18:14 | comment | added | Faheem Mitha | Is it possible to have a hybrid type setup, by say coating the aluminium with something? Alternatively, the WP article on anodized aluminium says "Anodized coatings have a much lower thermal conductivity and coefficient of linear expansion than aluminium." | |
| Jun 13, 2014 at 17:07 | comment | added | Kurt Granroth | The actual difference depends largely on the size of the frames as well as the internal construction of the frames. In general, though, yes, there will be a notable difference in heat transfer. Aluminium has a heat transfer coefficient of 205 W/mK at 25C whereas PVC is only 0.19 W/mK at the same temperature. Calculate the surface area of all of the aluminium frames and create a conceptual "square" of that size. Assume that there is a hole in your wall that is that size, with little/no insulation. That's the effective result. | |
| Jun 13, 2014 at 15:33 | comment | added | Faheem Mitha | How big an issue is the greater conductivity of aluminium vs the lesser conductivity of PVC in practice? Does it make a big difference if the window frame is exposed to direct sunlight? | |
| Jun 12, 2014 at 23:53 | history | answered | Kurt Granroth | CC BY-SA 3.0 |