The material used for a window frame affects its appearance, proportions, maintenance requirements, performance and cost. There is no single material that makes sense for every home.
This guide looks at the main window materials and systems available, including uPVC, aluminium and timber alternative options, and explains the practical differences worth considering before you choose.
Choosing replacement windows involves more than deciding which style looks best. The material, glazing, energy performance, security, opening configuration, colour and character of your property can all influence what makes sense.
This buying guide brings those decisions together in one place. Use the sections below to understand your options, compare the things that matter and work through the process at your own pace before deciding what is right for your home.
A good replacement window should suit the property as well as the person living in it.
For some homeowners, improving warmth and reducing draughts is the priority. Others are replacing windows as part of a renovation and care more about proportions, colour and maintaining the character of the house. Security, maintenance and budget can be equally important.
That is why there is no single window type we would recommend for every property.
Before getting caught up in individual specifications, think about what you want your new windows to change. Are the existing windows difficult to operate? Does the house feel cold around them? Are you unhappy with their appearance? Are you renovating a period property, or trying to create something much more contemporary?
Once you know what matters most, comparing the options becomes considerably easier.
Continue: Choosing the Right Windows →
Window style affects both the appearance of your home and how each opening works.
Casement windows remain a versatile choice for many properties, while flush windows create a cleaner external appearance that can work particularly well where more understated frame lines are wanted. Sliding sash windows provide very different proportions and operation, and bay or bow windows can become an architectural feature in their own right.
There are also situations where aluminium, timber alternative systems or secondary glazing make more sense than a conventional replacement window.
Rather than deciding based on photographs alone, it helps to understand how each style opens, where it tends to work well and what compromises come with it.
Explore Window Styles →
Material affects much more than how the frame looks.
uPVC is widely used because it offers a practical combination of performance, maintenance and choice. Aluminium allows slimmer-looking profiles and has particular advantages for some larger or more contemporary openings. Timber alternative systems are designed for homeowners who want more traditional detailing without taking on the maintenance associated with conventional timber.
There is no universal winner between them.
The right choice depends on the property, the appearance you are trying to achieve, the window configuration and your budget.
Compare Window Materials →
Replacing older windows can improve the thermal performance of a home, but it is worth looking beyond simple claims about double or triple glazing.
The glass is only one part of a window. Frame construction, glazing specification, seals, ventilation and the quality of the installation all contribute to how the finished window performs.
Our energy efficiency guide explains the terminology and the figures worth paying attention to without expecting you to become a glazing engineer first.
Understand Window Energy Efficiency →
Modern replacement windows can incorporate several layers of security, from locking hardware and frame construction through to the glazing itself.
It is easy to focus on the number of locking points advertised, but window security is better considered as a complete system. The specification needs to be appropriate, and the finished window also needs to be correctly fitted into the property.
Read the Window Security Guide →
Not every room necessarily needs exactly the same glass specification.
Privacy may matter in a bathroom, noise reduction might be more important beside a busy road, and other rooms may benefit from considering solar gain, safety requirements or decorative glazing.
Understanding the available options means you can specify glazing because it solves a problem rather than simply choosing whatever appears on a standard quotation.
Explore Glass & Glazing →
Windows form a significant part of the exterior of most homes, so colour deserves more thought than simply choosing between white and grey.
Brick, stone, render, roof coverings, doors and existing architectural details can all influence what works. Depending on the window system, different internal and external finishes may also be possible.
For older properties in particular, frame proportions and finish can matter just as much as colour.
Explore Window Colours & Finishes →
Most straightforward replacement window projects do not involve the same planning considerations as an extension or new building, but that does not mean restrictions never apply.
Listed buildings, conservation areas and properties subject to particular planning conditions can require considerably more care, especially where the appearance, material or proportions of the existing windows are changing.
If there is any uncertainty, it is much better to establish the position before ordering.
Read About Planning & Conservation →
There is a reason meaningful window quotations normally require more information than the number of windows in the house.
Frame material, size, opening configuration, glazing, hardware, colour, access and installation complexity can all affect the eventual cost.
This also makes headline price comparisons difficult. Two quotations that appear to cover the same number of windows may not actually specify the same product or installation.
Our costs guide explains what tends to affect the price and what to compare when looking at quotations.
Understand Window Costs →
Some mistakes are obvious afterwards but surprisingly easy to make beforehand.
Choosing entirely on price, comparing quotations without comparing specifications, overlooking how a window will actually open in the room or changing the character of an older property unnecessarily can all lead to regret.
A little more consideration before ordering is considerably easier than trying to change something once the windows are installed.
Common Window Buying Mistakes →
You should understand what you are buying before committing to it.
That includes the window system, glazing specification, hardware, guarantees, installation, ventilation requirements, finishes and exactly what is included within the quotation.
You do not need to know every technical term yourself. You do need to be comfortable asking what something means when it is not clear.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing Windows →
This guide is designed so you do not have to digest everything at once. Start with whichever decision is most relevant to your project and work through the rest when you need it.
If you already know which type of window you are interested in, you can also explore our individual window ranges, including casement, flush, sliding sash, timber alternative, bay and bow, aluminium and secondary glazing.
