Gray windows compared to white windows as well as blinds and motors

Hello,

actually our soon-to-be-built city villa was supposed to get the typical color scheme. White facade and anthracite-colored windows and roof.

But now you read a lot that these windows cause problems here and there. For example, they get significantly warmer than white windows (70 vs. 40 degrees in summer). They apparently warp relatively often. Additionally, it feels like every second house has them.

Our first alternative was simply to reverse the scheme. So white windows and instead a nice gray for the facade and the roof. This saves the cost of the foil, but on the other hand, you have costs for the facade. In total, the savings would be around €1,000.

A second option would be to design the roof and windows in gray and the facade again in white. Does anyone here in the forum have this? How do gray windows behave in terms of heat, deformation, durability (color)?

Also, after having informed myself a thousand times but not really becoming any wiser, is the issue of blinds.

My parents swear by aluminum, the parents-in-law have no complaints with PVC either. Sometimes you read this, sometimes that again. You also must not forget that today's PVC blinds are certainly different from those 20 years ago. That can be positive or negative.

The surcharge is anyway just under €2,000. I find that totally okay for the number of windows. Of course, I only want to pay that if aluminum is indeed higher quality, i.e., lasts significantly longer or simply looks nicer over the years.

For the electric motors, I would have to pay almost €300 surcharge per window. Both parents say you can save that. Both have heard of negative experiences regarding durability from acquaintances. What do you think about this?

Many thanks!

I was an aluminum window manufacturer and can confirm from my own perspective that aluminum windows still look brand new after 40 years. The surface quality feel remains unchanged for the first three – possibly even five – years, but after about fifteen years you want to replace PVC windows because the plasticizers become visibly depleted. Roller shutters were never a priority for us, whether built-in or supplied, so I have little to say about them.

Aluminum windows cost about price index 120, but they are not a price-competitive product, while discounters love PVC. In practice, the price ratio is therefore more like 120:80 rather than 120:100. I therefore understand the popularity of PVC but recommend mixing: aluminum for the south side, large and street-facing elements (lift-and-slide doors, front doors). By the way, there is no extra effort with aluminum to choose a different color on the inside. Color does not necessarily mean foil coating with PVC either, although I only know of a different approach from Gealan. However, that does not solve the grayness problem.

But now you often read that these very windows cause problems here and there. For example, they become significantly warmer than white windows (70 vs. 40 degrees in summer). They apparently warp quite often.

Yes, that happens, but it also depends on the manufacturer of the windows. With some, loud cracking occurs when the windows expand.

So

My parents swear by aluminum, the parents-in-law have no complaints about PVC either.

Here it also depends on the slat and how it is made. Foamed or not, etc.
Aluminum, of course, "stays fresh" longer; PVC fades and becomes dull.

For the electric motors, I would have to pay almost €300 extra per window. Both parents, however, say that you can save yourself that. Both have heard negative experiences regarding durability through acquaintances. What do you think about this?

€300 is, IMHO, okay for electrification. It usually includes not only the motor but also switches, wiring, additional circuits, and breakers.

And especially with many windows, I wouldn't want to keep burning down the house continuously by constantly raising and lowering the roller shutters.

Electrified, it basically runs by itself. Either according to the position of the sun and/or time schedules. Central control stations are also possible, and with modern houses, automatic shading is often simply necessary to keep the heat outside.