Plastic windows - vs. windows with aluminum cladding

The plastic windows are basically finished after 40 years, right?

Then you are 70 and no longer worry about the windows in the house you may have sold 20 years earlier.

A roof and the windows – that should somehow last a lifetime...

What do you think about our thesis?

Both are consumable goods. Buying cheap means buying twice. But planning for 60+ years with a lot of extra cost seems nonsense to me. If the budget is big enough, then gladly.

Then you’re 70 and no longer worry about the windows in the house you might have sold 20 years earlier. Both are utility items. Buying cheap means buying twice. But planning for 60+ years with a big premium is nonsense in my opinion. If the budget is large enough, then sure.

Well, if I buy vinyl-clad plastic windows twice, I’m certainly significantly more expensive than buying aluminum windows once... The premium for aluminum windows is not that huge. I also have the advantage that aluminum windows look much "nicer" after 20-30 years than vinyl-clad plastic windows. If this is our house for life, I will certainly still think about new windows at 60-70 if I live there another 10-20 years. We live much longer nowadays. I already see it with my dad... He’s now 70, in great shape, full of energy, and is still working on improving/changing things in the house.

Well, if I buy 2x foil-coated plastic windows, I am certainly much more expensive off than with 1x aluminum window... The surcharge for aluminum windows is not that huge.

PVC 100% and aluminum 180%

Well, I’m not just thinking twice about that, but now I’m spending my money on what I consider more sensible nicer things. Or mix PSK/HSK + front door made of aluminum, the rest "plastic" (like almost all house residents)

Well, I don’t just think twice about it, but now spend my money on what I consider more sensible nicer things. Or mix PSK/HSK + front door made of aluminum, the rest "plastic" (like almost all the residents)

Yes, I actually see a big problem with the PSK as well.

The front door was never an issue for us; we would never in our lives take a plastic door.

With the PSK, one could really consider upgrading for sure.

But how does that look aesthetically? PSK made of aluminum and the rest of the windows made of plastic?

The statement about "plastic" (like almost all the residents) pretty much says it all!! Why should I take what all the other residents do?

The current mass of building owners really struggles with money, which is why the general contractors know exactly that an aluminum window in the standard range is far too expensive and can never be sold to the masses. Today’s building owners value a beautiful stove, an open gallery, large glass elements, or other things much more, but make compromises when it comes to quality (for whatever reason...). More value is placed on consumption and people prefer to save on such things, as long as the house is cheap.

In principle, we are not really like that... However, of course, the general contractors also suggest that plastic windows are completely sufficient and of great quality, so no builder deals with this topic anymore (as long as there’s no extra cost). That makes it really difficult for us to decide on this matter. I would like to have honest opinions and know if indeed after 30-40 years I will face additional costs in the form of new windows because these plastic windows don’t last that long, or if I can safely go for them and save myself the extra cost of aluminum windows.

As you rightly say... You prefer to spend the money on "nicer things," we also actually prefer in that regard to spend it on "more sensible things."

We actually have this crazy, nowadays old-fashioned and unrealistic idea that we will live in this house our whole life. That might be why our thought processes are completely different from yours, for example.

What does it look like visually then?

I don’t find it dramatic if this small area (frame) shimmers slightly differently than the rest.

Today’s clients place much more value on a nice stove, an open gallery, large glass elements or something else, but make compromises in terms of quality (for whatever reason...)

I don’t see plastic windows as a compromise in quality. VW or Porsche. Both have high quality. Then rather the Passat and additionally the camper van than the Cayenne (to stay with that example)

I would like to have honest opinions and know whether actually additional costs in the form of new windows will come up for me in 30-40 years

Nobody can tell you that. But why should new windows be on the agenda? Just because the frame maybe doesn’t look as good compared to the aluminum window? I know more than enough windows, e.g. from the 80s (also in my own rental properties), that still work wonderfully today. Replacement only for energetic reasons. But I would do that also with aluminum or wooden windows of the same age. Normal windows = plastic / special features like very large elements/PSK/HSK etc. in aluminum.

You prefer to spend the money on “prettier things,” we actually prefer to spend it on “more sensible things.”

Of course I see that differently. Both variants work well over a long time. Yours is just the significantly more expensive one. Therefore, I would rather classify it as economical and uneconomical. Both are sensible.

Experience report, after the sampling it was clear to us, windows and patio doors made of PVC, front door not. Searched the internet, German manufacturer, mid-range RC3, desired look, €2,800 + installation. General contractor says, I’ll do it for you, €5,800 complete, PVC door, high quality so credit of €1,900. Upon request, he lowered it to €5,300. The result, door out with the general contractor, credit €1,900, and had it done elsewhere for €3,300. One more thing about windows and doors, once a year WD40 and the mechanism lasts forever.