Window: which material?

which material is the best for windows. wood, plastic or metal? wooden windows don't last as long, anyway they need to be painted more often. I have personal experience with plastic windows. they don't seem to be the best quality, but they are cheaper.

is there the "perfect" window material? what have you installed?

Every material is "good" if it is assembled into a good product. Today's plastic windows are of good quality; there is no longer any need to fear profiles sagging over time or yellowing frames. Wooden windows, properly coated, last a very long time; however, certain specifications regarding the type and color tone of the coating in relation to the orientation must be observed. For example, dark-coated windows on a south-facing facade will need to be repainted more often than light window frames.

A good alternative, but more expensive, are wood-aluminum windows. These are protected on the outside with low-maintenance and permanently durable aluminum profiles, while the inside shows the wood.

Technically that may be true, but the most sustainable are still windows made of wood. It is always criticized that one "has to" repaint wood from time to time. The truth is, one "can" repaint wood, unlike windows made of plastic and metal. Wooden windows can be treated with environmentally friendly and water-based [paint and glazing systems], moreover in any color you like. My choice is wooden windows.

As far as sustainability is concerned, plastic windows have caught up. The recycling of white pure PVC profiles has been practiced for a long time. Thus, new plastic windows are made from the resulting granulate, so this is not downcycling. The durability is stated to be 30 years, but wooden windows easily last twice as long. I would always choose wooden windows as well; the feel and appearance are simply beautiful.

There is certainly also the possibility to combine aesthetics and durability. Wood on the inside and plastic on the outside. This way, you save yourself from painting every 2 years and still have a wonderfully romantic look in the rooms. :o

Wooden windows are normally the choice for me. Of course, it also depends on the type of wood; a wooden window made of oak wood does have its price but also a long lifespan. I find the appearance of plastic windows horrible, especially when you use the excuse of painting them maybe once a year.