Drive through Hale, Bowdon, Didsbury or Alderley Edge and the renovations all share a look. Slim, dark frames. Big, clean panes of glass. Aluminium has become the default at the premium end of the Greater Manchester market, first on architect-designed extensions and now, increasingly, on whole-house replacements.
We fabricate both aluminium and uPVC in Trafford Park, so we've no horse in this race. What's driving the switch, and is it worth the premium for your home? Let's take it piece by piece.
The sightline advantage
Aluminium is roughly three times stiffer than uPVC, and that stiffness is the whole story. Frames can be far slimmer while carrying bigger, heavier glass. Where a uPVC frame might show 70mm or more of visible profile, aluminium does the same structural job in far less, which means more glass, more light and that unmistakably modern look. On large openings such as picture windows, gable glazing and corner glass, uPVC simply can't compete. It isn't a style preference. It's engineering.
Colour that stays put
Powder-coated aluminium is the reason anthracite grey conquered Britain's building sites. The finish is baked onto the metal, it's UV-stable, and it comes in 250+ RAL colours including textured and metallic options. You can even run one colour outside to suit the street and another inside to suit the room. Foiled uPVC relies on a laminated skin; powder coat doesn't, and a scratched frame can be professionally touched in.
Is aluminium cold? The performance question
The old objection was fair once. Aluminium windows from the 1970s and 80s were freezing, because bare metal conducts heat brilliantly and in exactly the wrong direction. Modern frames solve this with thermal breaks, insulating polyamide barriers inside the profile that separate the inner metal from the outer. A quality thermally broken aluminium window with A-rated glazing now matches uPVC for U-values, and gets down to 0.8 W/m²K with triple glazing. The 'aluminium is cold' line is twenty years out of date. Do make sure any quote specifies a genuine thermal break, though.
Aluminium vs uPVC at a glance
| Factor | Aluminium | uPVC |
|---|---|---|
| Frame sightlines | Slim, more glass | Chunkier |
| Max pane size | Very large | Limited by rigidity |
| Colour range & stability | 250+ RAL, excellent | Good, narrower range |
| Lifespan | 40+ years | 25-35 years |
| Thermal performance | Excellent (thermally broken) | Excellent |
| Typical cost premium | +30-50% vs uPVC | Value benchmark |
The full comparison, including where uPVC genuinely wins, lives in our aluminium vs uPVC guide.
Why the premium market moved first
- Architects specify it. Slim sightlines and big glass are the modern design language, and aluminium is how you get them. See why architects choose slimline aluminium.
- It matches the doors. Bifolds and big sliders are almost always aluminium, so matching windows in the same powder-coat colour complete the look.
- Longevity pays at the top end. On a £750k house, windows that last 40+ years and hold their colour are an investment rather than a cost.
- Value protection. Buyers in premium postcodes now expect aluminium. On a high-value modern home, uPVC can actually read as a corner cut.
What aluminium windows cost in Manchester
Budget roughly £650-£1,200 per window fitted depending on size, spec and colour, with whole-house projects on larger homes typically £8,000-£18,000. Local fabrication matters more with aluminium than with anything else we make. Because we manufacture in Trafford Park, made-to-measure frames arrive in weeks rather than the 10-12 week lead times common with imported systems, and any remake or adjustment happens minutes away instead of going back through an importer. Every frame is PAS 24 security rated, carries a 10-year guarantee, and is installed by our own teams across Greater Manchester and Cheshire.
Where uPVC still wins
We make both, so we can afford to be straight about this. Aluminium isn't automatically the answer. On a standard-sized casement in a traditional street, quality uPVC delivers essentially identical thermal performance for 30-50% less money, and in white it's arguably the more authentic look for plenty of period and post-war homes. Rentals, budget-led renovations and sheltered elevations rarely justify the premium. Aluminium earns its keep on homes with large glass areas, contemporary design, dark colour schemes, or owners planning to stay for decades. And mixing the two, aluminium on the statement elevations with uPVC everywhere else, is a perfectly sensible way to have both.
Whichever way you lean, insist on the same fundamentals. A genuine thermal break if it's aluminium. A-rated glazing or better. PAS 24 security and a written 10-year guarantee. The material is a style and longevity decision; those four aren't up for negotiation.
Seeing is deciding
Brochures flatten the difference between materials. Corner samples don't. Before committing either way, hold a thermally broken aluminium profile next to a uPVC one. Feel the rigidity. Look at powder coat beside foil, and check the sightlines against a tape measure. We bring samples to every survey across Greater Manchester because five minutes with the real thing settles arguments that weeks of online research never will. And if your street is full of period bays rather than picture windows, ask about our heritage and flush options in both materials. The right window suits the house, not the trend.
Frequently asked questions
Are aluminium windows worth the extra cost over uPVC?
For large openings, modern designs and premium homes, usually yes. You get slimmer frames, bigger glass, better colour stability and a 40+ year lifespan. For a standard home on a budget, quality uPVC gives similar thermal performance for less.
Are aluminium windows cold or prone to condensation?
Not modern ones. Thermally broken profiles insulate the inner frame from the outer, so U-values sit on par with uPVC. Condensation on aluminium frames is the signature of old windows without a thermal break.
How long do aluminium windows last?
40+ years is realistic. Powder-coated aluminium doesn't rot, warp or discolour, and the frames typically outlive two generations of sealed units. Coastal-grade coatings stretch that further in exposed spots.
What colours do aluminium windows come in?
Effectively any RAL colour. We offer 250+, including anthracite, black, bronze, textured and metallic finishes, and you can have different colours inside and out if you want them.
Can you match aluminium windows to bifold doors?
Yes. Same system, same powder-coat batch, same sightlines. Matching windows and doors across an extension is one of the most common jobs on our production line.
Do aluminium windows need maintenance?
Very little. A wash with soapy water twice a year and a drop of silicone lubricant on hinges and locks does it. Powder coat never needs painting, and unlike timber there's nothing to sand, fill or treat. Our aluminium maintenance guide covers the whole routine in ten minutes a season.
Are aluminium windows secure?
Extremely. The frame's rigidity resists prying better than any other common material, and our frames carry PAS 24 certification with multi-point locking as standard. Laminated glass upgrades make ground-floor glazing tougher still.
Fancy slim frames and big glass?
We fabricate thermally broken aluminium windows in Manchester to any RAL colour, PAS 24 rated, with a 10-year guarantee. Send over your plans or photos for a straight quote, and a straight answer on where uPVC would do the same job for less.
Call 07533 830717, WhatsApp us a photo for a fast quote, or request a free quote online.