Alu-clad vs thermally broken aluminium vs uPVC
Installed per square metre in triple glazing, uPVC costs €650 to €950/m², thermally broken aluminium costs €900 to €1,400/m², and genuine timber-core alu-clad costs €1,000 to €1,500/m². While aluminium and alu-clad sit close in price, alu-clad achieves a lower U-value (0.78 W/m²K vs ~0.95 W/m²K) because solid timber is a natural thermal insulator.
An objective engineering comparison of the three window systems specified on Irish extensions, self-builds and deep retrofits.
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Calculate your alu-clad window package cost
Pick the interior timber finish, your approximate package size, and whether your project is a new self-build or a pre-2011 SEAI grant retrofit.
Estimated supply & fit guide
€15,000 to €26,500
Supply & fit with 13.5% VAT · Triple glazed (Uw 0.78–0.85 W/m²K)
Guide price for a 14-window 4-bed detached or self-build package with factory-painted engineered Nordic pine inside and powder-coated RAL aluminium outside. Includes 44mm–52mm triple glazing, warm-edge spacers and full installation.
Request a written quoteAlu-clad, pure aluminium and triple uPVC compared
| Engineering metric | Scandinavian timber alu-clad | Thermally broken aluminium | Triple-glazed uPVC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed price per window | €1,100 to €2,000 | €700 to €1,550 | €550 to €1,100 |
| Installed price per m² (triple) | €1,000 to €1,500 / m² | €900 to €1,400 / m² | €650 to €950 / m² |
| 3-bed semi (8–10 windows) | €11,000 to €20,000 | €9,000 to €15,500 | €5,800 to €10,200 |
| Whole-window U-value (Uw, triple) | 0.75 to 0.85 W/m²K | 0.90 to 1.10 W/m²K | 0.78 to 0.88 W/m²K |
| Internal frame material & feel | Solid engineered pine or oak (warm to touch) | Powder-coated metal (cooler to touch) | PVC-U extrusion / foil wrap |
| Can you repaint the inside in 20 years? | Yes — sand lightly & repaint any colour | No (factory stove-enamelled) | No (specialist vinyl spray only) |
| Service lifespan | 50 to 60+ years | 45 to 50+ years | 25 to 35 years |
Why the aluminium skin on alu-clad never rots the timber behind it
Homeowners sometimes ask whether water can get trapped between the outer aluminium cladding and the inner timber frame. On a genuine Scandinavian alu-clad system, the extruded aluminium profile is not glued flat against the wood. Instead, it snaps onto nylon turn-buckles that hold the metal 5mm to 8mm clear of the timber face, creating a continuously ventilated drainage cavity. The timber stays bone-dry and protected from UV rays and driving rain for decades.
What alu-clad windows cost in Ireland
Our supply-and-fit price guide per window, per square metre and for full retrofit or self-build house packages.
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard alu-clad casement or tilt-and-turn window (triple glazed) | €1,100 to €2,000 per window | Uw 0.78–0.85 W/m²K · engineered Nordic pine + powder-coated alu |
| Large fixed picture or floor-to-ceiling alu-clad screen | €1,400 to €2,800 per opening | 44mm–52mm toughened triple unit · slim 55mm frame |
| Alu-clad lift-and-slide patio door (2.4m–3.6m) | €4,200 to €7,800 | Low-threshold fibreglass/aluminium track · up to 300kg sash gear |
| Alu-clad French patio doors or entrance door | €2,800 to €4,900 | Multi-point security locking · matching internal timber finish |
| 3-bed semi-detached full house (8–10 alu-clad windows) | €11,000 to €20,000 | After €3,000 SEAI grant (if pre-2011): €8,000 to €17,000 |
| 4-bed detached / self-build package (12–16 windows + sliding door) | €16,500 to €32,000 | After €4,000 SEAI retrofit grant: €12,500 to €28,000 |
| Solid European oak or ash interior upgrade (vs Nordic pine) | +18% to 25% | Clear-lacquered hardwood interior with extruded aluminium exterior |
| Per square metre installed (triple-glazed alu-clad) | €1,000 to €1,500 per m² | Includes airtightness tapes, compriband and 13.5% supply-and-fit VAT |
Real examples and installation detail
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Questions homeowners & self-builders ask
Why is alu-clad warmer than pure thermally broken aluminium?
Even with a 35mm polyamide thermal break strip, an all-aluminium frame has metal skins inside and out. In an alu-clad window, the entire 90mm to 115mm load-bearing frame depth is slow-grown cellular timber (thermal conductivity λ ≈ 0.12 W/mK compared with 160 W/mK for aluminium), eliminating internal frame condensation.
When should I choose pure aluminium over alu-clad?
If you want ultra-minimalist floor-to-ceiling industrial black metal frames on both the inside and outside of a room, or multi-panel folding doors where all-aluminium profiles fold into a tighter stack (see bifoldingdoors.ie).
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