When you are building a house in Thailand, you have many choices and decisions to make. One of the main ones is what windows you decide to have installed in the home. This is normally discussed and decided with the architect who is designing your property. We often get asked what types of windows we would suggest you install in your house. This is determined by various factors such as cost, the design style you are creating with the architect and what you wish to achieve, both from a practical level and also a design look.
The main three types available in Thailand are aluminum, wood and uPVC. All have their positive points and some are more desirable over others for different reasons. It would be wrong to say which type is the best, as so much is determined by budgets and design styles. They are your choices to make and without an understanding of the specific house, it would be misleading to state which is best. They all have a place in the property world.
But below we try to give you a general idea of what we think, have experienced over the years and information we have gathered. It is only meant as a basic guide and best to discuss with our architect and consider your budgets and what you are trying to achieve.
Wooden Windows: In many ways these are considered one of the more attractive types. A good quality wooden window can look amazing. Especially if building a tropical style home. It provides that natural look and seems to blend seamlessly with the tropical style. But one must remember, it is a natural product and prone to movement caused by weather conditions and how it reacts to it. If you are going to use wood also remember termites, so they should be a good quality hardwood and impregnated preferably with an anti termite chemical.
Wooden framed windows often swell, warp or rot over time. uPVC can be prone to expansion and contraction with heat. But, aluminum is chemically much more robust and stable.
Where this really stands out is large panels of moving glass, such as French doors or Bi-Fold doors. The aluminum frames withstand the elements to remain consistent from year to year, whatever the weather.
If you are going for wood, it is best to go for a good quality product from a reliable experienced manufacturer. You may also consider the seal, as often wooden windows leave small gaps and allow wind or insects to come in. Over time they can warp too. So go for good quality and if possible have rubber seals included around the edges to seal up any gaps. They will require more maintenance and need to be treated and taken care of.
In most cases, we advise clients to avoid wooden windows, based on our experience. If you are looking for a resort style and tropical villa style, then go for it. But do remember it is a natural product and prone to the various aspects that come with being natural.
Aluminum windows: This is the type of window; we as a house builder see most of. There are various grades and manufacturers and are used a lot in construction throughout the country. Some are made in Thailand and others are manufactured overseas. There are various qualities and a wide variety of colors. They provide a good seal and good lock systems. This is normally the type of window we suggest, as widely used, provides good weather protection, long lasting and come in a wide variety of qualities and colors. The great thing about aluminum is that it offers you, the homeowner, a greater choice when it comes to windows and doors.
uPVC windows: You see these used more now. They have become more popular but are probably the least used of the window types. They can be double glazed too. It can be more expensive, but a high quality double glazed uPVC does offer very good seal, good lock systems and security. They can also look good too. One has to be careful with the color fading in the sun, so best to check the manufacturer’s guarantees carefully and ask about this. Although uPVC windows have a long life, the frames may potentially degrade over the years. Aluminum is a much more robust compound and with proper care will stand the test of time without compromise.