We decided to write this article after many customers called asking for advice on what material they should choose for their skylight; an aluminium skylight or a uPVC skylight?
Well, as with many purchasing decisions, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. Instead, we've identified five key differences between aluminium and uPVC below.
1. Longevity
Perhaps the most important consideration of them all is, the longevity of a skylight. This boils down to two questions. First, 'How long will this skylight last?' and second, 'will the colour fade on this skylight?'
It goes without saying that when investing so much in a product for your home, it's essential to know the thing isn't going to fall apart.
Generally, uPVC skylights are made from solid aluminium central rafters, which give the roof structure and then have uPVC top and bottom cappings. See an image below of this.
Aluminium skylights, on the other hand, have aluminium top and bottom cappings with a polyamide thermal break in the middle, separating top and bottom caps. This increases the thermal value (u-value) of the skylight by stopping the cold transferring through the skylight, which also stops condensation forming on the aluminium surface.
Provided you buy from a reputable supplier, both aluminium skylights and uPVC skylights will stand the test of time. We can supply you with a quote for both options.
2. Longevity of colour
The next consideration is longevity of colour. As anyone who has lived with uPVC windows and doors from the 1970's and 1980's will know, uPVC can discolour. Poor quality uPVC can turn slightly blue or yellow over time. With modern technological advances this should no longer be a problem and woodgrain foil finishes are guaranteed for 10 years. However, it's impossible to say that the odd uPVC skylight won't discolour over time.
Aluminium skylights, on the other hand, are polyester powder coated, which is a much more durable finish and certainly won't discolour. In fact, it's guaranteed for 25 years.
3. Strength
Both aluminium and uPVC skylights are tested to British Standards by the British Standards Institution before they are allowed on the market. So rest assured that neither a uPVC or aluminium skylight is going to cave in on you after a windy day!
Our customers tend to intuitively think aluminium skylights must be much stronger than uPVC ones, but given that the central structure of uPVC skylights is aluminium anyway, there is no huge benefit of going for aluminium. Having said this, aluminium skylights generally have slightly higher snow and weight loadings than uPVC ones.
4. Aesthetics & Colour
Generally, aluminium skylights tend to look a bit slimmer than uPVC skylights. Using thinner rafters, they maximise the glass sizes and effectively fill the room with more light. This is a big plus for aluminium skylights and is a common deciding factor with our customers.
Colour-wise, with aluminium skylights you do have the choice of any RAL colour, of which there are over 200. However, with uPVC, you only really have about 5 to 10 colour choices, which normally come in a woodgrain finish too. So for the modern smooth look and the full flexibility to choose any colour you like, a powder coated aluminium is the best bet.
5. Cost
Until around 2016, it was the case that uPVC skylights were much cheaper than aluminium ones. As with many things in the fenestration industry, innovation and development has meant that aluminium skylight prices have come down pretty much in line with uPVC now.
In fact, our Korniche aluminium roof system is actually cheaper than our UltraSky uPVC skylight.
You can head over to our pricing generator now to see for yourself.
We hope this has been a useful comparison of key features. If you want to discuss them more, you can call us on 01622 380 121 or email us at info@expressskylights.co.uk.
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