Windows: Costs, Material, and Installation

PVC, wood, or wood-aluminum? The material of the window frames is a fundamental question in new construction and often depends on the budget. We wanted to save money and initially decided on plastic windows. However, after the first quote, it was clear: that wouldn't work out.

Window Selection: What to Consider

Suddenly, the shell of the building looks like a real house: The day the windows arrived was a major milestone for us. However, this was repeatedly delayed.

In the beginning, everything seemed very simple. Size, opening types, and positions were already determined with our architect during the design phase. For the bidding phase, we only had to clarify a few details.

Besides the material and color, we had to decide how the corner glazing in the bedroom would be executed: with visible profiles and posts or as a nearly frameless corner. We were not previously aware that these decisions were interdependent.

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We wanted dark window frames in black-gray. For PVC windows, colors that are too dark are not recommended. Under strong sun exposure, the profiles can warp. This especially affects large, floor-to-ceiling elements—exactly like the ones we have.

Even with corner glazing, PVC windows can limit the possibilities. Not every manufacturer offers it without an additional post. In our case, it was only possible with wood-aluminum windows for the panes to meet directly at the corner without installing a corner post with profiles.

For us, both were compromises we would have made for the seemingly cheaper price of the plastic variant.

Plastic Windows: Why Our “Inexpensive Plan” Did Not Work Out

If you learn one thing when building a house, it is that you ultimately cannot rely on price estimates, budgets, and empirical values. All quotes for the installation of plastic windows were far above what is usual.

At the same time, we received a quote for wood-aluminum windows that was much cheaper than expected. It was still more expensive than plastic, but the difference was only a few thousand euros.

For us, the decision was clear: We were changing the material.

Wood-Aluminum Windows: High-Quality, Robust, and Surprisingly “Inexpensive”

Dark color without risk, invisible corner glazing, and high-quality appearance: After the plastic windows lost their price advantage, the switch was easy for us.

Wood-aluminum is now considered standard in high-quality new construction and is easier to implement, especially for large, floor-to-ceiling windows.

We only sampled our windows using a color chart. A visit to the manufacturer's exhibition would have been possible but would have been of little use. Our exact combination of color, profile, and features was simply not displayed there.

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An Overview of Our Windows

We chose the “Classic” series from Reitz, aluminum outside, wood inside with a clean edge. The window frames are painted in RAL 7021 both inside and out. The glazing is triple-glazed insulating glass (Argon) from Saint-Gobain Glassolutions (Neutralux advance).

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Almost all of our windows are floor-to-ceiling. The only exceptions are a small window above the toilet in the guest bathroom and the transom window in the living room.

In the living and dining area, we have a particularly large window area with a lot of fixed glazing and a lift-and-slide door with a wide opening dimension. We use the window frames to discreetly position the steel supports necessary for the structure in the living room. They are given the same color as the window frames for this purpose.

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The bedroom has corner glazing without visible profiles. It consists of fall-protection glazing (TRAV). This means the glass does not shatter if it breaks. The glass fragments remain held together, and you cannot fall out of the window.

The floor-to-ceiling windows in the dressing room and the main bathroom have a different form of fall protection: a pre-installed railing, also called a French balcony. To make it more discreet, we opted for a glass version.

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Window Installation: Frames First, Panes Later

The installation of the windows was originally scheduled for September. With the change of material to wood-aluminum, this date was inevitably postponed. But for a good reason: The window builder manufactured the windows custom-made themselves.

Delivery bottlenecks further delayed the installation. In November, the time had finally come. First the frames arrived, and several days later, almost all the glass panes followed. Almost all, because two elements were still a few weeks late.

Despite the time lost, the installation itself went smoothly. The installation crew worked quickly, and the frames fit to the millimeter.

Costs: This is How Much Our Windows Cost

Due to the unexpected prices, wood-aluminum was the best combination of quality, look, and price for us. Our tip: Don't rely on empirical values and get various quotes. You might be in for a surprise.

The position numbers below match the marks in the building plans above.