PVC vs Aluminium Windows: Complete Comparison Guide 2026

Introduction: PVC or Aluminium — Which to Choose?

Choosing between PVC and aluminium windows is one of the most important decisions when renovating your home or building a new one in Granada or Malaga. Both materials offer excellent performance, but they have significant differences worth understanding before making your decision.

In this comprehensive comparison guide, as official STRUGAL installers of both aluminium and PVC windows, we analyse every aspect in depth: thermal and acoustic insulation, durability, maintenance, aesthetics and sustainability. Our goal is to help you make an informed decision based on real data, not myths or commercial preferences.

Thermal Insulation: PVC Advantage

PVC windows excel in thermal insulation thanks to their multi-chamber profile structure. With thermal transmittance values (Uw) from 0.8 W/m²K, PVC offers superior insulation that translates into significant energy savings in any home in Granada or Malaga.

The secret lies in the material itself: PVC is a polymer with a thermal conductivity of just 0.16 W/mK, compared to 160 W/mK for pure aluminium. That means aluminium conducts heat 1,000 times faster than PVC. This is why, even with thermal break (RPT), aluminium cannot fully match PVC's figures.

Aluminium with thermal break (RPT) has improved enormously, reaching Uw values of 1.2-1.6 W/m²K with STRUGAL S74RP and S88RP series. While it cannot match PVC in pure figures, it offers more than acceptable performance for the climate in Granada and Malaga.

What Do These Values Mean in Practice?

For a 100 m² home in Granada city (climate zone C3), the difference between a Uw of 0.8 and 1.4 W/m²K shows on the energy bill; how much depends on the home, its orientation and how it is used, and we estimate it when we prepare your quote. This difference is especially noticeable during Granada's harsh winters, where night temperatures can drop below -5°C in January and February, and in summers exceeding 40°C.

Acoustic Insulation: Both Excellent

In urban areas of Granada and Malaga, traffic noise, construction or nightlife can be a serious problem. Both PVC and aluminium RPT offer excellent acoustic performance, though PVC has a slight edge.

For reference: a 40 dB reduction means busy street noise (70 dB) is perceived indoors as a quiet library (30 dB). If you live near Granada's Gran Via, Malaga's Paseo del Parque or any bar district, investing in good acoustic insulation with PVC windows pays for itself in sleep quality and health.

Durability and Maintenance

A common myth is that PVC yellows in the sun. Latest-generation STRUGAL profiles incorporate UV protection in the material mass and on the surface, guaranteeing colour stability for over 30 years even under Andalusia's intense solar radiation.

Structural Resistance and Large Dimensions

Here aluminium has a clear advantage. Its greater rigidity allows manufacturing windows of large dimensions with slimmer profiles. STRUGAL aluminium windows allow sliding leaves up to 3 metres wide and 2.8 metres high with just 22 mm visible profiles.

Aesthetics: Colour Options and Customisation

Both materials offer extensive customisation. Aluminium leads with 200+ RAL colours, anodised finishes, and ultra-realistic wood effects. PVC offers 30+ laminated colours including excellent wood imitations. The popular two-tone option (white interior with anthracite or black exterior) is available in both materials but with virtually unlimited combinations in aluminium.

Complete PVC vs Aluminium Comparison

The price of a window depends on many variables (size, series, glazing, hardware, colour, shutters), so we do not publish rates: every quote is prepared with your details. At Tecnisun we offer both options and the possibility of purchase with or without installation. Tell us what you need in our quote request form and we will prepare a personalised proposal.

Climate Impact on Your Choice: Granada vs Malaga

Climate is a determining factor. Granada city has a continental Mediterranean climate (zone C3): cold winters with frequent frost (-5°C to 5°C at night in January) and very hot summers (35-42°C in July-August). The annual thermal range exceeds 45°C. In this context, PVC offers greater protection against extreme cold.

Malaga, with its coastal climate (zone A3), has mild winters (8-15°C) but equally hot summers, with high humidity and ambient salinity. Here aluminium with marine treatment may be preferable for its superior resistance to coastal corrosion, especially on the seafront.

Aesthetics and Finishes

STRUGAL aluminium windows offer the widest range of finishes: RAL lacquered (over 200 colours), anodised, wood imitation, and two-tone (different colour inside and outside). Their slimmer profiles allow thinner frames and greater glass surface area, creating a more minimalist, contemporary look.

PVC has evolved significantly in aesthetics. Today we offer laminated finishes in colours and very realistic wood imitation. However, profiles are somewhat thicker than aluminium. If minimalist aesthetics are your priority (ultra-slim profiles, large glass surfaces), aluminium is the choice. The two-tone option is especially popular in Granada and Malaga: white interior (luminosity, visual cleanliness) with anthracite grey RAL 7016 exterior (modern aesthetics, facade integration).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you combine PVC and aluminium in the same home?

Yes, and it is an increasingly popular strategy. Many clients choose PVC for bedrooms and interior areas (maximum insulation and silence) and aluminium for living rooms with large windows and terrace enclosures (aesthetics and large dimensions). At Tecnisun we install both materials, so coordinating the work is straightforward.

Is it true that PVC yellows in the sun?

That was a problem with first-generation profiles from the 1980s-90s. Current STRUGAL profiles incorporate UV stabilisers in the material mass and surface co-extrusion protection, guaranteeing colour stability for 30+ years even under Andalusia's intense solar radiation.

Is aluminium without thermal break still sold?

It should not be. Since the 2022 CTE (Technical Building Code) update, aluminium windows without thermal break do not meet energy efficiency requirements for new construction or certified renovations. At Tecnisun we ONLY work with thermal break aluminium (STRUGAL S64RP, S74RP and S88RP series).

Sustainability: Aluminium vs PVC

Both materials are 100% recyclable at end of life. However, there are important differences:

• Aluminium: can be recycled infinite times without losing properties. STRUGAL uses up to 75% recycled aluminium. Recycling energy is just 5% of primary production, making it one of the most sustainable building materials available.
• PVC: also 100% recyclable, but with a limited number of cycles (5-7 recyclings). Its initial production consumes less energy than primary aluminium, but more than recycled aluminium.

At Tecnisun we separate offcuts and removed joinery so that they are properly managed and recycled.

When to Choose Each Material by Specific Situation

The Importance of Professional Installation

Even the best window performs poorly if installed incorrectly. Common installation errors include inadequate foam sealing (causing thermal bridges), incorrect shimming (leading to hardware misalignment), and poor waterproofing at the frame-wall junction. At Tecnisun, the manager works on every installation alongside our regular installation team, following STRUGAL's official installation protocol, ensuring every window performs to its rated specifications. We also offer windows without installation for those with their own qualified installer.