Timber versus Aluminum windows: who’s the Winner?

One of the most hotly contested I home improvement is the timber windows versus aluminum windows debate. It is an argument largely carried out between manufacturers of the two types of widows. both present convincing arguments to support their cases. Who’s right? Are timber windows superior to aluminum or is aluminum the only way to go?

The case for timber windows

One of the strongest cases made for timber windows is their aesthetic appeal. It’s a case that‘s hard to argue against when you look at windows made from quality timber by joiners that specialize in timber windows and doors. when stained and finished with a clear sealant , these timber windows can be the crowning touch on a new home and can be an essential part restoring an older home to its former glory.

 

Another argument made for timber windows centers around energy efficiency. Studies have shown that timber windows are more energy efficient than aluminum, thanks to the natural insulating properties of timber versus the thermal conductivity of aluminum. Many timber window manufacturers now make the case that while timber windows may cost more initially than their aluminum counterparts, the difference will be made up for in time by saving in energy costs.

The case for Aluminum windows

The strongest case in favor of aluminum windows is their lower cost in comparison to timber windows. According to manufacturers and proponents of aluminum windows, you save money with aluminum in three ways:

They are cheaper to buy than timber windows:

Aluminum windows are easier to install and therefore cheaper to install than timber

Aluminum windows are virtually maintenance free, while money has to be spent on refinishing and repairing timber windows.

Another case made in favor of aluminum windows is that modern designs and power coatings make them the perfect choice for modern homes. Their sleek, minimalistic frames are ideal for minimalist architecture and interior design.

Timber versus Aluminum windows:  who’s the Winner?

When you look at them objectively, timber windows and aluminum windows each have their advantages and disadvantages. When weighted in the balance, the only winner is the consumer, who has the opportunity to choose the best windows for their needs. Aesthetically, the difference is a manner of personal taste. While timber windows do cost more than aluminum, they have been proven to be more energy efficient. This can help balance the cost differences over time. Yes ,timber windows do need periodic refinishing , but it’s a job a good handyman can do for you very economically and if they are maintained , timber windows will last as long as aluminum .

Leave the timber windows versus aluminum windows debate to the manufacturers,. You’re better off choosing the windows that suit your style of home and sense of style. Either timber of aluminum, you can’t go wrong if you choose what’s right for you.

ACROPOLIS, ATHENS.

The city of Athens was home to some of the
most aesthetically sophisticated architecture of the ancient world. In
particular, the Acropolis, a sanctuary of religious structures, has been
extensively excavated to reveal the superior place its wonders occupy
in classical architectural history. Located on a hill in the center of
Athens, these buildings celebrate the origins of Athenian culture
through the veneration of the goddess Athena. After the first Acropolis
complex was destroyed by Persian troops in 480 BC, a new complex
was commissioned by the Athenian ruler Pericles and directed
by the architectural sculptor Pheidias. This new complex was much
criticized by surrounding communities because their payments to the
Delian League’s treasury, kept in Athens to provide military support
across the region, was instead used for Pericles’s reconstruction of
the Acropolis. In Athens, however, the Acropolis became a symbol of
Athenian supremacy across the region, demonstrative of Athenian
pride and cultural values.
Marble was brought from quarries outside the city to construct a
complex of seven major buildings, including the Propylaia, or grand
portico entrance into the walled complex accessible by the “Sacred
Way”; the Pinakotheke, or picture gallery on the left of the Propylaia;
the little Temple of Athena Nike on the edge of the hill to the right of
the entrance; the courtyard sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia (protector
of animals); and the armory, called the Chalkotheke, which finally directs
the visitor to the Erechtheion on the left, and on its right, to the
famous Parthenon, located on the most elevated site of the Acropolis.
Many votive statues, such as the colossal bronze of Athena the De-
2 • ACROPOLIS, ATHENS
fender located just through the Propylaia, filled the rooms, courtyards,
and open areas.
The Parthenon, dedicated to Athena Parthenos, to whom votive offerings
were brought, housed a monumental statue of Athena made of
ivory and gold. Construction began in 480 BC by the architect
Kallikrates but was halted for about 30 years and then expanded upon
by the architect Iktinos. This white marble rectangular temple is elevated
by several marble steps, called the stereobate, that surround the
entire building and lead up to a continuous portico lined in a peristyle
on all four sides with a single row of columns. Additionally, because
the temple has a single peristyle rather than double columns, it is
called a peripteral temple. At the Parthenon, a pronaos, or smaller
porch, provides an entrance from the eastern platform, or stylobate,
into the internal sanctuary, called the cella. A separate, unconnected
portico then faces west, providing symmetry to the building. The
columns that surround the building are of the most austere order, the
Doric. Above the Doric capitals is a smooth architrave, and above
this begins the frieze of triglyphs, or three-part glyph patterns, and
metopes, or square panels carved with relief sculptures of various
battle scenes. Rising above this frieze is a triangular pediment surrounded
by a cornice filled with sculptures of gods and goddesses.
Triangular pediments occupy the west and east façades of the slightly
gabled roof, which is made of marble and not the usual wood or terracotta.
Although most of the building remains today, the roof was
destroyed and most of the architectural sculpture was placed in the
British Museum in London.
Greek architects are best known for their graceful columns, and
here the Doric columns are fluted, or carved with vertical lines, and
calculated mathematically to rise to an increasingly more slender
width from the drum, through the shaft, and to the necking right beneath
the capital. It is this attention to mathematical detail, focused
on symmetry, harmony, and proportionality, that provides the
Parthenon with an enduring beauty called the “classical” aesthetic.
Many Renaissance and later Neo-Classical buildings found across
the western world have been modeled on the Parthenon, not only for
its aesthetics, but also because its architecture came to symbolize
general prosperity, democratic principles, and honest leadership.