How we supply it: Aluminium windows are arranged through a partner fabricator who measures, quotes, makes, fits and bills them and pays us a referral commission. We ask the fabricator to put the section series, weight per metre, glass and coating thickness in the quote so you can compare like with like.
In one line: An aluminium window is a window framed in extruded aluminium-alloy sections, usually 6063 alloy (63400 in IS 733), finished by anodising or powder coating and glazed with float or toughened glass.
What you are buying
An aluminium window is a window framed in extruded aluminium-alloy sections, usually 6063 alloy (63400 in IS 733), finished by anodising or powder coating and glazed with float or toughened glass. IS 1948 covers aluminium doors, windows and ventilators.
Sections are bought by the kilo, so two windows that look alike can differ a lot in metal. The section series and its weight per metre tell you what is really in the frame.
Section systems and window types
| Type | What it is | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 2-track sliding | Two glass shutters | Budget openings without mesh |
| 3-track sliding | Two glass shutters plus a mesh shutter | Bedrooms in mosquito-prone areas |
| Casement | Side-hung shutters with gaskets | Better sealing, full opening |
| Top-hung ventilator | Small hinged pane | Bathrooms, kitchens |
| System windows | Heavier sections, multi-point locks, some with thermal breaks | Large openings, better sealing |
Anodised or powder coated?
| Point | Anodised | Powder coated |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Metallic, limited colours | Any colour, matt or gloss |
| How it is made | Oxide layer grown from the metal | Baked polymer film |
| Typical film | About 15–25 microns | About 60–80 microns |
| Damage | Hard; touch-up is difficult | Can chip; touch-up possible |
| Near the sea | Thicker film, well sealed | Coastal-grade powder over proper pretreatment |
What the quote should name
Per-sq-ft quotes are only comparable when they name the same section series and weight.
- Section series, wall thickness and weight per metre
- Glass: type and thickness, commonly 5 mm in house sliders and 6 mm for larger panes
- Finish: anodised or powder coated, with film thickness in microns
- Rollers, locks and interlocks, and the mesh type for 3-track frames
- Fasteners: stainless steel, and the sealant used at the wall joint
Checks on delivery and after fixing
- Measure section wall thickness at a cut end with a vernier against the quote.
- Weigh a standard length, or compare the billed weight with the section list.
- Look for even colour and no bare metal at cut ends; ask for a coating-thickness gauge reading if possible.
- Slide every shutter: rollers smooth and quiet, interlocks closing fully.
- Check glazing gaskets are fully seated and nothing rattles.
- Confirm the screws are stainless steel.
Protecting sections on site
- Keep sections wrapped until fixing; cement splashes etch anodised finishes.
- Store lengths flat on racks, not leaning on walls where they bend.
- Clean the tracks after plastering and before the shutters go in.
Aluminium window mistakes
- Comparing per-sq-ft quotes without the section series and weight.
- Mild-steel screws that rust and stain coastal frames.
- Fixing before plastering and letting slurry dry on the coating.
- Choosing 2-track frames and wanting a mesh shutter later.
- Sealing over the track weep holes, so rainwater overflows inside.