The new outlook of a house
More and more home- and flatowners are replacing windows in the course of renovation. The diverse window market has caused a new problem: which window to choose?
The choice is really huge: there are windows with wooden, plastic, aluminium, wooden-aluminium and steel frames on offer. A window with a very large glass space can be supported firmly only by a metal frame, these are used more in industrial buildings, shops etc. Windows with wooden, plastic or wooden-aluminium frames are usually chosen for homes.
Wooden-aluminium windows are the best
Window manufacturers, theorists as well as customers praise wooden- aluminium frames very much. They are durable, nice, easy to maintain and in many different shades. The aluminium part of the window frame is put outside and it is entirely weatherproof. The frame is covered with a durable powder paint which needs neither overpainting nor special maintenance. Ther inner side of the frame is made of laminated timber. Timber is traditionally a human- and home-friendly material. Only in case of too moist rooms it is suggested that the window frames be examined carefully once a year to find out whether the moisture has not damaged the paint of the window frame. Thinking about the eternity neither timber nor aluminium will never pollute the environment: timber burns and aluminium can be remelted.
The only disadvantage of the wooden-aluminium window is its high price, it is on average 20-30%, in special cases even up to 70% more expensive than the plastic window. In a panel house the wooden-aluminium window would probably be an excessive luxury, but a private house costing five million kroons does not deserve a worse window.
Wooden or plastic window?
The choice between windows with either wooden or plastic frames depends first and foremost on its suitability to the building, the amount of money you have decided to spend on it and your taste.
· Price. Window made of solid wood and laminated timber is about 20-30% more expensive than the plastic window. The price does not, of course, only depend on the frame, but on the glazing (with either two or three sheets of glass) and the type of glass (ordinary or with special features) as well. Windows with two frames are also produced, in such a case there is a separate glass in the outside frame. To make your choice between different companies ask for price offers according to the specific sizes and special wishes. Each window company will also explain you the advantages of their products. They usually offer window installation and removal of the old one. Beside big companies wooden windows are also made by private persons and small producers. In case of those the price very often says everything about the quality of their work, as the prices of materials in the market do not differ much.
· Suitability. It is not allowed to install a plastic window to the building being under heritage conservation. In case of all other houses the choice of a window frame is the flat- or houseowner’s own business. Apartment associations can also impose restrictions to their members on the choice of windows. It is of course more beautiful if a multi-storey house has windows of the same type.
Timber is our most traditional material for making window frames and it suits everywhere. Plastic window suits to new as well as to old industrial and social buildings, also to panel buildings and private houses covered with artificial material.
· Frame material. The modern wooden window is made either of solid wood or laminated timber. In both cases the material is chosen from the highest quality part of the sawlog, knots and defective parts are taken out. The frame made of laminated timber is connected using the method of fingerjoining and it is glued together with a moisture resistant glue. Such a frame does not warp and always remains precise. Windows dating back to the Soviet times have been made of the part of the log which was the nearest. The results can be seen especially in panel houses.
· Painting and maintenance. Wooden and plastic windows can be ordered in many different shades. Wooden window can also be stained and it is possible to generate wood imitation onto plastic. Wooden frame of high-quality has also to be repainted from outside after every 6-12 years.
· Ventilation. New wooden as well as plastic windows are very tight. Timber breathes: in case of moist times it absorbs moisture, in case of dry times it lets moisture out. Inside plastic frames ventilation systems have been built. The other possibility would be using window stops that open the window only for a few millimetres.
· Heat conservation. Heat conservation does not depend on the window frame much. However, wooden frame conserves heat a bit better than the plastic frame.
Here the most important part is glazing: whether you prefer two or three sheets of glass. Glass is also produced with special features: for instance solar block glass prevents room from overheating, selective or heat-insulating glass reflects warmth back into the room etc.
· Beauty. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Timber is warm and  human. Nature-friendly people do not approve artificial materials and try to repaint the wooden window over and over again. But those who like the so-called German correctness, prefer bright clean plastic.
· Life. The Germans have 35 years of experience in using plastic windows. Estonian companies usually offer 5-year-guarantee and promise 30-50 years of useful life. The competitors are suspicious: the durability of plastic windows is unpredictable in Estonian climate as we do not have such a long experience in using them.
In Nordic countries the useful life of a wooden window is considered to be 35 years. But in case the window is well-maintained it can last for 50-100 years or at least the useful life of a building. As the painting industry is developing further and further the time between repaintings can also become longer.
The wooden window dating back to Soviet times becomes life-threatening in 20 years – timber rots and glasses can fall out. | 
