Window budget. Wooden windows or veneered PVC windows?

Today, PVC windows may look like they were made from a real wood. We do have woodgrain veneers imitating pine, oak or meranti in a variety of colours. Only a keen eye is able to find the subtle differences at the profile connections and determine the actual material used. However, appearances are not everything in this case. Different materials offer different properties: durability, parameters, ease of maintenance, that ‘install and forget’ aspect of a good window. So what will be the best?

While comparing wooden windows to their PVC counterparts, we must follow a certain formula. One cannot in good faith compare completely different items, for example an 82 mm thick passive PVC window with a standard, 68 mm wooden one. These two are designed to fulfil different purposes, even though the price may be similar. However, if you have a strictly determined budget and must not exceed it, the best way will be to check the price of the most basic window models from different materials and then - as far as possible - add some improvements to performance or design. 

Comparing price of PVC and wooden windows with similar profile and thermal parameters, one may discover that the latter is about 30% more expensive from the get-go, while using the least expensive pine wood for comparison. Whether the visual effect will be worth it - buyers must decide themselves. Wooden windows are always considered a premium product, as they allow to faithfully reproduce historical joinery, sculpted and stylised material, usually they also have better quality additions like handles. Wooden windows are significantly heavier, as their subframe and casement is a whole piece of a 3- or 4-layer glued laminated timber profile. In case of PVC windows, the profile is not ‘full’, there are air chambers inside divided by smaller walls and steel reinforcements, PVC windows are thus easier to install due to their reduced weight. The wooden windows do not have to be repainted every few years anymore - it is enough to wipe it with a cloth soaked in a wood preservative once a year, e.g. when cleaning them. It is not a complex maintenance procedure, but not doing it may result in wooden windows being less durable than PVC ones, while their default lifespan potential is similar.  

If you are intent on an individual, unique design, want to be closer to nature, do not mind higher price and sacrificing a moment once a year to take care of your joinery - you should definitely pick the wooden windows.

If you are intent on maintenance-free windows with good thermal parameters and a reasonable price even for versions with the best profile and additional equipment - take a look at PVC windows. They imitate wood well, while stylish additions like decorative muntins or better handles can always be added later.