Hinged or sliding aluminium frames?

The dilemma is a big one. An article that helps you choose based on your needs.

Alumil Team

Updated 16/07/2021

5’ read

Outdoor space with swimming pool, pergola and hinged frames

As we are used to hearing, every door we open in our lives is important and that is probably a great truth. What is not specified, however, in the above saying is whether this door is... sliding or hinged! The choice of one kind or the other is certainly of great importance. Depending on everyone's space, there is one that suits and serves their needs. In this article we will help you clarify the characteristics of the two systems you are thinking of. This will allow you to make a proper comparison of the different elements of aluminium frames. What counts above all else is to choose the best one for you.

Hinged aluminium frames

Hinged frames are very widespread and preferred by a large number of customers. One of their main advantages is their insulating capacity, both in terms of thermal insulation, water tightness and soundproofing. In all these areas, hinged aluminium frames have excellent performance (of course we always refer to aluminium frames with thermal insulation and not the non-insulating ones), while their safety performance is equally high. In addition, hinged aluminium frames offer a wide range of designs and can be accompanied by a fly-screen, a hinged shutter or an external rolling shutter.

The disadvantage of hinged frames is that they cannot support very large openings. We are of course referring to openings of 2 metres and more. A hinged system cannot serve us as effectively in this case, even with a double-leaf balcony door. Also, in terms of space saving, it is not an ideal choice for homes with very limited square footage, such as very small apartments. This is because they always require extra space inside, so that the balcony door or window can be opened unobstructed.

Sliding aluminium frames

Sliding frames are found frequently in city apartments and in detached houses. In the first case, sliding doors contribute to the space saving required in an apartment. Similarly, in the second case of detached houses, there are sometimes large openings that could not be supported with a hinged frame.

Also, the current trend in architecture worldwide is to have as little visible aluminium as possible. The logic is to bring out the minimal aesthetics in this way and let the light pass unhindered into the interior. In this case as well, sliding frames are preferred, as they can be customised to match the minimal aesthetic. This includes: thin sashes, recessed-hidden casing in the masonry - the so-called "pocket sliding frames", "parallel sliding frames", etc.

It is worth noting that usually a sliding system cannot reach the level of thermal insulation of a hinged system, as in the hinged system its air tightness is enhanced by the insulating gaskets around the leaf and the casing. However, we must not forget that we have to compare similar cases. In other words, there is a possibility that a highly advanced sliding system can match the performance of a hinged system. Such is the case of the lift and slide systems, which ‘snap’ into the track, providing high thermal insulation and are lifted by a special mechanism, so that we can drag them with ease.

The glass factor

Whatever your final choice is, you should not forget that the thermal insulation performance of aluminium windows (and all types of frames in general) is directly related to the type of glass they "wear". The glass usually occupies 70%-80% of the total surface area of a frame. So, it makes perfect sense that it strongly influences its behaviour. There is an overabundance of choice in this area. Therefore, it is important to discuss the type of glass and its characteristics with the professional who will install your windows.

One element that we should always check is Ug (g from Glass), which is the thermal transmittance of the glass. Together with Uf (f from Frame), which measures the thermal transmittance of casing and sash, they constitute the Uw (w from Window) which is the total thermal transmittance of our window or balcony door. The lower the above indicators, the smaller the heat losses we have, so low indicators are equivalent to better performance for the aluminium systems we choose. A quality aluminium system can provide thermal insulation and security, but without equivalent quality glazing, the overall performance will not be at the maximum desired level.

In summary

The choice of new frames is crucial, as it affects our life in many ways. We need to be informed and aware. This, whether our decision is based on aesthetic criteria or on criteria related to energy efficiency. Buying window and door frames is an investment that comes to complement our everyday lifestyle. So why shouldn't this investment improve our lives, making it pleasant and functional? Decide freely on your new aluminium frames but most importantly decide armed with knowledge!