Hinged or sliding aluminium frames?

It is a big dilemma. 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 often say, every door we open in our lives is important and that is probably a great truth. What is not clarified, however, in the above saying is whether this door is... sliding or hinged! The choice of one or the other is certainly of great importance. Depending on the space of each person, there is a frame 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 many customers. One of their main advantages is their insulating capacity, in terms of thermal insulation, water tightness and soundproofing. In all these areas, hinged aluminium frames offer 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 screens, hinged shutters or rolling shutters.

The disadvantage of hinged frames is that they cannot support very large openings. We are of course referring to openings of 2 meters and more. A hinged system cannot serve us as effectively in this case, even with a double-sash 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 open freely.

Sliding aluminium frames

Sliding frames are found frequently in city apartments and in detached houses. In the first case, sliding doors help save space 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 and let the light enter inside without obstructions. In this case as well, sliding frames are preferred, as they can be customized 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, because hinged system have higher air tightness thanks to the insulating gaskets around the sash and the casing. However, we must not forget that we have similar cases to compare. 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 slide 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 are equipped with. The glass usually accounts for 70%-80% of the total surface area of a frame. So, it makes perfect sense that it strongly influences its behavior. There is an overabundance of choices 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 multiple ways. We need to be informed and aware. This, whether our decision is based on aesthetic criteria or their energy performance. Buying window and door frames is an investment that complements our daily lifestyle. So why not choose an option that enhances your life, making it both pleasant and functional? Make your choice for new aluminium frames freely, but most importantly, make it armed with knowledge!