Timber Joinery vs Aluminium Joinery
There are typically two kinds of joinery found in New Zealand homes; traditional timber joinery, and aluminium. Builders will use both of these, dependant on the age and style of the home. Both types of joinery have their benefits and downsides. As a timber joiner myself, I personally prefer the aesthetics that timber joinery brings to a home, but the decision ultimately comes down to you as the homeowner to decide.
Timber Joinery
Timber joinery in my opinion, is aesthetically more pleasing to the eye than its aluminium counterpart, as they are timeless. From villas to modern architectural new builds, there will always be a timber joinery option to suit every home. Timber joinery is also more energy efficient, as it takes less energy to produce. You will also see a reduction in the energy required to heat your home, as timber joinery is a natural insulator.
Of course, timber joinery does have its downsides. Timber joinery is often more expensive comparative to aluminium, and requires on-going maintenance to ensure that it continues to look good and perform well.
Aluminium Joinery
On the other side of the coin, there are some benefits to choosing aluminium joinery. The biggest benefit is the cost savings. Aluminium is a lower cost option compared to timber joinery.
It also requires far less maintenance than timber joinery. Aluminium is also a better option if you live close to the beach, or in an exposed area as it will stand up better to the elements. But, it still requires maintenance such as washing to prevent it from corroding. Once corroded, the aluminium will need to be totally replaced, unlike timber joinery which can be repaired.
If you are looking for a dry home, which is more cost effective to heat, aluminium joinery is not for you, as there is a high chance of condensation, and as aluminium is not a natural insulator you will need to heat your home more.
The biggest downside is that aluminium is also not a sustainable option, as it is not sourced from a renewable resource and takes far more resource (such as water) to produce. The production of aluminium joinery also produces 85 times more greenhouse gas emissions than timber joinery does.
But Adam, surely picking joinery should be an easy process?
You would think so, but there are a few things to weigh up before you make the decision. Firstly, it is important to think about the age of your home and where it is located. Are you living in a 1920’s villa in Westmere, or a 1970’s ‘executive’ style home in Mt Roskill? Are you living at the beach at Bethells? These are both important factors when it comes to choosing joinery. When it comes to homes like villas, it is important to keep the appearance of the home in 2018 as close as possible to what it looked like in 1918.
You should also talk both your architect and your builder to see what they recommend in terms of aesthetics as well.
Lastly, consider the cost and time it will take to maintain your joinery. As mentioned above, timber joinery requires far more maintenance, so you should think about if the costs and time associated with this are going to be an issue for you moving forward.
Ultimately, it comes down to personal taste, fenestration and budget. If you are having trouble deciding, make sure to chat to your architect or builder.
Adam Beswick is the Director of Next Level Joinery, the only exterior timber joinery company owned by a Licensed Build Practitioner. As both a Master Joiner and a Licensed Building Practitioner, Adam understands the needs of his clients and produces beautiful timber joinery on-time and on budget.
