Does anybody have aluminium clad windows installed? The idea of zero to low maintenance is very appealing but I am wondering what the powder coated aluminium looks like after 10 or 20 years.

Anybody got any experience of this?

SP windows, as well as being next-cheapest to Russell (only 33% more) in all-timber, also have the cheapest-extra aluclad solution - just a light clip-on cover to their all-wood window - whereas Russell's aluclad solution is very uncompetitive, being virtually an aluminium window with inboard wood facing.

The usual aluclad solution which everybody else (?) does is in between these two - a substantial aluminium section that is really a broadened glazing bead.

Note that Russell's all wood system tho low-cost (at present?) isn't 'cheap' and can do most shapes/sizes, whereas the SP system is a bit 'cheap' in that it has considerable limiting 'rules', for no apparent reason, as it appears comparable to Russell's otherwise. And Russell's aluclad system, tho expensive, has considerable limitations!

An old one! I have no memory of SP Windows - surely not the American spwindows.net that comes up, and not the couple of UK plastic window cos either.

Russell are my top recommendation, and their alu-clad range is now similar to others - 'a substantial (pressed not extruded) aluminium section that is really a broadened glazing bead'. It costs about 25% more than the all-wood equivalent, which in 12-4-12-4 U1.1 form is unbeatable value @ about £350/m2, while in 16-4-16-4 'Passive House' form is more premium price, for no good reason.