Heritage Aluminium

Aluminium Crittall-style windows: what affects the cost

Aluminium Crittall-style windows give you the slim sightlines and gridded, industrial look of original steel Crittall, but in a lighter, warm-bridged aluminium frame. They’re a popular choice for period homes and renovations across Cheshire and the wider North West where homeowners want that heritage character without the maintenance demands of original steel.

There’s no single fixed price for aluminium Crittall-style windows, because every project is made to measure. The figure you’re quoted comes down to a handful of practical factors:

• Frame finish — a standard matt black powder coat costs less than dual-colour (different inside and out), textured, or special RAL finishes.
• Glazing — double or triple glazing, acoustic glass, solar-controlled glass, or decorative options all change the price. See our guide to solar-controlled glass for how that choice plays out.
• Size and number of openings — large fixed panes can be more cost-effective per square metre than many small opening casements with hardware.
• Configuration and bars — the number of glazing bars (the grid pattern), plus any doors, fixed lights, or screens combined in one run.
• Installation — access, structural openings, and whether you’re replacing like-for-like or forming new openings.

As a rule, the more opening sections, the finer the grid, and the more specialised the glazing, the higher the cost. A simpler fixed-and-casement layout in a standard black finish sits at the more affordable end.

Aluminium Crittall-style vs original steel

Both give you the same slim, gridded heritage look from across the room. The difference is in the frame material and what that means long term.

• Aluminium is lighter, naturally corrosion-resistant, and needs very little upkeep. Modern thermally broken aluminium frames also perform well on heat retention, which matters in older homes.
• Original steel Crittall has the genuine article’s narrowest sightlines and authentic weight, and is often the right call for listed buildings or where exact heritage accuracy is required.

If authenticity is the priority, our steel windows and doors deliver the real thing. If you want the look with lower maintenance and strong thermal performance, aluminium is usually the more cost-effective route. For a full side-by-side, read how steel windows and doors compare to aluminium and our explainer on look-alike aluminium windows and doors.

Crittall-style aluminium: the steel look without the steel

The slim, gridded look of Crittall windows is one of the most requested styles in period and contemporary homes alike. The original is steel; the practical alternative is aluminium engineered to mimic those fine sightlines. Our Heritage Aluminium range gives you the same crisp black framing and divided-light glazing bars, with the warmth retention and low maintenance modern aluminium is known for.

If you’re weighing the two materials, it’s worth reading our guide on how steel windows and doors compare to aluminium. In short: true steel offers the slimmest possible profiles and a genuine heritage pedigree, while aluminium delivers a near-identical appearance with better thermal performance for the money, no risk of rust, and easier ongoing care.

Crittall-style patio doors

For garden access, Crittall-style patio doors are a natural fit. The same multi-pane grid that suits a front elevation works beautifully as a rear glazed wall, framing the garden in neat sections rather than one open expanse. We supply them as:

• French-style double doors with side screens — a symmetrical, classic opening that suits period and barn conversions.
• Single inward or outward openers set within a fixed gridded screen, ideal where space is tight.
• Larger configurations paired with matching heritage windows for a consistent run across a rear elevation.

If you want a fully opening glazed wall rather than hinged doors, look at our aluminium bifold doors and panoramic sliding doors, both of which can be specified in a heritage black finish.

Matching across the whole elevation

Most projects don’t stop at one opening. To keep the look consistent, the same glazing-bar layout and powder-coat finish can be carried across your aluminium windows, entrance doors and internal screens. That visual continuity is what makes a heritage scheme read as deliberate rather than piecemeal.