Preparing for a sale or rental, or simply investing in a property for the long term: there are many reasons why many homeowners have the desire to increase the value of their home. One of the most effective strategies for doing so, while also increasing security, is to replace doors and windows with state-of-the-art models for a quantum leap in terms of efficient energy use, comfort and aesthetics.

Why and how doors and windows affect property value

Without a doubt, windows and doors play a key role in determining the value of a home. Choosing quality doors and windows, in fact, leads to:

• improve the efficient energy use of the home, thus reducing the costs of heating and air conditioning;
• achieve higher security, thanks to stronger materials and modern anti-burglary systems;
• give the home a newer, more modern and well-kept appearance, thus making it significantly more attractive on the market.

Surveys reveal that among the elements that make a house more attractive when selling are new windows and doors. This is not only because the potential buyer knows that he will not have to incur that expense, but also because the house immediately acquires a higher quality performance level. This becomes even more valuable when choosing windows and doors that perform well in terms of thermal insulation, as we are now in an era in which sustainability and energy saving are dear to the hearts of more and more people. Even if the owner’s goal was not to sell but simply to increase the value of their house, the substance would not change. Doors and windows are not just simple architectural elements of the house, but play a very important functional and aesthetic role. In fact, they have a huge influence on several aspects that are crucial in assessing not only the economy, but also the quality of life in a home. Some of these aspects include safety, efficient energy use, living comfort and the pleasant certainty of living in an environment that respects one’s aesthetic tastes.

Increasing the value of the home: windows and doors and efficient energy use

The efficient energy use of a house depends primarily on the way the house is insulated relative to the outside. This means that the internal and external temperatures must not catch each other in order to avoid the loss of heat (in winter) and fresh air (in summer) in the house. If windows and doors are old and/or poorly performing, they become a huge weak point in the home’s insulation system, because it is from there that heat or fresh air will tend to disperse outwards. According to ENEA data, old or poorly insulated windows and doors are responsible for around 25-30% of all heat/cool air – and therefore energy – loss in a house. Replacing existing windows and doors with modern, proven insulating models means eliminating the presence of these weak points, thus helping to reduce energy consumption even considerably. As a result, the home will be more sustainable on an environmental level, and also cheaper to heat and cool. Choosing modern, high-performance windows and doors, whose frames are properly installed and supported by well-insulating glass, significantly increases the energy class of the house. Again, this serves not only to reduce consumption, but also to increase the value of the house; perceived value, but also economic value (all things being equal, a property in energy class A or B can be sold at a higher price per square spindle than one in a lower energy class).

Increasing the value of the home: windows and doors and security

Choosing to invest in new doors and windows brings another benefit in addition to the increased value of the house, namely a renewed sense of security for those living there. It’s not just a feeling, but a reality: modern front doors and doors and windows are much more effective in resisting intruders and burglars. Just think of the typical elements of increased security that many latest-generation doors and windows feature. One example is shatter-proof glass, i.e. glass designed to resist impact; or multi-point locks, i.e. systems that lock the window and door at several points, making it almost impossible to open without a key. Or even reinforced profiles, i.e. frames that are fitted with internal reinforcements to ensure greater security. These are all extra points that new doors and windows can provide in order to have the certainty of living in a safer home and being able to carry out one’s daily activities with peace of mind. Once again, this advantage provided by new doors and windows serves not only to increase one’s living comfort, but also to maximise the value of the property in the case of sale, as security is an element that is certainly close to the hearts of many potential buyers.

Increasing the value of the home: windows and doors and aesthetics

When entering a new or recently renovated modern house, we often dwell on many details but do not realise how much windows and doors affect the final appearance of the house. They are often elements that are taken for granted, but those who choose them for their homes know how much care must be taken to find the right ones in terms not only of performance, but also of aesthetics. Materials, colours and window and door finishes can have a considerable impact on how the space looks, and must therefore be chosen very carefully to ensure that they align with the architectural style of the house and personal taste. Choosing new windows and doors increases the value of a house because it gives it an immediately new, fresh, refined look. Well-designed windows and doors with modern lines, slim profiles and high-quality materials such as aluminium can transform the curtain wall of a building and greatly improve the visual impact of the interior.

Aluminium windows and doors: the right choice for home value

Once it is realised that new doors and windows help increase the value and security of the home, the next question arises: what type of doors and windows to buy to maximise these benefits? From all points of view, aluminium is the material that best meets the need to increase the value and security of a property.

Aluminium windows and doors for efficient energy use

The most modern aluminium windows and doors to be installed in a house to increase its value, such as those proposed by METRA Building, are equipped with what is known as thermal break. In this article we go into the concept of thermal break; here, suffice it to say that it is a material or gas with a high insulating power that is inserted inside the frame of the aluminium window and door, thus maximising its insulating properties. With thermal break aluminium windows and doors, you can therefore be sure of installing an energy efficient use in your home. Thermal break, in fact, helps heat or fresh air to stay in the house, without escaping to the outside. Aluminium ( and Auminium-wood as well as ) windows and doors manufactured by METRA Building are designed to interrupt the thermal bridge and reduce thermal transmittance, i.e. the amount of heat dispersed through the window and door. This translates into less use of heating and cooling systems, resulting in efficient energy use that leads to reduced environmental impact and greater energy savings in the long term.

Aluminium windows and doors for security

Again, no material is more capable of creating high-performance windows and doors from a home security point of view than aluminium. As explained in the article on how to increase home security, aluminium is in fact an extremely resistant material. Light and ductile, but very difficult to cut, break or deform. If aided by the right accessories to improve window and door security, aluminium is undoubtedly the best material to guarantee a good night’s sleep and, collaterally, to increase the value of a property. METRA Building aluminium windows and doors are equipped with internationally recognised security systems that allow you to live in your home with peace of mind. For example, you can count on:

• windows and doors achieving RC2 and RC3 security classifications;
• locking system comprising up to 16 perimeter closing points, making the window virtually impenetrable;
• the Secustik system® , which helps prevent unwanted opening of the window from the outside.

Moreover, when we talk about doors and windows we can also talk about safety from another point of view: that of resistance to atmospheric agents. If very violent and repeated, they can in fact jeopardise the durability and quality of a poorly performing window and door frame, but also simply ruin the aesthetics (and, in the long run, the performance) of a wooden or PVC frame. Aluminium, on the other hand, is an extremely weather-resistant material: it does not fade, does not deteriorate, does not corrode, and maintains its qualities over time even when subjected to prolonged exposure to rain, snow, wind, hail or solar radiation.

Aluminium windows and doors for improved aesthetics

When it comes to aesthetics, aluminium performs much better than PVC, which, even when of high quality, never completely hides its plastic appearance. Moreover, standard PVC is white; if different colours or finishes are desired, films are glued to the profiles, which may come off, yellow or discolour over the years. Wood is certainly a material with an excellent aesthetic impact, especially for more classic or rustic houses. This, however, loses its value when we realise how careful the maintenance of wooden windows and doors must be if we want them to last. Even from the point of view of aesthetics, aluminium has no flaws: it has clean, essential lines that contribute to the refinement of any environment. Aluminium windows and doors come in a very wide range of colours and finishes (sandblasted, opaque, polished, satin-finished, etc.); thanks to oxidation or painting processes, colours and effects will always remain brilliant and unaltered over time. Aluminium windows and doors fit perfectly into modern stylistic contexts, such as contemporary, minimal or industrial houses. Those who do not want to renounce the warmth of wood can choose the combination of the two materials, as shown in the example of the Aluminium-wood line by METRA Building. In this case, you will enjoy the elegance of wood in the interior of the house, while aluminium will be used for a refined, safe and extremely resistant external frame.

Increasing home value and security with METRA Building doors and windows

Installing new aluminium doors and windows is an investment that allows you to raise the value of your home by considering three fundamental aspects: energy efficiency, security and aesthetics. Thanks to their extraordinary properties, aluminium windows and doors respond well to the needs of all these elements: they are efficient and well insulating, they make the house safe and give the rooms a refined and designer look. METRA Building offers aluminium doors and windows with different features and openings, as well as being equipped with modern accessories and prepared for the widest aesthetic customisation. They are therefore the best choice when deciding to replace old doors and windows to increase the value of the home.