Trusted local window experts serving you since 2008
Trusted local window experts serving you since 2008
An aluminum-clad wood window has a structural core made from solid wood — the same material used in traditional window construction for centuries — with a formed aluminum shell bonded to the exterior faces. The wood provides structural rigidity, natural insulation, and the warm interior finish that homeowners choose wood for. The aluminum cladding protects the wood from rain, humidity, UV exposure, and the freeze-thaw cycles that cause unclad wood windows to swell, crack, and require repainting every few years.
From the street, an aluminum-clad wood window presents an aluminum face — smooth, painted, and maintenance-free. From inside the home, the window looks and feels like wood: the sill, the reveals, and the interior face of the frame are all real timber, finished and stained to the owner's specification. This combination is why aluminum-clad wood is the material of choice for high-end residential projects where interior quality matters as much as exterior performance.
New York’s humid summers, cold winters, and frequent rain cycles are hard on unclad wood. Aluminum cladding eliminates the swelling, cracking, and paint failure that affect painted wood windows — with no compromise to the interior appearance.
Aluminum-clad wood windows with slim exterior profiles are accepted by the LPC across many NYC historic districts. The exterior presents as painted wood — indistinguishable from the street — while meeting modern thermal standards.
In a luxury brownstone or townhouse, the interior finish matters. Real wood reveals, sills, and frames — stained, painted, or left natural — create a quality of finish that no aluminum-only system can replicate.
The classic NYC brownstone window. Both sashes slide vertically. Available with TDL or SDL muntins to match pre-war profiles. The most common configuration for historic replacement projects.
Side-hinged, outward opening. Common in pre-war co-ops and townhouses. Pairs well with fixed panels for large openings. Available with matching exterior aluminum profiles.
European-style operation: tilts inward for ventilation, swings fully open for cleaning and egress. Popular in contemporary gut renovations where the mechanical precision of the hardware is part of the design intent.
Maximum glass area, no moving parts. Often combined with operable units in the same frame for large living room or stair hall openings.
Matching aluminum-clad wood entry doors and French doors. Coordinated hardware, matching exterior finish, real wood interior. Available for both landmark and non-landmark buildings.
For rear garden-level openings and extensions. Aluminum-clad wood lift-and-slide door systems bring the warmth of wood to large glass openings without the maintenance of unclad timber.
– Pine — traditional, paintable, cost-effective
– Oak — durable, prominent grain, stainable
– Meranti — stable, tight grain, popular for staining
– Ash — light color, straight grain, highly shock-resistant
– Custom species on request
– Factory-primed (paint on site)
– Pre-painted in any RAL or custom color
– Factory-stained (clear or tinted)
– Natural oiled finish
– Custom stain matching available
– Full RAL color range — powder coated
– Bronze, Copper, Aluminum
– Interior and exterior colors can differ
– Most popular: RAL 9010, 7016, 9005, 8022
– Matte black, brushed brass, bronze
– Satin and polished stainless steel
– Espagnolette (multi-point locking)
– European precision hardware brands
– Coordinated across windows and doors
| Clad wood | Solid wood | Aluminum | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interior appearance | real wood | real wood | aluminum only | |||
| Exterior maintenance | none (aluminum) | repainting every 4–7 yrs | none | |||
| Thermal performance | excellent (wood + thermal break) | good | excellent (thermally broken) | |||
| LPC compatibility | accepted in most districts | most traditional | accepted with slim profiles | |||
| Customization depth | highest | high | medium | |||
| Cost | premium | mid to premium | mid | |||
| Best for | luxury brownstones, townhouses, landmark buildings where interior quality matters | highest-end restorations | larger projects, contemporary aesthetic |
Not sure aluminum is right? See our Wood Windows page and Steel Windows for NYC page.
Landmarked brownstone or rowhouse renovation — Aluminum-clad wood with slim exterior profiles and matching muntin geometry is the ideal solution for pre-war buildings in LPC districts. Passes review, requires no exterior repainting, looks correct from the street.
High-end townhouse gut renovation — Full-building replacement in a single material for visual consistency. Custom wood species and interior stain matched to the interior design. Exterior color coordinated with facade restoration work.
Luxury co-op or condo apartment — For buildings that permit window replacement, aluminum-clad wood brings a warmth to the interior that aluminum-only systems cannot provide. Particularly effective in pre-war apartments with traditional millwork and plaster details.
Historic carriage house conversion — Where the original building had wood windows but the interior renovation is high-end contemporary. Clad wood bridges the gap: authentic exterior, premium interior.
New construction in a historic context — For new buildings adjacent to or within landmark districts where the design intent is to relate to rather than copy the historic fabric. Custom profiles allow the architect to specify exactly the sightlines and proportions the design requires.
Choosing between wood species, interior stain colors, and exterior aluminum finishes is much easier when you can hold the samples in your hands. Our Brooklyn showroom carries full-size profile samples of our aluminum-clad wood systems, including multiple wood species, interior and exterior finish options, and hardware choices — all in one place.
Bring your architect, your interior designer, or just your instincts. Consultations are free and there is no obligation. We are located in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and available by appointment Monday through Saturday.
