Choosing Aluminum Windows & Doors in South Africa

South Africa is located at the southernmost tip of the African continent, spanning the tropical and subtropical regions of the Southern Hemisphere. The country's climate is generally characterized by high temperatures, dryness, and strong coastal winds. Aluminum Windows & Doors significantly reduce the impact of this climate, making them widely used in South Africa.

Features of South African Aluminum Windows & Door

Strong Corrosion Resistance: South Africa is predominantly coastal, with high levels of sea salt ions from seawater evaporation. These ions combine with moisture in the air to form "salt fog", creating a generally high-salt-fog environment. Therefore, South African aluminum profiles must possess high corrosion resistance to withstand this coastal environment. Ordinary natural oxide films are insufficient to resist the salt fog ions; window and door frames require surface treatments (such as anodizing and fluorocarbon coating). Thus, South African aluminum windows and doors possess strong corrosion resistance.

High-Strength Frames and Doors: Coastal environments are often accompanied by strong sea winds. To withstand these strong winds, the materials and structural design of aluminum windows and doors must meet high strength requirements. South Africa has a poor security situation with a high incidence of burglaries. Doors and windows, as the bridge to the outside world, need to be burglarproof.

Insulation: Most of South Africa has a hot climate, mainly influenced by tropical savanna and Mediterranean climates. In some areas, such as Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town, aluminum doors and windows require special attention to insulation.

Common Types of  Windows & Doors

In terms of materials, besides pure aluminum alloys, there are composite materials such as aluminum-wood composite doors and windows, aluminum-plastic composite doors and windows, etc. Doors and windows can also be categorized by opening method: aluminum double-folding doors and windows, aluminum folding doors and windows, aluminum sliding doors and windows, aluminum casement doors and windows, aluminum top-hung doors and windows, European-style double doors, curtain walls, etc.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Doors and Window

Aluminum Alloy Grade
Adding appropriate amounts of alloying elements such as Si, Cu, Zn, Mg, and Mn to aluminum forms binary or multi-element aluminum alloys, improving the mechanical properties of aluminum (strength, plasticity, and toughness). The main aluminum alloy grades include: 1024, 2011, 6060, 6063, 6061, 6082, and 7075.

Aluminum profile grades selected based on corrosion resistance are: 6061, 6063, and 6060 in that order.
Aluminum profile grades selected based on tensile strength are: 7075, 6061, 6063, and 6060 in that order.

Surface Treatment
Surface treatment is also a necessary factor in selecting aluminum doors and windows. Good surface treatment can significantly extend the service life of doors and windows. For people living in coastal areas of South Africa, anti-corrosion treatment is essential. In order of strongest corrosion resistance, commonly used surface treatments include fluorocarbon coating, powder coating, and anodizing. Among these, powder coating offers the best cost-effectiveness and is the choice of most people.

Aluminum Doors and Windows with Thermal Breaks
Due to the generally hot weather in South Africa, aluminum windows & doors need to be designed with thermal break to ensure heat insulation and maintain a comfortable indoor environment.

Thermally broken aluminum windows & doors can withstand strong winds not only because of the material itself, but also because of their internal structural design. The hollow structure and reinforcing ribs significantly enhance their pressure resistance.

The thermal break design also strengthens anti-theft capabilities.In recent years, South Africa has seen a surge in burglaries, forcing people to increase their self-protection awareness. The recent kidnapping of the Chinese internet celebrity "Lan Zhanfei" was also due to a home invasion robbery, which has had a significant impact on international communities. For crime-prone areas such as Gauteng Province (Pretoria), Umkhanyakude, and Western Cape Province (Cape Town), the structural design of thermally broken aluminum windows and doors is essential.

Explosion-proof glass
Explosion-proof glass is also necessary to cope with strong coastal winds and burglaries. Explosion-proof glass has a robust structure, using tempered glass and an aluminum alloy frame, significantly improving anti-theft performance and impact resistance.

Brand selection
Sometimes, brand selection is also a crucial factor. A good brand can save you a lot of time and money. In South Africa, the choice of aluminum door and window brands can be based on the country. Currently, major aluminum profile producing countries include China, India, and Germany, with China being the leading producer and therefore the first choice. Below are some major aluminum door and window brands:

Shenghai Aluminum
located in Foshan, Guangdong, China, boasts 15 years of experience in aluminum profile production. Aluminum windows & doors are their core products, including aluminum b-folding doors and windows, aluminum sliding doors and windows, and aluminum casement doors and windows. Their key technologies include surface treatment (powder coating and anodizing), CNC precision cutting, and aluminum extrusion processes. They offer free samples; simply provide drawings or physical samples for product design, with delivery within 15 days. They sell over 2,000 tons of aluminum profiles to South Africa annually, receiving numerous positive customer reviews.

Alteza
located in India, offers high-end aluminum windows & doors systems tailored to your size, color scheme, surface treatment, and accessory requirements. They provide a ten-year warranty and end-to-end solutions, ensuring timely project delivery and earning high praise from many customers.

Alu Group
originating from Germany, is a supplier primarily producing aluminum doors, windows, and curtain walls. With advanced German technology and a focus on quality, Alu Group specializes in projects requiring high energy efficiency, including passive houses, net-zero energy, and deep energy-saving retrofits.