Aluminum cladding for frames: who is it for and why?

What is aluminum cladding?

Aluminum cladding (capping) means covering the exterior wood of frames with aluminum bent to measure. The aluminum follows the shape of the frame and the trim. The wood ends up sheltered from water and sun.

Cladding goes over existing frames. You don't have to replace your windows. Several elements can be clad:

• Window frames and trim
• Door and patio door frames
• Window sills
• The surround of garage doors

Who is it for, and why?

Cladding is mainly for homeowners whose wood frames are in good condition, but who are tired of repainting them. It also appeals to condo associations and building managers looking to reduce facade upkeep.

The first advantage is no more painting. Aluminum doesn't peel and doesn't need a finish coat. The second is protecting the wood: under the aluminum, it's no longer exposed to the weather. There's also the look. You choose the colour of the aluminum to match your windows and siding, and we compare samples on site, in front of your home, rather than on a screen.

Finally, cladding makes upkeep simpler in the years that follow. No more scraping, no more primer, no more scaffolding every few summers to repaint the upstairs frames.

A few signs it's time to think about it:

• The wood of the frame is peeling, cracking or turning black
• The frames need repainting
• You're redoing the caulking or the facade
• You want to change the colour of the frames

Repair before cladding

Above all, remember this: aluminum doesn't fix rot. If soft or damp wood is clad, the problem continues, hidden under the metal.

Where does that moisture come from? The Government of Quebec explains that warm air escaping from the house carries moisture. It can cause hidden condensation and lead to mould and rot in the framing. A damaged frame is sometimes the sign of an air or water leak that needs to be fixed first.

That's why we look at the condition of the wood during the assessment. We check whether it's firm, whether it's dry and whether the paint is hiding blackened areas. If the frame is too damaged, we tell you before proposing cladding. The wood gets repaired first, then clad.

You then receive a detailed written quote, prepared after the on-site assessment. That way, you know what will be done, and in what order.

The job, from bending to caulking

Every opening is different. The frames of an older home aren't all the same width, and the trim varies from one window to the next. That's why the aluminum is bent to measure, not taken from a standard piece.

Cladding protects the wood, but it doesn't seal the joint between the frame and the wall. The Government of Quebec specifically recommends caulking that joint, and points out that installation is often the real problem, more than the window itself. So it's often a good time to do both jobs: we install the aluminum, then caulk the joints.

Natural Resources Canada lists silicone among the caulking products for indoor and outdoor use. We use DOWSIL™ 791, a silicone that, according to its data sheet, bonds without primer to many materials and resists sun, rain and snow. DOWSIL™ 791 applied by our team comes with a lifetime warranty on materials and labour, subject to the terms of the contract.

The steps:

• We measure each opening
• We bend the aluminum to measure, in the colour you choose
• We fit the installation to the existing frame
• We caulk the joints with DOWSIL™ sealant

Residential, condo and commercial

In residential work, cladding is often done at the same time as caulking doors and windows. We go around the house just once.

In condos and commercial buildings, it often covers a full facade or an entire building. We then plan the work with the condo association or the manager, to keep access and operations running during the job. We also work as a subcontractor for general contractors, with the product specified in the specs.

In every case, upkeep after installation stays simple: a look at the caulking joints in the spring and fall. Natural Resources Canada points out that a caulking product's lifespan depends on the product. In the field, exposure to sun and freeze-thaw cycles matters too.

What cladding doesn't replace

Aluminum cladding is protection and finishing work. It isn't insulation, and it doesn't solve everything. If your rooms are cold or you feel drafts, the cause is often elsewhere: in the joints, the weatherstripping or the attic.

It doesn't replace:

• Repairing rotten wood
• Caulking around doors and windows
• Weatherstripping on the opening parts
• Replacing a window at the end of its life