Aluminium vs uPVC vs Timber Windows & Doors in Nigeria: Costs

Of all the finishing items on a house, doors and windows are the ones most likely to be argued about on site. There are dozens of them, they are bought and fitted at different times, and the price you are quoted for "a door" can vary enormously depending on what the quote actually includes. Choose the wrong material for the wrong location — a timber door on a bathroom, an unprotected steel frame near the coast — and you will be replacing it within a few years.

This guide compares the four materials Nigerian builders actually choose between — aluminium, uPVC, timber and steel — on the criteria that matter in a hot, humid, termite-prone climate. It then explains how to make quotes comparable and works through a complete set of openings for a 3-bedroom bungalow using indicative 2026 rates from our own price tables.

What a "Complete" Window or Door Actually Includes

Before comparing materials, get the definition of the item straight. A door or window is not one thing; it is a bundle:

• the leaf or sash (the part that opens) and the frame it sits in;
• glazing for windows — glass type and thickness are a cost variable in their own right;
• ironmongery — hinges, handles, locks, stays and bolts;
• finishing — paint or varnish for timber and steel, anodising or powder-coating for aluminium;
• fixing and making good — labour to install, plus sealant, mortar around the frame and architraves.

This is why online price lists can look wildly different from a contractor's BOQ. One widely read guide lists bare flush plywood door leaves at roughly ₦5,000–₦6,000 (low density) and ₦9,000–₦11,000 (high density) (Nigerian Search Guide). Our BOQ library, by contrast, prices a complete timber flush door — leaf, frame and ironmongery — at about ₦90,000. Neither number is wrong; they describe different things. Always ask whether a quote is for the leaf only or for a complete, fitted set, and compare like with like.

Aluminium: The All-Rounder for Windows

Aluminium is the default window material for good reason. It resists corrosion, does not warp or rot, is not attacked by termites, is non-combustible and needs little more than occasional cleaning with water and mild detergent. Its strength allows slim frames and large panes of glass, which is why it is so common on sliding and large casement windows (Eternia Windows).

The trade-offs: aluminium conducts heat, so basic frames do little for thermal comfort (better systems add a thermal break), and it typically costs more than uPVC. Near the coast, where salt air is present, specify a good quality powder-coat or anodised finish and rinse frames occasionally so salt does not build up. Our BOQ library prices a complete aluminium casement window, including glazing, at about ₦78,000 each.

uPVC: Low Maintenance, With Limits

uPVC frames do not rust, rot or fade, never need painting and are easy to clean. They provide good thermal and sound insulation, and they are termite-proof. Two limitations are worth knowing: uPVC is not as strong as aluminium, so frames are bulkier and less suited to very large or wide openings, and it can warp if exposed to strong direct sunlight for years — worth thinking about on west-facing elevations. It is also not fire-resistant: it can melt at high temperature (Eternia Windows).

Generic comparisons usually rank uPVC as cheaper than aluminium, but Nigerian price guides do not agree with each other — local supply, brand, profile quality and fabricator all move the number more than the material label does. Treat any single "aluminium is cheaper" or "uPVC is cheaper" claim sceptically and get quotes for the same size and specification. Where uPVC is common in Nigeria is doors, particularly bathrooms and toilets: our library prices a complete uPVC door and frame at about ₦125,000.

Timber: Beautiful, but Only Where It Is Protected

Timber insulates naturally against heat and noise and can be cut and carved to any shape, which is why it remains popular for internal doors, and for external doors under a sheltered porch. Its weakness is exactly the Nigerian climate: timber is vulnerable to decay in humid or coastal conditions, needs regular painting or varnishing, and needs protection against termites and moisture. Specify a durable, well-seasoned hardwood, have all faces and end grains sealed, and keep timber out of bathrooms and other wet areas. A complete timber flush door in our library costs about ₦90,000.

Steel: For Security, Not for Comfort

Steel is the material for your main entrance and any door that must resist forced entry, and it is also used for burglar-proof window guards. It is strong and cannot be attacked by termites, but it will rust unless properly primed and painted, and it gets hot in the sun. Prices vary widely with gauge, finish and origin: one price guide lists common steel doors in the tens of thousands of naira and stainless or armoured models well above that, while our library prices a complete steel security door and frame at about ₦290,000. The lesson is to specify gauge and finish precisely and check that the frame is as substantial as the leaf.

Which Material Where? A Quick Guide

A Worked Example: Openings for a 3-Bedroom Bungalow

Imagine a 3-bedroom bungalow with eight windows (six standard, two small bathroom windows), one external door and six internal doors. Two indicative ways to price it:

Materials only — the rates our Estimator uses. Large window ₦50,000, bathroom window ₦22,000, external door ₦80,000, internal door ₦38,000:

Complete, fitted items — the rates in our BOQ library. Eight aluminium casement windows at ₦78,000 come to ₦624,000; one uPVC external door at ₦125,000 plus six timber flush doors at ₦90,000 come to ₦665,000 — around ₦1.29 million in total. The difference between roughly ₦0.65 million and ₦1.29 million is the difference between buying components and buying finished, glazed, ironmongery-fitted, installed openings. Neither is the "right" number until you know what your contractor's quote covers. All figures are indicative planning rates; confirm current prices locally.

Notice how quickly openings add up: a mid-sized house can spend well over half a million naira on them even at the materials-only rates. That is one reason a detailed estimate is worth more than a rule of thumb.

Eight Ways to Make Quotes Comparable

1. Give every opening a schedule number and size (for example W1 — 1200 × 1200mm; D2 — 900 × 2100mm) and ask every bidder to price the same schedule.
2. Specify the material and profile — aluminium gauge, uPVC profile, timber species and finish.
3. Specify glazing — clear, tinted, obscure for bathrooms — and glass thickness.
4. State what ironmongery is included: locks, handles, hinges, stays, and how many keys.
5. Say who supplies what: frame only, frame and leaf, or fully glazed and installed.
6. Include burglar bars if you want them, since they are a separate item on many quotes.
7. Ask for a sample or a finished example before ordering in bulk.
8. Get delivery time and payment terms in writing — windows made to order take time, and a late delivery holds up plastering and painting.

Where Openings Show Up in Your BOQ

In a standard Bill of Quantities, doors and windows are usually listed in the finishes section as numbers of items ("No.") rather than by area. Ask your quantity surveyor for a door-and-window schedule that lists each opening with its size, material and finish, and check that the total count matches the plan. If you already have a BOQ, upload it to our BOQ Import tool — lines such as "aluminium casement window and frame, complete with glazing" are matched to a rate automatically, and you can review and edit every line before exporting. Doors and windows also affect neighbouring costs: wall openings reduce the blockwork area you pay for (use the Block Wall Calculator to net them off) and every opening needs a lintel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is aluminium or uPVC better for Nigerian windows?

Both perform well in humid conditions because neither rots, rusts badly or feeds termites. Aluminium is stronger and suits large panes and wide openings; uPVC insulates better and needs no painting but has bulkier frames and can warp under long exposure to direct sun. Choose by the size of the opening, the elevation and the quality of the fabricator, and compare quotes for identical specifications.

Can I use timber doors in a bathroom?

It is best avoided. Timber swells, warps and rots when it is repeatedly wet, and paint or varnish only delays this. uPVC or aluminium is a much safer choice for bathrooms and toilets.

Why are my quotes for the same door so different?

Usually because they include different things — leaf only versus a complete set with frame, ironmongery, finish and installation — or different materials and thicknesses. Ask every supplier to itemise, and compare prices only after the specifications match.

How many doors and windows does a 3-bedroom bungalow need?

A typical layout has one external door, one internal door for each bedroom, bathroom and toilet, and roughly one window per habitable room plus small windows for wet areas. Your architect's schedule is the authority; a floor plan drawn in our Floor Plan Editor lets you count openings room by room.

Do I need burglar bars on aluminium or uPVC windows?

Many owners do add them, particularly to ground-floor windows. They are a separate cost and are usually specified as mild-steel bars or a fabricated guard, painted against rust. Decide early, because fixing bars into a finished frame is harder than planning them in.

Should I buy windows before the walls are up?

Order windows once the openings are set out and you have confirmed the finished sizes — typically after the blockwork reaches window height. Ordering too early risks sizes that do not match the built openings; ordering too late holds up plastering and painting.