I'm doing repairs in my Khrushchyovka apartment, and the old wooden windows are completely falling apart. I heard that aluminum is colder but cheaper. Or maybe I should just go with PVC right away, even though it'll be more expensive?
In a panel building, I'd go with PVC - aluminum really is cold, and in a Khrushchyovka with its heat loss, you'll definitely notice it, plus there's condensation. Yeah, it's more expensive, but it pays for itself through better insulation and durability, and it's harder to redo things in those kinds of buildings later.
I'd still recommend PVC, even though it's more expensive. Aluminum is just a way to lose money over time, especially in a panel building where you're already losing heat like crazy. In 2026, aluminum windows in residential spaces are becoming a thing of the past for a reason. Without a special thermal break, an aluminum frame freezes over, condensation pours down, and your apartment gets damp. PVC holds heat well, absorbs sound better, and handles moisture just fine. Yeah, it'll cost you an extra thousand or two per window, but that's an investment for at least twenty years.
If money's really tight, then at least go with aluminum that has a thermal break - it'll be better, but still not ideal. Also pay attention to how many chambers are in the PVC profile - three-chamber ones are cheaper than five-chamber, but they don't hold heat as well. Four-chamber is a decent compromise. And don't cheap out on installation - a badly installed window is half the problem. Sealing, mounting foam, sills - all that stuff matters.
One more thing: don't rush to replace all your windows at once if your budget's limited. You can do them one by one - start with the south side, then the rest. I think that's smarter than taking on a huge debt to redo everything at the same time.
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