In designing and building a house, door and window frames are often elements that are overlooked. Due to their much smaller proportion compared to the doors and windows themselves, frames are commonly neglected—only to become an issue after the house has been inhabited for a long time. Especially for homes located in tropical areas that face year-round rain and humid air, poorly considered door and window frame choices can lead to problems, such as water seepage into the home.

With today’s material innovations, wood, uPVC, and even steel are all reasonable options for frames, depending on the overall design of the house. However, from a material standpoint, aluminum door and window frames are often the top choice due to their superior strength and durability compared to other materials.

So, what should be considered to ensure the door and window frames you choose are suitable for tropical homes?

Weather-Resistant Material

Because door and especially window frames are constantly exposed to outdoor weather throughout the year, the frame material must be weather-resistant. Specifically, door and window frames must withstand rain, heat, and wind. Good frames should also have optimal expansion and contraction characteristics so they do not affect the door/window panels or the adjacent walls.

Can Be Fitted With Ventilation

One of the advantages of living in tropical regions is the lack of extreme temperature changes throughout the year. This means homes don’t need to be airtight and can benefit from natural airflow to cool indoor spaces. Therefore, it’s best to choose frames that can be fitted with ventilation features—such as louvers, air holes, or integrated openings—so that air can circulate properly. Make sure frames are placed in areas not exposed to direct rain splash, or if not, ensure that ventilation components can be opened and closed as needed.

Precise Joint With the Wall

When choosing the frame material and type, the wall material and the joint between the wall and the door or window frame must also be taken into account. There should be no gaps between the frame and the wall, as these could lead to water seepage during rain. You can opt for frame types with profiles or grooves to compensate for potentially uneven wall angles.

Durability

Especially for low-rise homes, ground moisture must be considered when selecting frame materials. If the wrong material or improper finishing is used, you may face issues like termite infestations or deteriorating materials. In this case, aluminum, steel, and uPVC door and window frames are naturally more durable than wood, which tends to be more vulnerable to excessive ground moisture.

Door and window frames in a home don’t all have to be made from the same material. You can mix and match aluminum, wood, uPVC, and steel frames according to the design and purpose of each room.

Read More: Sliding or Folding Doors – Which Door Type is Right for Your Home