Is There Something Besides Wood I Can Make Window Grilles With?

Vinyl Molding

• Made of weather-resistant polyvinylchloride, vinyl molding is easily cut and shaped into grilles reminiscent of 18th and 19th century windows. Used strictly for aesthetic purposes, vinyl grilles do not provide home security. Insta-Pane strips are faux grilles that are easily cut into strips using scissors, then attached to connectors and applied to clean glass with gentle pressure on hook and loop tape. Vinyl grilles are lightweight, fade-resistant and can be painted.

Wrought Iron

• Wrought iron window grilles are decorative and, when secured properly, provide a measure of safety. Inspiration for handcrafted wrought iron grills can be found in historical, regional and artistic movements; the St.Tropez Boutique (sainttropezboutique.us), for example, sells Moroccan-inspired grills, while Victorian grills are available from Wrought Artworks (wroughtartworks.com). When placed in windows with ample sunlight, iron grills cast architectural shadows on floors and walls. Unlike iron grilles of the 6th century, contemporary designs are coated to resist rusting.

Faux Iron

• Decorative grilles made of faux iron can be constructed to fit traditional and odd-shaped windows. Made of recycled, reclaimed wood fibers and resin, faux iron is sold under the Tableaux® Faux Wrought Iron brand. It is lightweight, easy to install and cheaper than real wrought iron. Grilles can be personalized or purchased in styles ranging from traditional grids to complex Mediterranean-inspired shapes. TableauxEX is intended for outdoor window treatments and TableauxFR meets fire resistant specifications for commercial use.

Aluminum

• Aluminum window grilles are growing in popularity because they are another lightweight option for crafting intricately designed security windows that are less expensive than real iron or steel grilles. Because they are powder-coated, aluminum grilles do not corrode or rust when exposed to the elements. Aluminum grilles permanently sandwiched between two panes of insulated glass make exterior and interior window cleaning easier.