Hardware: Includes hinges, stays, and other components that facilitate the operation of the window.

Despite their many advantages, aluminum window extrusion profiles do have some drawbacks. One of the main concerns with aluminum windows is their poor thermal performance. Aluminum is a highly conductive material, meaning that it can easily transfer heat and cold into and out of the home. This can lead to increased energy costs as the home's heating and cooling systems work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Not merely the component for joining panels together, metal fence posts are also the primary anchors for any installation. By acting as a fence’s “feet,” posts provide stability and security necessary to keep the panels firmly in place. Their height can vary to accommodate whichever panel height you’ve chosen. Matching the post to the panel is essential. These components rely on 2″ square tubing and are visually distinct from the panels. To anchor iron safety fence panels to their corresponding posts, special hardware called a “sleeve,” or a “bracket” attaches the top and bottom rails to the post. Then they’re permanently attached using either screws or a weld.

Most of these features, which used to be unique to iron, are now available in steel, which is by a large margin the superior material. And visually, the only difference between the two is the texture. Steel is smooth, while iron has a visible grain, whether it is produced by casting, or by pulling. This grain is actually caused by impurities in the iron and is what accounts for its unreliable nature. These impurities cause weak points in the iron that can lead to breakage when it’s put under stress. Steel’s smooth appearance results from the fact that these impurities have been burned out, or, in the case of carbon, evenly distributed throughout the material. When you think of the medieval blacksmith hammering away, what he is doing is distributing the carbon evenly to turn iron into steel.