Materials
Guide to Wood Windows
Energy Efficiency, Durability, and Health
Advantages of Wood Joinery
In the process of constructing or renovating a living space, every decision matters, and the choice of joinery for enclosures is no exception, as it significantly influences the building’s energy efficiency and has a range of environmental and user health implications. Among the many available options, wood windows stand out as a sustainable choice, offering a series of advantages that go beyond aesthetics.
Furthermore, wood-based construction elements such as windows or shutters are part of Spain’s traditional and bioclimatic architecture, which connects with nature through the use of biomaterials like local wood from sustainable forest management systems, offering an alternative to aluminum and PVC joinery. Additionally, the use of this material is currently booming, from furniture to its application as a structural material, as seen in cross-laminated timber CLT constructions.
Sustainability: In one way or another, we must become aware that all materials create some type of environmental and human health footprint, depending on their raw materials, manufacturing processes, or additives. Wood is a natural and renewable resource that stands out as a low-carbon option if its FSC certification is guaranteed, thus ensuring a minimal impact on human health and the environment.
In fact, during their growth, trees absorb carbon, storing approximately 0.9 t of CO2 per m3. Studies suggest that if all countries used wood in construction and infrastructure, up to 700 million tons of carbon could be mitigated annually.
Energy Efficiency: Wood’s low thermal conductivity makes it an energy-efficient material, contributing to the thermal efficiency of buildings and thus avoiding the need for thermal break, which simplifies its manufacturing.
Furthermore, wood’s lower thermal conductivity compared to other materials like glass, metal, or ceramics makes it warmer to the touch, increasing thermal comfort while also boosting thermal efficiency. Likewise, when used in enclosures such as windows, thanks to its excellent thermal insulation and airtightness, it helps save large amounts of energy and, therefore, generates greater comfort at a lower economic cost.
Hygroscopicity: Wood contributes to environmental comfort by acting as a hygroscopic material, slowly regulating humidity in indoor spaces and keeping it stable throughout the day, thereby improving air quality.
Warmth: In building and interior design, wood is chosen to evoke a sense of comfort, in addition to its unparalleled aesthetics and the wide variety of wood species and finishes it offers. Studies support that the perception of warmth associated with wood, in relation to neuroarchitecture, improves emotional well-being and reduces stress, blood pressure, and heart rate.
Durability: Wood exhibits high natural resistance and durability, along with the possibility of being recycled or biodegraded at the end of its useful life, following the principles of the circular economy.
Low Maintenance: Wood windows require minimal maintenance and increasingly come with warranties offering extended periods without intervention, preserving their original appearance. Previously, sanding and varnishing were necessary, but today, warranties of up to 12 years are offered without any maintenance. Sanding is never necessary, but for joinery facing south, it may be necessary to apply an oil approximately every 5 years to restore the wood, allowing for a change in color if desired.
Repairability: Wood joinery is easily repairable, unlike other materials where this option is not viable and requires replacing entire windows, which extends the lifespan of wood windows and reduces waste generation.
Fire Resistance: Despite common belief, wood demonstrates positive behavior against fire, easily complying with technical code requirements and adding an additional level of safety to wood joinery structures. The cellulose and lignin composition in wood makes it more fire-resistant, as it requires a higher temperature to ignite compared to other materials. Wood also emits less smoke and toxins when burning. Its low thermal conductivity ensures that pyrolysis, the process of transformation into gases, occurs only on the surface, generating a carbonized layer that protects the interior. This phenomenon makes it difficult for the piece to burn completely, preserving its load-bearing capacity.
Low VOC Emissions: Wood joinery emits low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), improving indoor air quality and reducing health risks associated with the presence of harmful substances.
In summary, wood windows represent a potentially higher initial investment than windows made of materials like PVC or aluminum, which is quickly amortized thanks to their high thermal performance, long lifespan demonstrated by experience in traditional constructions, and reduced environmental impact and impact on user health.
In this guide to wood windows, we analyze options available in the Spanish market and the products they manufacture, paying attention to the origin and transformation process of materials, the ecological footprint of the production process, the application of circular economy principles, and health criteria.
Wood Joinery Suppliers in Spain
Wood Joinery in Catalonia
1. ISCLETEC
The company Iscletec, located in Sant Iscle de Vallalta, Barcelona, stands out with over 40 years of experience in manufacturing wood doors and windows. Its focus on energy efficiency is combined with a commitment to sustainability, using FSC-certified wood from Montseny and Les Guilleries. Chestnut, managed with the PEFC seal, offers excellent quality and unique properties in the manufacture of windows and balcony doors.
Madegesa, their supplier of laminated chestnut wood, follows sustainable principles and uses the finger joint assembly system to achieve the required length of profiles. Advantages include stability, maximum wood utilization, cost reduction, and suitability for outdoor use. Madegesa’s manufacturing process focuses on wood selection and drying, ensuring an excellent result and a 100% sustainable process.
They offer 78 mm thick laminated wood windows with double glazing and guarantee maximum airtightness with a triple rubber seal. The windows comply with the quality requirements set by CE, the European conformity mark, and use ecological varnishes with a wide range of colors. The company also offers a manufacturing line for louvered shutters, designed and custom-made. For maintenance, Iscletec proposes a simple and easy treatment using a varnish that they recommend applying twice a year to protect the exterior wood of the windows.
2. RIBA MASSANELL
The company Riba Massanell, based in Vilafranca del Penedès, Barcelona, is a family business with over a hundred years of tradition in carpentry and cabinetmaking. Founded in 1989, it specializes in the manufacture of windows, light timber frame houses, roofs, and custom furniture.
The company uses certified and naturally dried Flanders pine and iroko wood for its windows to ensure their suitability for joinery manufacturing. Designed with high thermal and acoustic performance, they are ideal for passive or high-energy-efficiency constructions. The windows stand out for their modern design and the use of finger joint connections for greater strength.
Pine wood, pale yellow in color, offers good thermal insulation, while iroko, light brown, is more resistant to fungi and termites. Both woods receive a three-layer ecological protective treatment, which includes fungicide, insecticide, and UV filter. Installation is carried out on-site over a pre-frame, and fixation is always mechanical to ensure stability. They use double or double-chamber glazing, with technical characteristics that guarantee good thermal insulation.
3. TENUEE
Tenuee Group is a Catalan wood furniture company known for its prestigious custom window brand, EVO NATURE. In its factory in Vic, it produces solid pine and chestnut wood windows from sustainable forests with PEFC certificates from northern Spain or Europe, which are displayed in showrooms in Barcelona, Girona, and Vic.
The company is committed to local production, which supports the local economy and reduces emissions associated with long-distance transport. The wood windows offer maximum energy efficiency, contributing to reduced heating costs and environmental care. Durability is a key aspect, as the windows are built to withstand adverse weather conditions and daily wear and tear. They use carefully selected woods and apply special treatments to protect them.
4. ELKE
Finestres de Fusta ELKE, located in Maganell, Barcelona, is a company dedicated to the manufacture and import of wood windows. Founded in 1999, its headquarters are in Girona, and it has operated throughout Catalonia since 2012. With over 75 years in the industry and more than 20 years of experience in Spain, the company stands out for manufacturing high-quality windows.
ELKE prides itself on adhering to the strict DIN standards of the Rosenheim Institute for windows and manufactures all its products in its factory in southern Germany. They have completed projects in various locations, including Madrid, Valencia, Switzerland, Germany, and the Balearic Islands.
The company uses ecological and certified woods to manufacture its windows, designed to improve their thermal and acoustic insulation. Some of their features include 68 mm thick laminated wood, drip caps, double seals for airtight closure, high-quality glass, and a surface finished with glaze to minimize maintenance needs.
5. CARRETÉ
Carreté Finestres, founded in 1976 by Juan Carreté in La Selva del Camp, Tarragona, specializes in the manufacture of wood windows and enclosures. With 40 years of experience, the company has a large factory and works with distributors, professionals, and individuals in Spain, Andorra, and France.
The company manages the entire production process, from needs assessment, design, wood selection, manufacturing, and staining, to final installation in the client’s home. All its products have certifications from independent laboratories, complying with CE quality requirements and its environmental commitment.
6. ECOWOOD
ECOWOOD is a Catalan company dedicated to manufacturing windows and enclosures using native woods, selected from forests located within a 100 km radius. The company follows sustainable management practices and holds PEFC and FSC chain of custody certifications, guaranteeing the traceability of the wood used. It specializes in the use of chestnut, a naturally durable and stable wood, especially suitable for exterior applications due to its high tannin content which acts as a protector.
ECOWOOD’s wood windows offer benefits such as energy savings, great luminosity, and an advanced security system. Their hidden sash system maximizes luminosity and the useful glazing surface. They are available in various opening types, such as tilt-and-turn, lift-and-slide, parallel-slide, guillotine, and casement, allowing for aesthetic and functional integration into built spaces.
7. 9INTEX
The company 9INTEX in Calldetenes, near Vic, specializes in wood joinery. They use selected woods, conifers and hardwoods or tropical woods, following quality criteria, guaranteeing their sustainable origin and FSC certification. These woods are applied to the profiles of sashes and frames for enclosures, ensuring high standards in thermal-acoustic insulation, resistance to climatic influences, and durability with minimal maintenance.
The durability of wood, which ages naturally and lasts over time, is a highlight. In terms of finish, they apply different treatments and varnishes according to needs, such as water-based varnishes for protection and decoration, open-pore exterior glazes with sanitizing properties and UV filters. Additionally, they offer autoclave treatments for protection against fungi and insects.
Wood Joinery in the Basque Country
8. APATTA AROZTEGIA
The joinery workshop Apatta Aroztegia, located in Ibarra (Gipuzkoa), is a family workshop that combines tradition and contemporary technology in the development of custom wood projects.
Their activity ranges from interior carpentry to exterior elements, including windows, always with a personalized approach based on the specific needs of each client. The company works with special attention to detail and material quality, integrating artisanal knowledge with modern tools.
One of their main values is the connection with nature and wood as a base material, passed down through generations, which translates into a close, manual, and precise way of working.
9. ZUHAIZKI
Company located in Leaburu (Gipuzkoa), specializing in the manufacture of high-performance wood windows, with a clear focus on energy efficiency and integration into contemporary projects.
Zuhaizki offers a comprehensive service that covers everything from design to manufacturing and installation of joinery, adapting to new construction, renovation, and unique solutions.
Their systems stand out for the use of laminated wood profiles (pine, chestnut, iroko) and for the development of specific solutions such as their 92 mm Passivhaus certified window, designed for high-energy-efficiency buildings.
Additionally, they incorporate innovations such as wood fiber insulation integrated into the profile, improving thermal performance while maintaining the use of natural materials.
10. ZUR-EDER
Zur-Eder, based in Donostia–San Sebastián, is a company with origins in traditional carpentry that has evolved towards the execution of comprehensive wood projects, combining manufacturing, design, and assembly.
With over 50 years of experience, their activity ranges from windows and doors to furniture and complete interior design projects, working in both residential and contract sectors.
One of the company’s distinguishing aspects is the incorporation of processes such as thermotreated wood, which improves its stability and durability without the use of chemicals, thus reinforcing its performance in demanding applications.
The company has its own technical office and the capacity to develop complex projects, integrating as part of the design team alongside architects and designers.
Wood Joinery in OTHER LOCATIONS
11. NEUFORMA
The company Neuforma, with production in Chapinería, Madrid, stands out for its wood windows that combine German technology with Mediterranean creativity. They use noble woods such as Swedish Pine, Valsaín Pine, Cerejeira, Meranti, Sapeli, Iroko, and Chestnut, with an optimal moisture content between 11% and 14%.
The process includes autoclave treatments with open-pore glazes that allow the wood to breathe, avoiding harmful toxins and facilitating simple maintenance. Maintenance with appropriate wood glazes should be applied at least every 2 or 3 years on the exterior face of the joinery if exposed to the sun, and every 6 or 7 years if not exposed to the sun.
The company prioritizes thermal insulation with double glazing for energy saving and guarantees acoustic protection through weatherstripping and specific glass thicknesses, achieving insulation levels of up to 41 dB.
12. CARINBISA
The company Carnibisa, located in Binéfar, Huesca, was founded in 1982 and specializes in the design and manufacture of wood windows. The company operates two production centers, one in Binéfar and another in Tauste, which has contributed to its expansion and consolidation in the sector.
Carinbisa is a member of the main associations in the sector, such as the Spanish Passivhaus Platform, AITIM (Association for Research of Wood Industries), and ASEFAVE (Spanish Association of Manufacturers of Light Facades and Windows). With over 30 years of experience, it manufactures around 20,000 window units per year, in addition to other products such as doors, pre-frames, shutters, and Mallorcan blinds.
The company offers various series of wood windows, including laminated and solid conifer wood options with FSC certification. Their windows stand out for their energy efficiency and acoustic attenuation, reaching up to 0.8W/m2ºC and 50dB. They use high-quality water-based varnishes in their products, which guarantees durability, a variety of colors and finishes, and contributes to the reduction of polluting waste. As for maintenance, regular cleaning with water, neutral soaps, and protective oils is sufficient to preserve the quality of the products.
13. BENITO SISTEMAS
The company Benito Sistemas, based in Navia, Asturias, specializes in the mechanized and artisanal manufacture of wood windows that stand out for the quality of the material, as well as the insulation, security, and functionality of their products.
Founded in 1958 as a modest workshop, Benito Sistemas has experienced significant growth over the years, becoming a benchmark in the Spanish wood window market. With 16,000 square meters of facilities, a factory showroom, its own stores, and an extensive distribution network, the company has achieved a prominent national presence.
14. CARMAVE
Carmave is a company located in Tarazona, Navarre, specializing in the manufacture of wood windows that stands out for offering high-quality joinery with Passivhaus certification. Their windows feature good thermal insulation and rigorous control of infiltrations, ensuring the resistance and durability of their products. Additionally, they offer airtight windows for acoustics, drafts, and odors, guaranteeing safety, efficiency, and respect for the environment.
15. ADAMEZ CARPINTERÍA
ADAMEZ Carpintería y Ventanas is a company dedicated to the manufacture of wood windows and enclosures, with the purpose of offering solutions that combine quality, aesthetics, and sustainability. Its main focus is to highlight the advantages of wood as a noble and versatile material, adapting to market demands and current rigorous technical standards.
A central value at ADAMEZ is the commitment to sustainability and respect for the environment. The company ensures that the wood used in its products comes from responsible and legal sources, promoting sustainable forest management. In this way, they contribute to closing the life cycle of their products by capturing CO2, aligning with current trends in sustainable construction.
16. ASOMA
The Spanish Association of Wood and Mixed Window Manufacturers (ASOMA) is an association whose main objective is to unite national manufacturers of wood and mixed windows, as well as their suppliers, with the purpose of promoting the advantages of wood as a material in the construction of windows and enclosures. The association was created in response to growing market demand and rigorous technical requirements that favor wood windows.
One of the fundamental values of ASOMA and its partners is their commitment to the environment. They ensure that the wood used in window manufacturing comes from legal sources, guaranteeing quality and sustainable forest management. In line with environmental trends, they highlight that the wood window is the only enclosure product whose life cycle begins in the forest and closes with the compensation of greenhouse gas emissions through the CO2 fixed by trees in the forests of origin.
The association has promoted the Award for the Best Wood Enclosure with the aim of recognizing the work of professionals such as architects, carpenters, developers… who opt for wood as a material for enclosures. In addition, the website includes a section dedicated to wood window manufacturers with relevant information about the products and services offered by these sector professionals.
COLABORADORES
- 1. Iscletec, en www.iscletec.com
- 2. Riba Massanell, en www.ribamassanell.com
- 3. Tenuee, en www.tenuee.net
- 4. ELKE, en www.elke.cat
- 5. Carreté Finestres, en www.carrete-finestres.com
- 6. ECOWOOD, en www.ecowood.cat
- 7. 9INTEX, en www.9intex.com
- 8. Apatta Aroztegia, en www.apatta.eus
- 9. Zuhaizki, en www.zuhaizki.com
- 10. Zur-Eder, en www.zur-eder.com
- 11. Neuforma, en www.neuforma.es
- 12. Carnibisa, en www.carinbisa.com
- 13. Benito Sistemas, en www.benito-sistemas.net
- 14. Carmave, en www.carmave.es
- 15. Adamez Carpintería, en www.adamezcarpinteria.com
- 16. ASOMA, en www.asomatealaventana.org