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A window grille not only provides security against intruders but also provides safety against the risk of falling out, and forms an important design element of the home. Factors like strength, durability and resistance to external weather elements play a key role in deciding the best material for window grilles.These grilles are usually fixed on the inner side of the windows for security or can be installed on the external side of the windows to form an integral part of the building facade. Here are some of the best window grille materials that can be used to complement the overall look of your home.

Cast iron and wrought iron grilles
Give an ornate look to your windows with cast iron or wrought iron window grilles.

Pros

• Iron can be moulded into any shape to achieve intricate designs that give a decorative look to the home, and it never goes out of style.
• Iron is a very strong and long-lasting material.

Cons

• Iron is prone to rusting, hence the window grilles should be sealed regularly.
• Wrought iron and cast iron window grilles are very expensive.

MS (mild steel)
MS is the most popular material that is used for window grilles.

Pros

• MS is a very strong and durable material that is easy to work with.
• MS is very easy to maintain and just needs to be wiped with a damp cloth.
• The best part about MS is that it can be used to fabricate both straight-line designs and ornamental grille designs.
• Additionally, the grilles can be painted in any colour to match with the colour of the windows.
• MS window grilles are one of the most affordable materials used for the window grilles.

Cons

• One drawback about this material is that MS has the tendency to rust, hence it is essential to periodically paint the window grilles.

Aluminium
Aluminium grilles are available in straight-line designs which impart a modern look to the home.

Pros

• Aluminium is a strong, light-weight and highly durable material that is resistant to most outdoor weather conditions.
• The window grilles can be powder-coated in various colours.
• Aluminium grilles are easy to maintain and can be cleaned with a damp cloth.
• Another plus is that aluminium window grilles do not rust.

Cons

• While aluminium does not rust, it does get corroded and discoloured due to oxidation in the presence of salt air, so aluminium is not suitable for coastal areas.
   

SS (stainless steel)
SS window grilles are a great way to impart a high-end modern look to the home.

Pros

• SS is strong, sturdy, maintenance-free and does not rust, because it has a top coating of chromium oxide.
• The sleek sections of SS grilles look sophisticated and have a superior finish.
• Thin sections of steel can used to create an invisible and functional window grille. How? Steel wires are stretched across the windows with brackets to form a security feature, just as you see in the image above. Also, the steel wires are so thin that the steel sections are barely visible at a distance.

Cons

• SS window grilles are very expensive in comparison to other window grille materials.

Wood
Wooden grilles add softness as well as an element of warmth within the home but do not provide adequate security, compared to metal grilles.

Pros

• Wooden window grills are only used as an aesthetic element for low-rise buildings. Here, in this example, wood is used to create an interesting design feature on the cantilevered window of the building facade.

Cons

• Wood has the tendency to rot, get attacked by termites and may splinter over a period of time. Additionally, wooden elements require a lot of maintenance and need to be sealed at least once in two years.

Concrete jalis
How about using a concrete jali (lattice screen) instead of the conventional window grille materials?

Pros

• Concrete is a robust material and can be used as a jali over the window. These jalis are available in a prefabricated form and are usually installed in low-rise bungalows or villas. Such a jali comprises small perforations in a sheet of concrete and is an effective way to combat the hot Indian climate (especially in northern India).
• These jalis are fixed and are available in various patterns; they provide light and adequate ventilation to the home.
• Jalis give a traditional look to the home.

Cons

• It provides limited views of the outdoors, hence most homeowners prefer windows that can open, instead of jalis.