London · Q2 2026
Schüco vs Cortizo Windows
Two premium aluminium systems, two different philosophies
Schüco is the German benchmark, engineered around a deep, heavily insulated profile platform and a very wide range of opening types. Cortizo is the Spanish system house whose sliding range is built around an unusually narrow central junction, 20mm on COR Vision Sliding. PAS 24 is available on both, and both fit the same openings. The choice is rarely about which is "better", it's about which set of priorities matches your project.
Full spec comparison
Manufacturer-published figures for the systems Apex Glazing fits most often across London. Schüco publishes a frame-only Uf for its AWS windows and a whole-element Uw for its door systems; Cortizo publishes a whole-window Uw. The two are not directly comparable, so they are labelled separately below rather than merged into one column.
| System | Published U-value | Profile / face width | Max sash | Max weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schüco AWS 70.HI | Uf from 1.5 W/m²K | Face width from 51 mm | 1700 × 2500 mm | 200 kg | Casement and tilt-turn |
| Schüco AWS 90.SI+ | Uw 0.79 W/m²K | Frame 188 mm | , | , | Passivhaus-certified window |
| Schüco ASE 60 | Uw from 1.1 W/m²K | Interlock 40 / 102 mm | 3500 × 3500 mm | 500 kg | Lift-and-slide doors |
| Schüco ASE 80.HI | Uw from 0.99 W/m²K | Interlock 40 / 102 mm | 3500 × 3500 mm | 500 kg | Large lift-and-slide |
| Cortizo COR 60 TB | Uw from 1.0 W/m²K | Frame 60 / sash 68 mm | 1500 × 2600 mm | 160 kg | Standard residential |
| Cortizo COR 70 Industrial TB | Uw from 0.76 W/m²K | Frame 70 / sash 78 mm | 1500 × 2600 mm | 160 kg | Steel-look casement |
| Cortizo COR 80 Industrial | Uw from 0.71 W/m²K | Frame 80 / sash 88 mm | 1500 × 2600 mm | 160 kg | Highest-spec casement |
| Cortizo COR Vision Sliding | Uw from 1.3 W/m²K | Central junction 20 mm | 2500 × 3000 mm | 320 kg | Slimmest sliding junction |
| Cortizo COR Vision Plus Sliding | Uw from 0.9 W/m²K | Central junction 25 mm | 4000 × 4000 mm | 400 kg | Very large sliding panels |
Sources: Schüco AWS 70 and ASE / AS FD system documentation, Passive House Institute component database (AWS 90.SI+, ID 0734wi03), and Cortizo published system data sheets. Cortizo does not publish a face-width figure in mm for its COR casement systems, so frame and sash depths are given instead.
Fitted prices in London, Q2 2026
Both systems are made to order, so the fitted cost depends on size, opening type, glass specification, colour and access. We do not publish a price list for either, because a number quoted without a survey is a number we would have to change. What we can say is the shape of it: for the same opening, a Schüco AWS casement generally sits above the equivalent Cortizo COR casement, and Cortizo's slim sliding systems carry their own premium over standard sliders. Every Apex quote includes the frame, glazing, fitting, removal of the old unit, FENSA self-certification under Reg 40373 and our 10-year guarantee.
The verdict, when each wins
Here's the honest split. Neither is the "right" choice for every brief, and there's no shame in mixing systems on a single property, Schüco AWS for the front elevation, Cortizo COR 70 Industrial for the rear extension steel-look.
| When to choose Schüco | When to choose Cortizo |
|---|---|
| Certified Passivhaus window required (AWS 90.SI+) | Steel-look casement replacement (COR 70 Industrial) |
| Widest range of opening types in one platform | The narrowest sliding central junction available |
| RC2 or RC3 security required | Slim sliding doors at a 20mm central junction (COR Vision) |
| Insurance-led reinstatement after fire/flood | Whole-house aluminium upgrade on a budget |
| Heritage building specifying German engineering | Bold RAL or dual-colour external/internal finishes |
| Tilt-turn, pivot and barrier-free window doors needed | Mid-century modern, brutalist or Mediterranean briefs |
| Architect specifically references Schüco AWS | Listed-building rear extension with rear visibility low |
Frequently asked
Is Schüco better than Cortizo?
Neither is universally better, they're engineered for different priorities. Schüco's strength is the breadth of its AWS platform, one 70mm basic depth covering casement, tilt-turn, pivot and barrier-free window doors, with burglar resistance available up to RC3 and sound reduction up to 48 dB. Cortizo's strength is its sliding range: COR Vision Sliding puts the central junction where two panes meet at 20mm, which is as narrow as mainstream aluminium sliding gets. On casements, Cortizo publishes a whole-window Uw from 0.76 W/m²K for COR 70 Industrial TB and from 0.71 W/m²K for COR 80 Industrial.
Which is more expensive, Schüco or Cortizo?
For the same casement opening in London, Schüco AWS generally sits above the equivalent Cortizo COR system. That reverses on the slim sliding systems, where Cortizo's COR Vision range carries its own premium. Both are made to order, so we quote after a survey rather than from a list, size, opening type, glass specification, colour and access all move the number.
What is the U-value of Schüco AWS 70.HI?
Schüco publishes a frame-only figure for this system: Uf from 1.5 W/m²K at a 70mm basic depth. Schüco does not publish a headline whole-window Uw for AWS 70.HI, because Uw depends on the glass, the spacer and the size of the unit. The Apex data sheet for the system quotes a U-value from 1.2 W/m²K for a typical glazed unit. Approved Document L sets the limiting standard for a replacement window in an existing dwelling at 1.4 W/m²K, or Window Energy Rating Band B.
What is the narrowest Cortizo sliding junction?
COR Vision Sliding has a 20mm central junction, the vertical bar where two panes meet. COR Vision Plus Sliding sits at 25mm but carries far more glass, up to a 4000 × 4000mm sash at 400kg manually operated. Cortizo does not publish a face-width figure in millimetres for its COR casement systems, only frame and sash depths, so any "45mm casement sightline" figure you see quoted for Cortizo is not a Cortizo-published number.
Are Schüco windows worth the extra money?
It depends what you need from the system rather than on brand prestige. Schüco AWS 70.HI gives you a very wide range of opening types on one platform, burglar resistance up to RC3, sound reduction up to 48 dB and vents up to 1700 × 2500mm at 200kg. If your brief is a standard set of casements at Building Regulations performance, a Cortizo COR 60 TB or COR 70 Industrial TB will meet it at lower cost, and on published Uw the Cortizo casements are the stronger thermal performers.
What's the difference between COR 70 Industrial and the other COR 70 systems?
"COR 70" is a family, not a single system. Cortizo publishes COR 70 Industrial TB, COR 70 C16 ST TB, COR 70 CC16 TB and several hidden-sash variants, all on a 70mm frame depth with a 78mm sash. COR 70 Industrial TB is the steel-look variant used for Crittall-style replacement, published at Uw from 0.76 W/m²K, a maximum sash of 1500 × 2600mm and 160kg, with sound reduction up to 44 dB.
Can both Schüco and Cortizo windows meet PAS 24?
Yes, PAS 24 is available on both. Schüco publishes burglar resistance up to RC3 to BS EN 1627 for AWS 70.HI, and up to RC2 for the ASE 60 lift-and-slide. Cortizo publishes RC2 for COR 80 Industrial and a passed PAS 24 security test on its sliding systems. PAS 24 is a specification you order the window to, not something every unit carries by default, so it needs to be on the quote.
What guarantee comes with Schüco or Cortizo windows?
Neither manufacturer operates a universal consumer guarantee. Schüco UK states plainly that because Schüco does not manufacture or install the finished product, there is no universal Schüco warranty period and your warranty comes from the company you contract with. Through Apex Glazing, both systems come with our 10-year guarantee on the frame, and 5 years on the sealed glass units.
Which systems are Passivhaus certified?
Of the systems on this page, Schüco AWS 90.SI+ is certified by the Passive House Institute as a window component for the cool, temperate climate, at Uw 0.79 W/m²K, efficiency class phC. Schüco AWS 75.SI+ optimized is certified at Uw 0.80 W/m²K. AWS 70.HI is not in the Passive House Institute component database and should not be specified as a certified Passivhaus window. The PHI criterion for the cool, temperate climate is a component Uw of 0.80 W/m²K or better, and 0.85 W/m²K or better in the installed state.
