Vinyl Replacement Windows Are the most common and most popular choice on the market
today. Made primarily from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vinyl windows
can dramatically cut energy bill costs because vinyl is a poor conductor
of heat and cold. Diverse and attractive, vinyl also has a medium
to high R-value and can be custom fit to your satisfaction. Praised
for its strength and adaptability, vinyl is also an affordable window-remodeling
project option that will not corrode, swell, chip, rust, flake,
blister, or peel. It cleans easily and works well with welded frames
and sashes.
Vinyl Advantages:
–
They come in a wide range
of prices making vinyl an option for almost any budget.
–
A huge assortment of colors to choose
from as well as a wide range of standard sizes, which makes
installing it fast and inexpensive.
–
No maintenance is necessary!
–
Environmental concerns. Since vinyl
is made from PVC it isn’t a renewable resource. Environmentalists
argue that it may be difficult to dispose of vinyl in an environmentally
safe manner.
Vinyl Disadvantages:
–
Vinyl replacement windows
cannot be repainted
Aluminum Replacement Windows
Attractive and strong, this option may be a perfect addition to
your home. Though aluminum was the first window replacement material,
consumers often overlook it because it causes conductive heat loss
due to its low R-values. It is also conducive to condensation. These
days there are plastic strips placed between the sash and the frame
that can help with this problem. Three times as strong as vinyl
and forty-three times stronger than wood, aluminum window replacements
are ideal for commercial and residential remodels that require a
great deal of durability.
Aluminum Advantages:
–
Unlike vinyl they can be
painted, but the paint job isn’t as attractive as it
would be on wood.
–
Highly durable and resists deterioration.
–
Available in a kaleidoscopic array
of colors.
Aluminum Disadvantages:
–
Condensation forms around
the window frames.
–
Aluminum is a good heat conductor and
a poor insulator, which allows heat, cold and moisture to
get inside and increase your energy bills.
Wood Replacement Windows
A re ideal for preserving that natural wood look on your home. Both
elegant and timeless, wood sets the bar for aesthetic excellence.
With many modern characteristics that exceed the limitations of
original wood windows, they still degrade and need intermittent
painting
With good R-values, wood windows are impervious to severe temperatures.
While less susceptible to the condensation issues found with aluminum,
if they are installed improperly by say a handyman and not a certified
professional, wood frames can warp, stick, or crack from humidity
and the rain.
Wood Advantages:
–
Most aesthetically beautiful
option.
–
Large assortment of colors and sizes.
–
Good insulation properties and less
prone to condensation.
–
Environmentally safe.
Wood Disadvantages:
–
Tend to be expensive
–
Can shrink and swell
–
Requires periodic maintenance
Wood Clad Options for Window Replacements
With today’s most innovative technology at their disposal,
manufacturers have created synthetic products like Vinyl and Aluminum
Clad Wood to bridge the gap between beauty and practicality. Both
of these options claim to preserve the rustic elegance of natural
wood while minimizing the maintenance and potential problems inherent
to this renewable resource. With virtually limitless internal color
options, the synthetic wood products do have a smaller external
color arrangement.
Aluminum Clad Wood combines the strengths of wood and aluminum to
give consumers the best of both worlds. With a wood interior frame
and an aluminum exterior gives you solid exterior protection without
blistering or swelling common to wood. It is important to remember
that the problems with aluminum still apply to this option.
You can have the best of both worlds with Vinyl Clad Wood—an
expensive but popular option for those who want the classic look
of wooden frames. Unlike real wood, however, maintenance is low
and you still get a high level of protection and cost efficiency.
Fiberglass Replacement Windows
Fiberglass replacement windows are the newest option for homeowners
and are often hard to obtain. Whether the frames are hollow or filled
with other insulators, fiberglass has the highest R-values of all
the options, thus promoting maximum insulation and resistance. Fiberglass
won’t corrode, warp, or deteriorate over time and is even
able to hold very large panes of glass. With the entire spectrum
of colors to choose from, fiberglass offers as much variety as it
does durability.
Expensive and limited in sizes and availability, Fiberglass is a
high-end option for home renovation consumers that are willing to
invest in their window-remodeling project.
Fibrex Replacement Windows
An exclusive product of the Andersen Corporation, Fibrex is an amalgam
of wood fibers and copolymers or epoxy resins. Offered only from
Renewal by Andersen they focus on window replacement and remodels
while their parent company deals primarily with new construction.
A high-end luxury item that offers both look and durability, Fibrex
won’t deteriorate or require maintenance and, unlike vinyl,
can be painted. While it retains a traditional wood-window look,
it is the most expensive option and has been called overpriced by
many in the window-remodeling world.
