Dipping your toe into the vast world of replacement windows can be intimidating. If you have little or no experience with the topic, it can be difficult to know where to begin.
When you purchase a car you know if you want a sedan or an SUV. When you buy shoes you know whether a leather or canvas shoe is the way to go. With windows, choice of material is the key to navigating your replacement process. There are many possibilities, but once you understand the basics, the choices are very manageable.
ECONOMIC OPTION
There are more vinyl windows sold than any other replacement window option. The reason is simple, vinyl windows are durable, offer some enhanced energy efficiencies, and are easy to maintain. In addition, vinyl is among the least expensive of the replacement window options.
One objection to vinyl windows is that they are constructed with fusion-welded seams, which compromise the smooth finish that is so desirable in a window frame. Also, vinyl windows expand and contract with the changing temperatures. This, over time, can cause drafting.
More vinyl windows are sold than any other type of windows and there are many vinyl window manufacturers throughout the country.
CLASSIC LOOK
Wood is another important option for replacement window projects. Wood is beautiful, classic, and provides a historically accurate look. When you purchase a wood window in many cases you have to think of it as investing in a beautiful piece of furniture. The effect can be quite striking. If lovingly maintained, a wood window can serve you well. However, buyers should note that wood windows, like vinyl windows expand and contract with the changing of the seasons. Also, wood windows are an investment and will need an expanded budget to be accommodated.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
While only 3 percent of the window market comes from windows made with fiberglass, the material is fast gaining a reputation for being durable and blissfully maintenance-free. Combined with its middle-of-the-road price, fiberglass provides solid value. It’s stronger than vinyl, and fiberglass windows won’t warp, rot or crack. Expect to pay about double the price of a comparable vinyl window.
Fiberglass windows are manufactured in limited colors, but they can be painted and the surface provides excellent adhesion. Some brands come in a natural wood exterior finish that does a great job of mimicking the real thing. Also available: real wood interior frames and sashes that can be stained.
On the green front, some manufacturers fill the hollow fiberglass frames with foam insulation to enhance the product’s thermal performance. In addition, fiberglass is relatively easy to fabricate, so fiberglass products have a low embedded energy, meaning they don’t require a lot of energy to produce.