Replacement Windows Materials

Vinyl replacement windows most popular today, but you can find a replacement windows made in many other environments, and including wood, fiberglass and aluminum. You can choose the material that best correspond to the style of your home or may have other reasons for choosing a specific type of material, but it is something to consider in its choice.

We have constructed a list of the most popular materials used in replacement windows.

  • Vinyl Replacement Windows
  • Wood Replacement Windows
  • Aluminum Replacement Windows
  • Fiberglass Replacement Windows
  • Composite Replacement Windows
  • Steel Replacement Windows

 

Vinyl Replacement Windows

Inexpensive, low maintenance, somewhat durable. Can’t be painted. High thermal expansion rate can create seal problems. Over time it can discolor, chalk and fade. Vinyl windows are made primarily from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a product that offers many advantages.

Wood Replacement Windows

Wood Windows are unaffected by temperature extremes, and are less prone to condensation, but they require considerable maintenance in the form of periodic painting. Attractive, provides good insulation and can be refinished, repaired and repainted. Requires ongoing upkeep and finishing.

Aluminum Replacement Windows

Aluminum windows are available with a number of anodized or baked-on finishes. Aluminum is a good thermal conductor, so in cold weather heat drains out through the sash and frame, as moisture condenses on interior surfaces.

Fiberglass Replacement Windows

Fiberglass window frames are dimensionally stable and have air cavities. When these cavities are filled with insulation, they offer superior thermal performance compared to wood or vinyl.

Composite Replacement Windows

Composite windows feature a sash and frame that are made from more than one kind of material. Typically made from a combination of vinyl and wood, good insulators, low maintenance. Because composites contain vinyl they lack strength and expand and contract at 3x the rate of glass, which can cause leakage.

Steel Replacement Windows

Steel windows are common in industrial buildings. Steel is durable, but not maintenance free. It will rust if you don't keep paint on it.