What Is The Right Frame Material For My Lowcountry Replacement Windows

Aluminum

Aluminum replacement windows have a good strength to weight ratio, allowing these windows to offer narrower frames and more glass viewing area. On the negative side, they conduct heat and cold very quickly, making them possibly the least energy-efficient of the four types. They typically rate fairly low in the minds of consumers when it comes to aesthetics.

Wood

Wood windows are arguably the most pleasing to the eye, are strong, and offer better energy efficiency than aluminum and vinyl replacement windows without insulated mainframes. However, as so many homeowners have learned over the past few years, wood windows must constantly be maintained, and eventually will rot. They are often amongst the most expensive replacement windows you can buy.

Fiberglass

The fiberglass replacement window represents the newest technology in windows. They offer strength and thermal efficiency, consistently achieving higher frame R values than their aluminum or wood counterparts.

The downsides to a fiberglass replacement window are significant, however. They typically have the bulkiest mainframes of all replacement windows, leading to a large loss of glass viewing area. The corners can’t be heat-welded so, often, the corners of the frames and sashes have to be mechanically fastened together. This can lead to air leakage issues. Several of the fiberglass window manufacturers try to mitigate this with some sort of glue-like substance to close the corners. There is some concern that in the Atlanta climate these substances can be adversely affected by humidity.

Because of the relative infancy of the technology, fiberglass could be your most expensive window replacement option.

Vinyl

Vinyl replacement windows are totally maintenance-free, and offer the best overall frame R values, as long as you choose a product with insulated mainframes. Vinyl windows are engineered to allow the most energy-efficient glass packages to be included. The fusion welding process not only makes the overall window stronger but makes a vinyl window the most airtight of all replacement windows.

You do have to live with the color you start with. There are some vinyl windows that offer a painted option, but it just takes one look at the manufacturer’s limited paint warranties to let you know this technology is also in its infancy stage.

Homeowners are often confused as there are over 1000 vinyl window manufacturers in North America alone.