Replacement window frames for your home is one of the most important decisions you can make (when it comes to replacing your windows at least). Because they seal out moisture and drafts, replacement window frame are almost as important as glazing when it comes to insulating ability. There are many types of windows materials used in frames and each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
Replacement Window Frames
Because they are among the least expensive options and the easiest to maintain, vinyl windows are currently the most popular replacement window frames. Vinyl never needs painting and is guaranteed not to peel, chip, or warp. Because vinyl is the same color throughout, scratches are virtually undetectable.
Vinyl has had to overcome a checkered past. Some of the early vinyl windows did not perform very well. Early versions faded and deteriorated in direct sunlight and developed leaks caused by warping due to temperature fluctuation. Today, vinyl replacement window frames are actually more efficient than thermally broken aluminum, and in some cases, even more efficient than wood. They help lower heating and cooling costs because PVC is a poor conductor. Nonetheless, vinyl windows can discolor in extreme weather conditions and they will not withstand intense heat. Although they are dent resistant and sturdy, they can become distorted in areas of extreme cold or excessive heat.
Wood Replacement Window Frames
While wood enhances the look of your home with a traditional appeal and provides natural insulation, they are the most expensive of the replacement window frames and require lots of maintenance. Not only is the purchase price higher than most other style but the long-term upkeep is steeper as well. The up side is that you can paint your frames any color you choose, but the down side is that you have to repaint them regularly and often to keep the paint looking fresh and to protect them from rot. If inadequately protected, wood windows will eventually rot, split, or warp. They are also subject to infestation by termites and other bugs. In addition, because wood absorbs water, your windows will stick if it’s humid where you live. When you price wooden frames, you need to factor in the cost of periodic upkeep.
Aluminum
Good quality aluminum windows have a thermal barrier that prevents the frame from conducting heat or cold. However, even with the thermal barrier, these replacement window frames are not as efficient as vinyl or wood. On the other hand, they won’t split warp, or shrink and they will last almost forever. They are light and easy to install and operate and will provide many years of maintenance-free use. However, if you live near humid, salty air, aluminum isn’t an option because sea air corrodes them.
uPVC
Cellular PVC are great replacement window frames for your home – they are strong, provide excellent flexibility and are very cost effective. uPVC windows have many benefits that make it a great material choice. Cellular PVC is similar to PVC in some aspects, which is a thermoplastic polymer, but is a more technologically advanced product. It is relatively new to the home building products world, and is created from a foam extrusion process, making it lighter, stronger, and better insulating than vinyl.
Steel
If your main concern is resilience, steel will withstand anything the elements can dish out and come back for more, year after year. They are expensive but they’re a terrific, long-term. The chief advantage of these replacement window frames is that they are very strong. Steel is also fire resistant, not susceptible to termites or chemical pesticides, and impervious to any type of fungi, mold, or organism. In addition, it does not expand or contract with moisture or temperature changes. However, it is not entirely maintenance free; unless it is entirely covered with paint, it will rust. Steel is also a poor thermal insulator, so heat escapes through the sash and frame, while moisture condenses on interior surfaces.
Clad Windows
Wood frames can be covered on the exterior with a skin of aluminum or vinyl. They cost more than solid wood but are easier to maintain. Vinyl costs slightly less than aluminum, but aluminum is stronger and comes in more colors. For more on this subject, see our article on aluminum vs. vinyl windows. For a premium, you can even get aluminum-clads painted at the factory to match any custom house color. Clad windows combine the weatherproof exteriors with attractive wooden interiors.
Vinyl Clad replacement window frames are probably your best choice in more drastic, extreme climates with a broad temperature swings because they have exceptional insulating properties. They save on heating and cooling costs because they have greater the resistance to heat transfer and therefore higher energy efficiency. In addition, they are available in a wide variety of colors and window styles and are virtually maintenance free. Since the color runs all the way through the vinyl, scratches are almost invisible. They will continue to look new and last for a number of years. In milder climates, aluminum clad wood replacement windows are also a great option. While their insulating qualities aren’t especially impressive, they are far stronger than the vinyl clad variety. On the downside, they are more likely to become dented or abraded, but offsetting that is that they can be painted if necessary.
Composites
Fiberglass and other composite replacement window frames have many advantages. While they can be painted like wood, they’re often stronger and more durable than wood. Fiberglass windows are even stronger than vinyl, more durable in even the most extreme climates, and capable of supporting large expanses of glass. At the same time, it is only slightly more expensive than vinyl and can actually be painted on-site, giving you a wider choice of colors. If the color fades a little with time, the window can be painted just like wood, but it will not deteriorate structurally even if you don’t paint it. It also lasts longer than wood.
Fiberglass
Fiberglas won’t warp, crack, peel, or split. Since fiberglass does not conduct heat or cold, it’s more energy efficient than wood and, because fiberglass is so strong, these replacement window frames can be made hollow and filled with insulating material. Fiberglass has excellent resistance to corrosion and rotting and is also good for seaside applications and other chemically sensitive environments. Fiberglass is impervious to termites and other pests, and has self-extinguishing capabilities in case of fire and does not emit toxic fumes.
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