Vinyl windows vs aluminum – how do these VERY different window materials match up to one another – let’s take a closer look.
Vinyl windows are certainly the much more popular material in this match up, accounting for nearly 65% of the entire window replacement market. On the other hand, aluminum windows are the much stronger of the two materials, but really suffers when it comes to energy efficiency.
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Vinyl Windows vs Aluminum | Cost
Vinyl windows cost should run $400 to $1250 fully installed. In fact, vinyl is the least expensive of all window frame materials, making it one of the most attractive options for homeowners. The real problem is that roughly half of all manufacturers in this space make a rather cheap replacement window that won’t last. The high quality manufacturers make great products that provide some of the best long term value on the market.
Aluminum windows cost should run $700 to $1800 installed. As you can see, that’s a pretty significant percentage difference in the overall price point. There are way fewer manufacturers of aluminum windows so the overall quality tends to be higher, but so does the average price point.
Sample Price Points
The price points below are from 1 to 10 and they encompass all window materials. Wood clad is by far the most expensive, but as you can see aluminum windows are not that far off in terms of overall price.
American Craftmsan 50 (vinyl) 2.5
Milgard Tuscany (vinyl): 4.0
NT Twinsulator (aluminum): 6.0
Gerkin Rhino (aluminum): 7.5
Strength Comparison
Aluminum is the strongest window material on the market by quite a bit. In fact, all commercial construction requires aluminum window frames due to their incredible strength. The residential construction market does not require aluminum windows, although some homeowners choose them anyway. This is particularly true in very hot climates like Houston. This is really the only situation in which aluminum windows make a lot of sense – see the section on energy efficiency.
High quality vinyl windows are plenty strong for nearly any situation that the residential market can throw at it. Windows in general are not load bearing, but are instead mounted within a 2″ by 4″ wood frame (which may or may not be load bearing). The only issue on vinyl window strength is in very hot climates where a “just okay” vinyl window could bow over time due to the heat.
In general, vinyl doesn’t conduct (much) heat – place your hand on a vinyl window on a hot or cold day and you will feel how little it reacts to large temperature shifts.
Aesthetics Comparison
Aluminum is probably the nicer looking of the two materials. Because aluminum is so strong, it can be made fairly narrow – or at least more narrow than most vinyl windows. Homeowners looking for a modern looking home might go with an aluminum window due to the modern look and feel of the material. (As long as they are willing to accept the less than stellar energy efficiency of the windows themselves.
Vinyl is probably the most boring of all window materials. It certainly can’t compete with real wood or aluminum in terms of aesthetics. However, many high end manufacturers have wood laminate options that mimic the look of wood very well. These upgrades are not cheap, but they are pretty effective.
Vinyl Windows vs Aluminum | Performance
This is the category that really paints aluminum in a bad light. Even with the advances made in thermally broken units, aluminum still does quite poorly in terms of energy efficiency. In fact, the material does the worst by far of any window material. This is also the reason why aluminum accounts for such a small percentage of the windows market. More on vinyl windows vs aluminum.
Vinyl is quite strong in terms of energy efficiency – probably equal to or perhaps a tad behind fiberglass windows. Vinyl does not conduct heat or cold like a metal does.
The real top end vinyl windows have some of the best energy efficiency numbers around. Look at the Okna 600 and 800 series on their air infiltration numbers. – Okna Windows Reviews
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