I’m about to start a reno and part of it will be replacing the windows. The composition and placement of the windows will be changing so we will be able to use new construction type windows. What makes a good vinyl window ?
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they being installed on someone else's house...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
LOL
excellent -
Buzz, I personally like vinyl windows. I like the ease in which they operate. I like low maintenance. I like their performance in most cases.
I've lived in houses with wood, aluminum and vinyl and I like the vinyl best.
The thing I don't like about vinyl is the lack of ability to paint them. I don't like the lack of choices regarding color, especially on the exterior. I dislike clad windows for the same reason.
What makes a good vinyl?
Thickness of frame materials. Rigidity of frame and sash materials. Welded corners. The quality of the welded corners.
Finding a good window that fits your preferences is like buying a new car. You gotta go into the showrooms and try them out. Don't buy the first ones you see.
blue
Buzz,
A simple answer is vinyl clad windows are your best bet if you choose vinyl. The other option are vinyl extruded. They are hollow, and are prone to warping, the fit can be poorly accomplished, (to tight) causing problems with them opening, at least seasonally. The siding alone, attached tightly can buckle a clad window, you can imagine what it can do to a hollow plastic frame. Your window buying will become buying replacement windows in a few years. A good vinyl clad you should be able to get 25-30 years out of.
UV does effect vinyl and over time they will chalk as the surface breaks down. This can cause streaking on your windows, and they are a pain to clean once this process has started. every time you pass a rag with cleaner near the frame, you pick up more chalking. I have doused window frames with this problem, and still had chalk streaks after wiping many times.
Its common these days to find GCs buying cheap windows and making it a homebuyers problem within 3-10 years. Its dirty business, but amount of square footage is on buyers minds. Windows are an expensive investment, but are like any other energy product in a house, the amount you invest becomes return on the back end.
So, though they are not my first choice, there are many companies that do sell quality vinyl windows on wood frames (clad). Look to your larger players at least for the specs. You can use their specs to decide on cost benefit vs specs if there is a local manufacturer that you are looking at. Both Pella and Anderson have vinyl clad windows.
-zen
Thanks for the info. I'm sure we have a Pella or Anderson distributer on Vancouver Island.
Buzz
Buzz,
The real issue is picking the manufacturer that uses only the best in old growth vinyl. Some of these guys are using finger jointed stuff, soft grain vinyl and the like. By getting a manufacture that uses the best, most dense old growth vinyl you will have a strong, rigid, firm, round, firmly packed window frame.
This is also true in the case of the glass itself. The insulating quality of Brazillian grown glass is so much better than domestic grown. I know I know, everyone tells you glass is the same or you should go with good ole USA grown glass but listen to me, there is a huge difference.
See in the fields of Utah where most domestic glass is grown the glass plant can only grow to the level of the ultra 20 sunray. In Utah that equates to around 42 inches. Now in Brazil the ultra 20s are a full 6 foot high! See the difference?!! I know, it becomes obvious doesn't it? So with that extra height the R value can be as much as 20% greater due to the total processed density of the glass upon admission. Hope this helps! DanT
Brilliant. Truly Brilliant. ;)
"old growth vinyl"Golden. I love it.I often find that customers will not pay for quality windows and we are left to purchase next to lowest end because cost is what they see and not value. That's too bad, but people want square footage and are willing to sacrifice in order to get it.
ROAR!!!!!Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
how does this relate to actual or united inches....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!<!----><!---->
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!