Windows--Vinyl or Wood

[upnorth]

So...what are the real pros and cons. I know there are cheapies on both sides and going to be junk. But really how do they compare. The wife likes vinyl and I tend to like the woods.

Opinions?

[pureinsanity]

Typically vinyl is a "replacement" window and wood is a "new construction" window. Keep in mind two things: New construction doesn't mean new construction, it just means there is more labor involved in the installation. Also vinyl and wood are made in both replacement and new construction windows.

[pureinsanity]

Wood tends to be the most popular window material, particularly for the parts of a window seen from indoors. Wood does not conduct cold or allow condensation as much as other materials do. However, wood is subject to shrinkage and swelling, so it will warp and rot over time—especially on the exterior—unless it is protected.

Jeld-wen wood wooden windowWood windows typically come unfinished unless you order them otherwise. If you intend to paint them, you can save work by purchasing them already primed on the exterior and/or interior surfaces of the frame and sash. Or you may be able to eliminate painting altogether—some manufacturers offer prepainted windows in a number of standard colors.

Clad wood

You will find that many of today’s windows have wood inside and a tough, attractive exterior jacket of extruded aluminum or vinyl on the outside. The cladding, available in a few stock colors, covers both the sash and frame. It will keep windows virtually maintenance-free for years. With vinyl, the color permeates the material so scratches do not show. Aluminum will scratch, but it is more durable and easier to paint (though it should not require painting, nor, for that matter, should vinyl), and it comes in a wider variety of colors than vinyl. Both types will resist rust and rot.

Vinyl windows are made from rigid, impact-resistant polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and have hollow spaces inside that make them resistant to heat loss and condensation. Inexpensive vinyl windows have a tendency to distort when exposed to extremes of heat and cold, making them harder to operate and allowing for air leakage. Vinyl windows cannot be painted, and darker shades may fade over time.

Basically it seems the vinyl is the way to go in the long run, specially if replacing. Gonna be a tough one between you and your wife when it comes to making a decision. Not really much of an option to come to a compromise unless you get clad wood with protection. Than you get your wood and it has the protection of vinyl?

Good luck hope this helps ya.

[upnorth]

Thanks, but I read most of that on the web, I am hoping to get some personal experience. From price and maintenance alone vinyl sounds good but what sounds good in marketing, well everyone is going to tell you they are the best thing since sliced bread

[pureinsanity]

well than down the road my windows have to be replaced and a contractor told me we are doing vinyl because you basically just slide them in place, no framing can use the existing trim ect.

Should have known you were going to google it

[NoWiser]

I work for a residential contractor and we do about equal amounts of both types. As long as you go with a good brand, both can and will be good windows. Vinyl are typically a little less expensive, but definitely not "cheaper" in the sense most people use the word. Almost all window companies use the same glass (Cardinal Glass), so that part is a nonfactor.

Wood - Most of the people that put wood windows into their houses do so because they like the looks of them and think the vinyl looks cheap. The problem with wood, though, is that no matter how hard you try to control the humidity in your house, you will get a certain amount of moisture condensing on the glass. This will stain, and eventually rot any wood it comes in contact with unless you are good about putting a fresh coat of varnish on them every once in awhile. Anderson makes a very good wood window, and Marvins are pretty decent too.

Vinyl - The people that choose vinyl like the idea of being able to have a window that they never have to worry about. It doesn't matter if moisture condenses on the glass because it won't hurt the vinyl. As far as the looks of the vinyl, some like it and some don't. I personally don't see any cons with vinyl windows, as long as you like the look of them. If you decide to go vinyl, I would highly, highly, highly recommend checking into Windsor Windows. We've been using them for about 15 years and they have given us next to zero problems.

It really comes down to personal preference. We've put vinyl windows in $800,000 houses and wood windows in $200,000 houses. I personally just replaced 26 windows in my house 2 years ago and used Windsor Next Dimension vinyl windows. Very happy with them. One note about the Windsors, though, is that their double hung windows have had a few more problems. If you want to go that style, I would go with the single hungs instead.

Any other questions, let me know.

[BobT]

One thing I would suggest is whatever you choose, make sure you really check out the quality of the product. Are the glass inserts sealed well to prevent drafts and air leaks for example.

[MARINERMAGNUM]

We've had both-the Andersen wood and now vinyl. We prefer the vinyl hands down.

No maintenance,will never rot or sweat.

Granted,they're made better now,but I've seen alot of Andersen wood windows installed in the late 80's early 90's that are already rotting.

Windows are exposed to alot of moisture and temp extremes-how much wooden plumbing do you ever see?

[upnorth]

Good stuff. I agree you gotta look that the fit and finish of any of them.

[vman11]

Fiberglass!

Check into Integrity and Infinity Windows by Marvin. Huge benefits over both wood and vinyl. Check out their HSOforum for further info.

[upnorth]

We have Anderson crankouts now. Some are starting to rot and there is some nasty sweat issues. But these are older single pain windows, I am guessing about the 60s? Not sure tho. I don't want to have to do this again before I croak

[BoxMN]

WE put vinyl replacements (slide in) in our house (1945) and they look and work just fine. White inside and out. No complaints at all after about 3, other than the screens are on the outside, meanign they get dusty sooner.

We put Marvin integrity casement in our new construction cabin, vinyl outside and wood inside. I wanted vinyl inside too, but they don't make them that way. However, with the rest of the cabin having a "wood" vibe, I am very glad we have the wood inside now. Looks awesome and the windows (and two sliding patio doors) have been flawless so far for only 3 years.

One thing we were warned about with the "inserts" in our house, was the decreased viewing area since they take up a bit more of the opening with inserts - that was not a factor, I don't notice it. Can't recall the name of windows, contractor friend did it for me, but they were top notch version he had, and he said worth the little extra $$... Good luck.

[jerkbait]

The Integrity are Ultrex(fiberglass) exterior wood interior. They do offer an all Ultrex(fiberglass) also, that is ultrex interior and exterior. Fiberglass is a huge advantage over vinyl, does not expand and contract like vinyl. The key word being glass, Ultrex expands the same as the glass so there is way less of a chance of contracting and popping the seal in the glass pane. At my last house we had all vinyl windows and in the 12 years we lived there, by the time we sold we had replaced all the glass in the window because of seal failure. Infinity windows are the same as Integrity, just they are aimed more towards the replacement market. Take look at them, good windows...

[Tom7227]

When I was getting ready to replace the windows in my 1963 built house I learned that changes in the code could create significant problems. If the entire window was going to be replaced then the new one would have to comply with the code. That meant windows that allowed egress in all the bedrooms, in turn meaning changing the size of the holes in the walls for 9 windows in 4 bedrooms. That would mean a pretty significant redecorating, plaster work, trim work in all four rooms. I wasn't interested in that much more work or expense. We ended up replacing the sash only in the entire house.

I was lucky enough to still have pretty solid frames so it worked out for us. We also were having the house sided and all the trim wrapped in aluminum so it really worked out for us.

You may want to check into this aspect of things before you get too far into it.

[npsmokefan]

I think if you have Andersen's that are now nearly 50 years old and you are now first thinking about changing them out. The answer is pretty simple. Cannot go wrong with Andersen Traditional Windows (not Renewal) as long as they are installed correctly. Do your existing Andersen's have vinyl wrapped exterior, or are they wood? In the mid 60's Andersen changed from wood to vinyl wrapped as they still are today. 400 series

The only reason to consider Vinyl windows in MN is to keep cost down. In MN climate they will not give you a lifetime or even 10 years depending on the product.

If you don't want the wood interior and like the vinyl window look on the inside. Then look at Integrity All Ultrex by Marvin. You can custom size with these unlike standard Integrity.

Fiberglass is the future for exterior of windows. But cost goes up.

[captainshane]

I didn't know they made fiberglass windows. Nice. All my storm doors are fiberglass and they stay sealed all year long!!! The temp changes don't move the door like it does other material. I have vinyl windows and I like them.

[hawgchaser]

I am a small independent contractor who has built a number of homes, replaced hundreds of windows, live in a house I built about 10 years ago and am currently finishing a spec house to be sold in Spring. I've put in many brands/styles of windows and here are my conclusions. While I absolutely love the warm look of wood clad windows, the effects of condensation on the wood rules them out, IMO, if you plan on living with them long term. We have the high end Pellas in our current home and you won't ever see me buy a Pella product again...drafty and the wood is already starting to deteriorate. I put Marvin Integrity windows in the spec house in the main area and Vinylites in the 10X30 sunporch. When I put moisture barrier over the interior walls, I leave it over the windows until the drywall finishing is done. The Marvin windows were so drafty, the 6mil poly pulled through the staples and I had to staple lathe strips around them while the poly over the Vinylites hardly bulges when the wind blows. I can hear wind whistling in the Marvins.

The next home I build will have vinyl windows and I will get the warmth of wood by trimming the jams with wood which can easily be removed and replaced should condensation become an issue. Vinylite actually makes a higher grade window (lower "E")now than the ones I put in, and I believe they've broadened their color choices from white or white. I'm not trying to push Vinylite. I just have more year around experience with them than the other vinyl windows I've installed.

Added to my frustration, I have yet to hear from either Pella or Marvin despite numerous attempts to get some relief. Not to pick on these two manufacturers...I've found customer service to be a euphemism with other big milwork companies as well...just not as recently. I replaced several hundred windows in an apartment complex and had an issue with a few and the Vinylite rep was out within two days of my contact.

Save some money with vinyl windows and accessorize them with trim and window dressings. More cost does not always equate with more quality.

Just my opinion/experience.

[caseymcq]

This may seem like a bit of a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyways. Would all of what has been said here about windows be applicable to sliding glass doors too? Some? None?

[upnorth]

I am only guessing on the age. I know I keep wavering back and forth. I like the wood interior and fiberglass exterior and hadn't really seen those before. I am opposed to completely pulling out the old windows and that was my original thinking. Still got some pros and cons to weigh before we finalize our decision.

[cbrooks]

I'm in the same situation as you Upnorth. I'm going with Vinyl. Anderson Renewal more than likely but I'm also looking into Minnkota windows.

I asked about fiberglass to the Anderson window guy and he told me that fiberglass will cause mold growth with wood. Any truths to this? Its the first I ever heard of this.

[no bait nate]

Marvin Windows are the top dog, nothing else can touch their quality and variety of good products and service. Coming from a guy who installs and does some service work on them on a weekly/daily basis. More than worth the money

[Smokey]

We had a Vinylite window installed at our lake cabin last spring. It was actually 6 windows, 2 double hungs with a fixed window between, and transoms above all 3. The entire thing (7' 6" high, 13' wide) was mulled together at the factory in Fergus Falls and delivered right to the site. Was up there this weekend with the cold (-20) on Saturday and the wind yesterday, and I was amazed at how well it kept out the cold and the wind. We had primarily chosen vinyl for the price, but I am more that happy with how warm it is.

B.T.W. the window that it replaced was 50 years old and had large quantities of moss growing between the panes.

We also had 4 Marvin fiberglass Infinity casement windows installed in our bedrooms in our house in the cities a couple of years ago. I am very happy with them as well. I have not noticed any air leaks or cold with those either. Again, I was replacing some pretty poor windows, so maybe it's a relativity thing.

[DANR]

We have Integrity windows in our house (built in 99). I am very pleased with them - they look good, seal tight, and NO condensation.

[upnorth]

Thanks for the feed back everyone. I have yet to make a decision but leaning toward a wood inside and either fiberglass or aluminum clad exterior. Just need to do a bit more research. Big decision as we will most likely do all the windows at once.

[cbrooks]

On the Anderson windows I'm going with has the option for there frames called "fibrex". Its a composite material that has all the charateristic of wood but its low maintenance and doesn't rot. It sounded good so I went with that. Good luck with your decision.