Vinyl vs. vinyl clad windows in High-End Build?
worthy
last year
Working on window quotes for our 5,800 sf home.
So far:
Pollard premium vinyl- US$58,908.68 + 13% sales tax. = US$67,711.13
Pella vinyl clad- US$105,670.96 " " = US$121,460.87
Both Energy Star rated, e-coated, argon-filled double pane.
Now I know why in custom builds I managed, the owners chose vinyl!
Previously, we've never used anything but wood or aluminum clad wood.
Thoughts?
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Comments (25)
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Aluminum Windows vs. Wood vs. Composite vs. Vinyle
Comments (13)1. The Bainbridge is the narrowest of their windows and the Soft-Lite Pro is also narrow. 2. Not necessarily. Soft-Lite is a well engineered window so it, with the optional meeting rail reinforcement, should be fine but some other narrow windows will not fare as well. 3. Typically, replacement windows, as a result of their thicker glass and more airtight insulation, will perform better. There are applications where the existing combination (usually with a storm window) might out perform the new double pane IGU window but not if you have single pane window without a storm. a. and b. Impossible to say without knowing exactly what type of window you have now. If you have single pane, both will outperform your existing windows. If you have double pane, it is very likely that your new windows will still outperform and be more sound resistant than your existing windows. 4. 0.09 is not drafty by any means and will probably be a huge improvement over your existing....See Moreproblem with Andersen vinyl clad windows
Comments (7)Andersen contracts out their service work so this is unfortunate that they don't have any record of your job. What you need to do is talk with Andersens SAR(Service Accountant Rep)in your area. This person is the one who has hired these subcontractors out to contact you. They would know about your job that was originally sent in. Unless you didn't first contact Andersen directly through their website or service number. Its very important when you have a problem to contact Andersen directly. Not through a dealer, contractor or whom ever. These people seem to sit on the paper work until they have time to actually do the job then they send it in to Andersen. When a job is then issued it is put on an aging report where it needs to be done in a timely manner. This is why this person wanted to wait until spring. He never turned in your job. So now what do you do? Call Andersen at 1-888-888-7020 and tell them that you want to be contacted by the SAR in your area and tell him or her whats going on. They are the one to authorize your job to be done. Also if you do get them to do so they may replace the sashes but not pay the labor. In regarding the vinyl, the frames are vinyl clad with rigid vinyl side liners. The sashes however are not, they have a polyuerathane finish. Well good luck and I hope you work this out....See MoreAluminum clad, Fiberglass(et al) vs Vinyl longevity
Comments (2)I use all three types you mentioned: aluminum clad, vinyl, and fiberglass (actually the Fibrex you mentioned is none of the above - it is a wood/vinyl composite material but not as strong as fiberglass). All three are designed to last a long time, but they have their differences. And to answer your question of "Why do these [fiberglass] windows break down faster than a vinyl one" the answer is "They don't!" I'll briefly touch upon the three types. WOOD/ALUMINUM CLAD This is actually my favorite type. Wood windows are strong, they're great insulators, they're aesthetically attractive, and the exterior can be clad with aluminum so that the only maintenance needed is washing the windows. Disadvantages include that it is usually the costliest of the three types being discussed, and it requires painting/staining on the interior side (unless you order them prefinished). Of course those could also be interpreted as advantages. Another potential disadvantage is that if the windows aren't efficient enough to handle the existing conditions, condensation could cause the wood to discolor and even rot. However, modern wood windows are preservative treated before they leave the factory, and more and more are changing to lifetime warranties on the wood. There are different qualities of wood windows, and generally speaking the better ones will last longer than the low-end ones. Some have service departments that make house calls, and some have no service departments at all. VINYL Vinyl windows sometimes last longer than wood windows, sometimes less. Like wood windows, there are varying qualities and longevities. Not only are there different qualities of weatherstrip, glass, and structural integrity, there are different qualities of the actual vinyl itself. Some will change color or turn more brittle than others (but they are all a lot better than vinyl products of 25 years ago). Wood and fiberglass window manufacturers are quick to point out how much stronger their material is compared to vinyl, which is true, but you're not buying a slab of wood or fiberglass; you're buying an entire window unit. Vinyl windows, if properly designed, will last just as long as fiberglass and wood. Fiberglass and wood windows are more impact resistant, and have less expansion/contraction, are more scratch resistant, and are stronger/stiffer than vinyl windows, but vinyl windows if properly used don't need to be as strong. How impact resistant does a window need to be? How stiff? Vinyl is just fine for it's intended purpose. I envision vinyl windows being mainly utilized in single and double openings. In new construction, where one might have 4 windows wide by 3 windows high - a wall of glass - I wouldn't use vinyl because it has a lot more flex, and that deflection under a heavy wind load could lead to air and water infiltration. It just can't meet the performance criteria of the others. But that's an extreme case. And even vinyl can come with metal reinforcements inside to make them stiffer. Aesthetically, vinyl can be some of the ugliest windows available, and it can also look quite appropriate, depending on the brand. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder . . . Vinyl window companies usually have superior warranties compared to wood and fiberglass window companies, but it's not indicative of the windows being any better or lasting longer. Here's the catch. Wood window companies usually have a warranty that applies to whomever owns the home. Vinyl companies usually have a lifetime warranty that applies to the first homeowner only. Since people usually move on average every 8 years (at least that's what it used to be; I haven't seen any stats in the last few years), that equates to an 8 year warranty. Most have a transferable warranty program, but the warranty can then be reduced from "lifetime" to perhaps 10 years, and only if you fill out a transfer of warranty form within a certain amount of time, and possibly submit a transfer/filing fee (sometimes for quite a bit of $). So some of the advantages of vinyl windows would be affordability (usually but not always), low maintenance, and very good performance (for the better brands) in medium to small openings (that's my opinion). FIBERGLASS There are not as many fiberglass windows companies out there (so far), some of the largest being Pella, Marvin, Comfortline, and Milgard. There is also the Andersen Renewal window, with its Fibrex product it is not fiberglass but instead is a wood/vinyl composite. Fiberglass windows combine some of the advantages of both wood and vinyl. They're stronger than wood or vinyl, have less deflection/flex than vinyl, are more impact resistant, do not require painting/staining, usually cost somewhere between vinyl and wood, have less expansion/contraction than the others, can not rot, and can be painted over in case you want a different color (for example on the inside of the home). Unlike vinyl windows, wood and fiberglass windows are mechanically fastened (which is neither good nor bad, that's just the way they must be made. They don't need welding and can not be welded). As for the Fibrex window from Andersen, I've heard good and bad (like I have with most brands), but have never worked with it and have not closely observed it. Seems OK to me but I don't like their negative selling approach where they slam wood and vinyl. It's backed by a respectable company (Andersen) with deep pockets. So fiberglass, vinyl, aluminum clad - take your pick. The better brands (assuming properly installed) will perform just fine in all three categories. They have different warranties, some have better service departments, some look better than others, some are better suited for some types of projects than others. It's good to look at not only warranties, options, and aesthetics, but also at performance statistics: U value, design pressure rating, solar heat gain, air infiltration, etc. Again keep in mind you're buying an entire window unit, that has many parts/pieces that are designed to work together - one should not base their decision on just looking at the frame and sash material only (aluminum clad, vinyl, fiberglass). I have Pella windows and Marvin windows in my house - two of the higher end windows around. Both have performed flawlessly and I'm very satisfied with both....See MoreMarvin Integrity vs Sun Aluminum Clad vs Jeld Wen Premium Vinyl
Comments (14)We're in upstate SC as well. We looked at Windsor too - in our opinion Sun was a much better window overall. I don't have any photos - the top sash just slides down on some of the windows when unlocked. Here's a video from their website showing "sash droop" as he calls it, and how to adjust it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1t0zmrdlsk And speaking of videos, one of the reasons we chose Sun (not a major reason, but I still appreciate stuff like this) were the videos they posted on their website showing stuff like that above. Here's more. We just moved in the house in July, and it's so hot here - as you know - that the last thing we want to do is open a window. So we really haven't made a big deal out of it with our dealer yet. We had them come out once to adjust a few windows that had the top sash sag, but we've noticed more doing it since then, and not all of the ones I've adjusted myself will stay up like they should even after adjustment. I'll be getting in contact with our dealer in the next week or so to get those top sashes fixed as we'll be heading into open-window season soon. I have confidence they'll fix it - Sun was very good about fixing the minor issues we had right after installation. It was primarily minor finish/paint issues (we had them paint the interior at the factory) and out of 35 windows they replaced about 6 sashes. Two of them were because the dealer didn't spec tempered glass in the stairwell - they replaced those sashes with the right kind of glass for free. Good service....See More
David Cary
last yearworthy
last yearWe used Pella twice with no problems, but that was decades ago. And Pollard as well. But in more typical sizes.
From building and selling some two dozen homes, we noticed that window details weren't a big concern with buyers. And this house will be sold asap. (If we don't sell the lot first!) I've observed that there's more obsession with kitchen counters and bright shiny doodads than anything structural or functional. Just look at Houzz threads!
Build underway near us. Time to check those window stickers!
Matt was much more reliable when he wasn't a paid shill. Surprised he missed out promoting crypto currency!worthy
last yearlast modified: last yearworthy
last yearworthy
last yearlast modified: last year
just_janni
last yearworthy
3 months agoworthy
3 months agolast modified: 3 months agoTemporarily use plywood or OSB to board up the window openings ...
I kept being told "soon". And verry large openings to cover.
Window installer finally called. As soon as the -15º-20ºC. retreats, it will be done. The glass is installed into the frames with rubber mallets. In this weather, little give in the vinyl frames and vinyl stops, so too big a risk of breakage. Next build, smaller windows! (Gun slits for the changing times, I fear.)
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