Material
and Construction Options for Windows
The window material you select will not only mirror your tastes, but determine
how energy efficient your windows will be and how hard they will be to
maintain.
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Vinyl
windows: Then and now
Early vinyl windows had problems with thermal expansion. When temperatures
changed, the vinyl sash would expand or contract at a very different
rate from the glass. As a result, the window fit poorly, leaked,
or cracked. Such problems have been on the decline, because modern
vinyl is more durable and dimensionally stable than the materials
that were used 15 or 20 years ago. Vinyl is also commonly used as
cladding on wood or aluminum windows.
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Windows
can make a dramatic statement in a home's design. In addition
to choosing window styles, there are many material decisions to
be considered before buying.
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When
it comes to windows, it's the sash and frame that you're going to see.
The selection of sash or frame material goes beyond aesthetics, however.
Window manufacturers typically specialize in a given material, so selecting
your sash material may limit your choice in makers. Take the time to weigh
the pros and cons of each, along with the service and warranties behind
each manufacturer, because windows are among the greatest single investments
you will make in your home.
Wood
Wood is the standard material for residential windows. It can be painted
or stained, and is strong and easy to work with. Ease-of-use makes for
easier custom windows, which is why highly detailed designs are typically
made from wood. With regard to energy efficiency, few sash and frame materials
are better insulators than wood. The only downside to using wood windows
is that they require regular maintenance. Peeling paint is more than an
eyesore, it's a sign that wood is being exposed to weather, which will
ultimately cause it to rot. A small number of high-end producers use rot-resistant
species like mahogany, but most domestically manufactured windows are
made from less-resistant species such as pine. That said, a properly maintained
wood window could last hundreds of years.
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Vinyl
Vinyl windows are inexpensive, durable, and relatively energy efficient.
They often look chunkier than wood or metal windows because vinyl isn't
strong enough to be made into ultra-thin parts. The other problem is that
the texture is unmistakably plastic. On the other hand, except for washing
the glass, vinyl windows are virtually maintenance free. You can't paint
them, but you can get them in a number of different colors. What's more,
the color goes all the way through the material, so dings and scratches
are nearly impossible to see.
Steel
Steel windows are common in industrial buildings. While they have never
been popular for residential use, they do appear in pre-war modernist
homes, and basement windows set in wells. The advantage to steel is that
it's very strong. As a result, glass area can be maximized since window
parts can be made extremely thin. Steel is durable, but not maintenance
free; it will rust if you don't keep paint on it. Steel is also a poor
thermal insulator, so heat escapes through the sash and frame, while moisture
condenses on interior surfaces.
Aluminum
Aluminum windows have many of the qualities associated with steel windows,
except you don't have to paint them, and they won't rust. Instead, aluminum
windows are available with a number of anodized or baked-on finishes.
The problem with aluminum windows, however, is that they aren't very energy-efficient.
Aluminum is a good thermal conductor, so in cold weather heat drains out
through the sash and frame, as moisture condenses on interior surfaces.
Better quality aluminum windows are equipped with thermal breaks that
separate the interior and exterior surfaces of the window
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