There are various kinds of window materials and frames available for home windows nowadays. Irrespective of whether you are building new windows or just replacing the old ones, the market is flooded with options for you to make the best choice. Let us now look at the most common and popular window materials.
Vinyl windows are the most popular type in window industry and there are few good reasons why vinyl windows are preferred over others. Vinyl is a material that can be expanded which is an important feature. A well built window frame needs to have hollow areas to it. If the window frame is solid, it would be very expensive, extremely heavy, and would have lower insulating properties. Manufacturing vinyl is also comparatively easy. Another very important aspect about vinyl is its ability to resist heat transfer. This ensures that if it’s very hot outside, it prevents it from affecting the interiors. On the other hand, if it is very cold outside, it prevents the heat from escaping outside. The only drawback of vinyl windows is the limitation on color options. Three of the top vinyl window manufacturer's are Amerimax windows, Jeld-wen windows and Pella windows.
Fiberglass and fibrex windows are currently gaining market and becoming popular gradually. Fiberglass windows have a smooth and strong finish, and also can be painted easily if the owner wishes to do so. This is an advantage over vinyl, as vinyl windows should never be painted. Thus, you are stuck with the same color for good.
Another important factor about fiberglass is that it can be used in larger openings. This is because of its higher strength in comparison to vinyl. If opening in your home is quite large, fiberglass would be a better option. Vinyl has good strength, but with larger sizes, the stiffness of the material gradually reduces. In case of fibrex windows, the advantages are great strength, good insulation properties and low maintenance costs.
Now, there might be a question that comes to mind with respect to consumers’ still buying wood, when they can purchase vinyl windows. The reason is wooden windows have an aesthetic appeal. Though high quality wooden windows can be much more expensive than their vinyl counterpart, many consumers still prefer them for the traditional look and also because with an exterior coating with aluminum, they can keep changing the colors.
Aluminum windows are seldom used in residences but have a wide commercial use. The reason is builders are willing to compromise heat resistance to strength for large openings. Aluminum windows are made of metal and are good conductor heat. This makes the inhabitants vulnerable to outside temperatures.
New windows made of wood are quite popular. However, most wood windows are often clad windows. This means they are covered on the exterior with either aluminum or vinyl. This is to avoid painting and other maintenance costs. Wood usually requires periodic painting to prevent degradation and rotting. By covering the window with an impenetrable material, the window gains higher capability to withstand the impacts of environmental factors like rains, strong sun rays etc.
With so many choices available for window materials, you can select the best one for the new windows in your home, depending on your requirements and budget.
