Many homeowners come in to buy windows with a brand name in mind. There is nothing wrong with brand loyalty or using branding as a guide for your purchasing experience. What is really important, however, is knowing what you are buying. Some customers ask for a brand and then they are surprised to find out that they only use one type of window material. Our customers are surprised to learn that the brand they want does fit their goals and needs in purchasing replacement windows.
For this reason, we recommend that buyers think first about the window material that will work best for them. Learn more about the three major types of windows: wood, vinyl, and fiberglass below:
Wood windows are classic. In many ways purchasing a wood window is like investing in a fine piece of furniture. Over time it will need to be maintained and cared for, but the look will be unmistakably classic, especially if you choose to stain. A wood window may be required if you live in a home governed by a historical society. So, if you need a historical, authentic look, take a look at the wood windows we have to offer. You should note that woods undeniable beauty comes with a cost and wood windows are usually on the higher end of the cost scale. Also, wood windows expand and contract with the changing of the temperatures. This means that over time the fit of your window may become compromised. The result can be draftiness or seal failure. Below is a quick guide to wood:
- Historically accurate aesthetics
- Unlimited colors and stains
- Variety of wood species
- High efficiency and privacy glass options
- Convenient cleaning options
- 20 year glass /10 year non glass component warranty
- Needs to be maintained
- Can be considered an aesthetic investment like furniture
- Usually the most expensive window material option
- Internal blinds
Fiberglass windows are without a doubt the very best windows you can get. They are stronger than wood or vinyl windows and for this reason they can use a thinner frame, which will give you more glass. Whenever you replace the windows in your home you will be losing a small fraction of the glass in the window due to materials and installation. Fiberglass windows lessen glass loss like no other material. You will get more glass, more view, and more light with a fiberglass window. Fiberglass windows also expand and contract much less than wood or vinyl, making the window fit stay true. Surprisingly with all of these advantages, fiberglass windows are not the most expensive windows on the market. They are available in a wide range of colors and configurations and are appropriate for just about every home style. Once you replace your windows with fiberglass, you will never need to replace your windows again. Here is a quick guide to fiberglass:
- Historically accurate aesthetics
- Most durable colors and finishes
- Prefinished, paintable and stainable interiors
- High efficiency and privacy glass options
- Low maintenance
- Convenient cleaning options
- Most stable, reliable and strongest material
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Stronger than vinyl and wood
- More glass/thinner frames as a result of strength
- Least amount of expansion and contraction compared to other window materials
- Approximately 25% more expensive than vinyl, but less expensive than wood
Vinyl is probably the most popular replacement window out there. It is inexpensive, easy to maintain, and there are plenty of options. Vinyl windows, however, expand and contract in the changing temperatures, so depending on how harsh the conditions are, the window can warp in as little as 170 degrees. Vinyl windows also have weld scars (bumping in the corners of the windows where they are attached) that some homeowners are averse to. For those on a tight budget, vinyl windows are viable options and we at Lawrenceville Home Improvement carry two brands of vinyl windows that have been proven over time to be of good value. Here is a quick guide to vinyl:
- Low maintenance
- Prefinished interiors
- High efficiency and privacy glass options
- Convenient cleaning options
- Most economical window material
- Limited lifetime warranty
