Old Wood Windows Vs Vinyl

Both wood and vinyl have strong points.

Old wood windows vs vinyl. Vinyl grills provide a painted on look that is flat with no shadows. Window sales people do not know or care about proper design. Wood windows that have been clad with vinyl or aluminum on the exterior are significantly lower maintenance than wood windows. Typically made of wood fiber and a thermoplastic resin composite windows look more like wood than vinyl windows do and they generally cost less than solid wood windows.

Higher quality woods such as mahogany and alder are expensive. Fibrex or composite vs vinyl wood. Vinyl windows are just as energy efficient as wood windows. Vinyl frame windows are the most affordable as little as half the price of comparable wood frame versions.

Wood windows require more maintenance than vinyl windows. Vinyl windows aren t as durable as wood windows but they can last over 20 years. Wood should be re painted or re stained every 3 4 years to help protect them from the elements. Additionally vinyl windows require no maintenance because they never need painting or scraping.

Wood true divided light windows provide nice sharp shadow lines that give windows character and interest. Fibrex is a brand of composite material from andersen windows that is made from 40 percent wood fiber and 60 percent thermoplastic polymer. Wood windows possess a classic charm that vinyl can only hope to impart. Vinyl windows are considered a low maintenance material.

They re also especially energy efficient thanks to a honeycomb of chambers that boost insulating ability by trapping air and can be built to fit any size opening. To better understand window design click here. The long term savings from replacing old windows with new vinyl windows are considerable and make vinyl windows worth the cost. Unlike wood windows vinyl windows require very little upkeep and maintenance after they re installed because they never need to be re painted or re stained.

Composite window frames are made from a mixture of two or more materials like wood plastic metal and vinyl. And unlike wood they never need repainting though colors are limited. Yet for the majority of homeowners vinyl s low cost is a charm that beats wood s aesthetic allure. In addition to this wood windows require frequent maintenance such as painting staining and refurbishing that can get costly over time.

A quality vinyl window will also save you money on energy bills because the insulation in the frame of the window itself is energy efficient.