Window frames are available in a variety of materials
including aluminum, wood, vinyl, fibrex, and fiberglass.
Frames may be primarily composed of one material, but
they also come in combinations of different materials
such as wood and vinyl. Each frame material has its
advantages and disadvantages.
Aluminum Windows
Though ideal for customized window design, aluminum
frames cause conductive heat loss (i.e., they have
low R-values) and condensation. However, thermal breaks
made of insulating plastic strips placed between the
inside and outside of the frame and sash greatly improve
the thermal resistance of aluminum frames.
Wood Windows
Wood produces higher R-values, are unaffected by temperature
extremes, and are less prone to condensation. Wood
replacement windows do have many modern features that
will make them superior to the original wood windows,
but they require considerable maintenance in the form
of periodic painting. If wood frames are not properly
protected from moisture, they can warp, crack, and
stick.
Vinyl Windows
Vinyl windows are made primarily from polyvinyl chloride
(pvc), which offers many advantages. They are available
in a wide range of styles and shapes, have moderate
to high R-values, are easily customized, are competitively
priced, require low maintenance, and mold easily into
almost any shape. Another great advantage of looking
at vinyl windows is that they come in a wide range
of prices. There really is a vinyl replacement window
available for every budget. When looking into pricing
for Replacement windows, vinyl products will have
the biggest assortment to choose from.
Fiberglass Windows
Fiberglass is relatively new and not yet widely available.
They have the highest R-values of all frames; thus,
they are excellent for insulating and will not warp,
shrink, swell, rot, or corrode. Fiberglass frames
can be made in a variety of colors and can hold large
expanses of glass. Some fiberglass frames are hollow;
others are filled with fiberglass insulation. Fiberglass
replacement windows can also be painted which provides
some flexibility if you wish to change the color of
your new replacement windows in the future.
Fibrex Windows
Fibrex material is a blend of wood fiber
and specially formulated thermo-plastic polymer. This
unique window material is made from reclaimed wood
fiber from the Andersen Window Corporation's 65 acre
manufacturing operation in Bayport, Minnesota. Fibrex
combines excellent strength, insulation properties
and provides low maintence.
