Fiberglass Vs Aluminum Clad Windows

Vinyl windows come in a number of baked in colors as do fiberglass windows.

Fiberglass vs aluminum clad windows.

To remove an old window and replace it with a 36 by 60 fiberglass window ranges in cost from 700 to 1 000 per window. Marvin has been the cheapest to replace the windows doing either style. Fiberglass windows come in a wide range of colors not found with vinyl windows. Double pane fiberglass windows high end replacement project.

Fiberglass frame windows are the best choice for energy efficiency. Some manufacturers address that required upkeep by cladding the wood with vinyl as is the case with andersen windows or aluminum. These advantages mean clad wood windows usually cost more than ordinary wood. Aluminum windows are more costly than vinyl but less costly than wood.

The result is a tough maintenance free exterior and a natural wood interior that you can paint or stain. I ve received quotes from pella and lincoln on aluminum clad and marvin for both fiberglass and aluminum clad. But fiberglass has the additional advantage of being paintable while vinyl windows are difficult to paint and maintain over the long term. Aluminum frame windows are inexpensive and durable but a bad choice from an energy efficiency standpoint.

It should be noted that most wood clad frames use an aluminum or a fiberglass as the exterior cladding material each of these offers good long term value given a quality manufacturer and installation. Some aluminum windows actually have wood inside aluminum cladding to act as a thermal break. Pella windows are available in 3 vinyl window series 3 wood window series including the architect series in both traditional and contemporary formats and impervia fiberglass windows. If you want the natural beauty of wood these aren t for you.

Aluminum is essentially unusable as window material in cold climates unless it includes a thermal break. There are five main types of window frames. Best of all it carries a solid warranty including glass protection for 20 years. Fiberglass and composite windows cost more than vinyl windows and low cost wood windows.

One of the major drawbacks that aluminum windows have always had versus their counterparts has been energy efficiency. The architect series is an aluminum clad wood window with exceptional beauty. Fiberglass windows energy efficiency. The fiberglass cladding is resistant to this corrison.

Expect a mid range aluminum or fiberglass window to run 550 to 650 installed for a typical sized double hung window. We carry andersen windows which are built with a vinyl exterior clad to resist water and seal out the elements. Fiberglass has a distinct advantage when it comes to coastal salt water corrosion. There are an array of exterior colors to choose from and 4 interior which include white black dark bronze and pine.

Aluminum s main weakness as a window material is that it is a poor insulator.