When the feel and look of real wood is a high priority fiberglass still comes in second.
Fiberglass replacement windows vs vinyl.
Price fiberglass window frames are expensive.
Vinyl windows compare price durability energy efficiency and other key considerations to choose the best windows for your home.
Fiberglass windows are made by embedding fiberglass needles in plastic making them stronger and stiffer than vinyl but there aren t many brands available.
When it comes to deciding between vinyl vs.
This makes fiberglass windows ideal for hot climates or climates with extreme temperature fluctuations.
Fiberglass windows have more options for style and color because they can be painted but this means that the windows may peel fade and require maintenance.
Unlike wood windows which may look nice when initially installed but over time can rot and deteriorate if not taken care of thanks to mother nature s natural elements vinyl holds strong year after year because it s made from a plastic material called polyvinyl chloride pvc that won t rust.
When considering vinyl vs.
Fiberglass frames mimic the look of wood windows more closely while vinyl windows are plainer.
The big question is whether the fiberglass frame is worth the additional cost think 425 vs 600 per window multiply this out by the number of windows you need and you should have your answer.
Look at the energy efficiency durability maintenance and cost and see how those factors fit in with the overall goals of your replacement project.
However vinyl windows have an obvious join line at their corners while fiberglass does not.
They re more expensive than vinyl so if you re not going to be in your home for more than a few more years the cost likely won t be worth it.
Both vinyl and fiberglass windows are cheaper than wood but of the two vinyl is the less expensive alternative.
The difference is fiberglass windows can be painted over once installed whereas vinyl cannot.
Fiberglass windows are still relatively new so there aren t many brands available.
The cost of installing a single vinyl window 700 to 800 compared to 900 to 1 100 for one fiberglass window.
When it comes to colors and finishes fiberglass replacement windows offer greater options however not vastly so.
Vinyl windows are roughly 10 to 30 percent cheaper to buy and install.
Fiberglass windows for your replacement project carefully weigh the pros and cons of each material.
Vinyl replacement windows generally come in baked in colors which is the same as fiberglass replacement windows.
In many cases they cost twice as much as vinyl window frames.