The Weaknesses and Limitations of Vinyl Windows

Vinyl windows used to be referred to as final windows. They’re waterproof, some of them are energy-efficient, and they look good. Many homeowners and business owners thought of them as a better option than the former king of the hill: wood windows.

custom casement windows

If you’re in the market for new windows, however, you should know that vinyl is no longer known as the final window. Many developments have taken place in the window manufacturing industry, and, better, more efficient materials have been introduced.

While vinyl is still a popular window material, it has its share of weaknesses. Here are some of them:

Vulnerable to Weather

Vinyl windows are cheaper than wood windows, but they are not that much better against the elements. That’s not good news for parts of a home that are constantly exposed. Vinyl fades and discolors. You can either live with faded, unsightly windows or replace them because vinyl are not built to be repainted.

If you ever want to change the color of your siding, roof or other exterior elements, you have to make sure the new color goes well with your window color.

Difficult to Customize

If customized windows are what you want for your window replacement, vinyl is not a good option because the material is not easy to shape.

Prone to Bowing

When exposed to extreme heat, vinyl windows may bow or warp. When this happens, you are left with unsightly, warped windows that cannot be fixed. A warped window is likely to lose energy efficiency as well.

Seal Failure

As vinyl windows do not perform very well in hot areas, a common issue is seal failure due to cracks and pressure damage. This usually happens when temperatures change too abruptly so the glass does not have enough time to slowly and steadily expand or contract. It is not uncommon for the glass in a vinyl window to crack due to temperature changes.

Smaller Glass

Vinyl frames are typically thicker to provide ample support to the glass and to be sturdy and secure. This means the glass area is smaller.

About Fibrex®

New window manufacturing technologies have introduced composites made of different materials. One good example is Fibrex®, a composite material developed by the Andersen® Corporation and which is manufactured, sold and installed by Renewal by Andersen®.

Fibrex is a low-maintenance composite made of vinyl and wood. Its biggest advantage over either vinyl or wood is that it takes the best properties of the two materials and eliminates all of their weaknesses. Fibrex is very strong, so it doesn’t have to be thick to be sturdy, which means bigger glass areas and better views.

To find out more about our casement windows and other window styles manufactured with Fibrex, get in touch with Renewal by Andersen of Houston. Call us today at (281) 547-6177, or use our contact form to tell us about your project. We work with homeowners in Katy and in other areas around Texas.