Aluminum windows vs Vinyl

[softailtom]

Getting bids to put windows in house and had someone bid aluminum windows price wasn’t bad but have only used vinyl in the past. What’s your thoughts?


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[cdestuck]

Id really run from aluminum. There’s a good reason they’re old school. Metal transmit any temperature very easily. So often with the rt temp and interior humidity, you’ll have frost inside on those metal frames.

 

[txvwnut]

I replaced all the windows in my house a few years ago with vinyl and so far so good.

 

[tarmy]

I have both...on various structures. These days...all vinyl. Any remodel or new stuff I build get vinyl.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

If those are my only choices- vinyl.

Vinyl extrusions are hollow- dead airspace is an insulator. Versus most aluminum extrusions which are not hollow, and are good conductors of heat and cold.

My professional/personal choice would be PVC clad wood hybrid sashes and PVC jambs/sills. Exterior trim (brick mold, etc.) would also be PVC.

 

[rlitman]

If those are my only choices- vinyl.

Vinyl extrusions are hollow- dead airspace is an insulator. Versus most aluminum extrusions which are not hollow, and are good conductors of heat and cold.

My professional/personal choice would be PVC clad wood hybrid sashes and PVC jambs/sills. Exterior trim (brick mold, etc.) would also be PVC.

Agreed. Many aluminum extrusions are hollow, but even so, they conduct heat so well that a hollow aluminum extrusion will still conduct more heat than a solid vinyl one.

 

[Bert_]

Really depends on the type of window. Most commercial windows are aluminum frame.

 

[rustyjames]

Depends on how much you want to spend, there's aluminum window frames with a thermal break but they're expensive.

 

[Negen]

If I were getting windows I would get bids only on Fiberglas or vinyl.

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[yeldogt]

It depends on the Al -- some are very nice. Commercial are AL ..

 

[theoldwizard1]

Residential replacement windows - Vinyl or vinyl composite.

Residential aluminum windows are left overs from the 50s !!

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, we are very happy with our double glazed windows in aluminum frames.

We feel that the vinyl replacement windows are incompatible with the architecture of our home.

 

[Crfdell]

Aluminum clad perhaps?

These are a whole different ball game but would still go for vinyl. Cladding can get water behind and damage the wood structure if not maintained.

 

[16again]

We get hurricanes here. Aluminum windows with impact glass.

 

[MushCreek]

We went with Marvin fiberglass outside, wood inside, but they really stretched the budget. Second choice would have been a high-end vinyl. I didn't even consider aluminum. The single most important thing about any window is installation. If you're going to hire it out, make sure your contractor does it right. I see brand new houses being built with very poorly installed windows. They're going to leak and rot the wood underneath in short order.

 

[mhejl]

Higher quality aluminum windows have a thermal break between the outside and inside, argon, low-e, and better seals between panes. Nothing like builder-grade windows but still less expensive than, say, Andersen or Pella.

 

[dcg9381]

For me, it'd be a hard choice of vinyl or aluminum. I'd probably choose vinyl.
Like MustCreek - after talking to a neighborhood builder, I decided not to screw around and bought fiberglass windows from Marvin. I absolutely love them.. But the budget was higher than aluminum or vinyl.

There are about 100 window manufacturers in the US, so it's not an easy choice.

 

[rgs455]

We went with Marvin fiberglass outside, wood inside, but they really stretched the budget. Second choice would have been a high-end vinyl. I didn't even consider aluminum. The single most important thing about any window is installation. If you're going to hire it out, make sure your contractor does it right. I see brand new houses being built with very poorly installed windows. They're going to leak and rot the wood underneath in short order.

We have Marvin fiberglass windows as well and they’re great. However, your windows are only as good as the installation.

 

[Marvin Hagen]

I had my replaced with vinyl with a local company they replaced 10 they are guaranteed for life but you know what that means. The guarantee is as only good for as long as the company is in business.