Vinyl windows became popular in the 1980’s and are one of the largest commodity products available today. While vinyl is a popular choice, there is a world of difference in the quality and longevity of vinyl windows from one manufacturer to another.
To the naked eye it can be difficult for the average consumer to tell the difference between one vinyl window and another as the “recipe” — which includes stiffeners, colorants and other additives — can vary widely. Navigating through the hundreds of brands of vinyl offer a few suggestions.
Vinyl or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) makes up the structural components of the window, however, vinyl alone is typically not a structural material. Higher quality vinyl windows are made up of multiple chambers which results in wider, thicker frames. These frames are often reinforced with wood, steel or fiberglass to make them more rigid and help maintain their profiles. The chambers can even be filled with polyurethane foam for added insulation. Beware of vinyl windows that seem very narrow in appearance as they may not contain the necessary structural reinforcement.
Vinyl has a large expansion and contraction ratio, therefore, we do not recommend vinyl in homes where there is western or southern exposure. Heat causes excessive expansion of the vinyl and during the winter months, as the vinyl contracts, it does not always return to its original, “out of the box” proportions, which can result in air infiltration around the frame or sashes and reduce the efficiency of the original “out of the box” U Values. For these reasons, better quality vinyl windows will not only contain reinforcements within the frame and multiple chambers, but multiple layers of weather stripping and structural interlocks which act as physical barriers from air and water infiltration.
Typically the lower cost vinyl windows do not offer many of the features listed above, and often use less expensive hardware, balances and glass systems, which means that in a matter of just a few years you may find that your windows won’t stay up, beginning fogging and may even break at the tilt in latches.
For all of these reasons, the proper installation of vinyl windows is just as important as the window itself. Our Kentucky window installation team knows just what to do.
Most importantly, remember that while many vinyl windows dealers and manufacturers offer Lifetime Warranties, those warranties are not worth the paper they are written on if the manufacturer or dealer goes out of business and you cannot find someone to service your product. Unfortunately, over the past couple of decades we have seen more vinyl manufacturers and dealers go out of business than any other window & door product on the market today, so buyer beware!
At Weber Windows our Seaway vinyl window is manufactured in the USA using German engineering equipment, which makes for the tightest tolerances right out of the box and overall, longer term stability. Seaway has been in business over 50 years. Combined with our 36 years in the business, both are names you can count on to stand behind your product and installation for years to come.
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Call Weber Windows today at (888) 499-7899 to schedule a FREE in-home consultation and estimate on replacement windows or doors. Or visit our showroom at 10809 Bluegrass Parkway in Louisville to look at our selection of vinyl windows.
