Installing Vinyl Windows

Your home’s windows are a lot more important than you might think. Windows aren’t just there to bring light into your home and to allow you to see outside. They should also help you keep heat in your home, for example. But, for many of us our older wood or aluminum windows are, to be frank, a bit of an eyesore and they may actually be costing us money. So, how would vinyl replacement windows help you here?

1. Increase your home insulation: If your windows are made of wood or aluminum then, as they get older, they will start to degrade. Wood windows, for example, can warp and crack leaving plenty of room for heat to escape from your home and for cold air to come in. Aluminum windows can have very similar effects. The metal here is not designed to act as insulator and, once again, you may find that these windows are not an effective barrier. This is not a problem with vinyl windows which are far more durable over time than wood and that are more of a natural insulation solution than aluminum. This is also a much more environmentally friendly solution.

2. Give you less work to do: If you already have wood or aluminum windows then you probably realize how much work is involved with keeping them in good shape. Both wood and aluminum will need regular maintenance work as they get older. Wood can, for example, pick up mold problems and may need repairs and aluminum windows can rust or suffer from pitting problems. In both cases you might end up repainting your windows regularly to keep them in an acceptable condition. Vinyl windows need hardly any maintenance (apart from the occasional wash), last for longer periods and do not need to be painted.

3. Save you money: Putting in vinyl replacement windows may cost you money but it will also go some way to saving you money as well. Windows that let heat out are a drain on your wallet. Vinyl windows will simply act as an effective barrier to keep the heat that you pay for in your home. With vinyl replacement windows you also won’t need to pay for repair and maintenance costs and you won’t need to have them painted regularly.

Vinyl windows have become the norm when window replacement becomes necessary. Although there are varying advantages to both Vinyl and Aluminum choices, there may also be disadvantages to both choices as well. The most important decision is probably the decision to upgrade to dual pane windows as opposed to single. The longevity of a single pane aluminum windows is probably acceptable. The biggest problem is that when the integrity of the window starts to fail, then your heating costs will increase dramatically. The seals around the window will start to allow the cold in and the heat out. So your overall heating costs will just continue over time to rise without any relief other than window replacement.

If you are on a fixed budget then one of the advantages to aluminum is that you can simply replace the windows that are bad, and replace the others later. This way they all match throughout the home, and won’t change the aesthetics dramatically.
If money’s not the issue than Vinyl windows are clearly the choice. In making this decision you must also consider the longevity of the vinyl windows, the added value to the house, and the later heating costs you will save from these windows as well.  

While I don’t fancy myself a full-fledged expert in home repair and DIY, I do know quite a few things from working around my own house.  As such, I have strong opinions on various areas of home improvement and one of those include the innate advantages of vinyl windows.

Any time I’m asked what kind of replacement windows to seriously consider for people’s home renovations, I always tell them to get vinyl.   The biggest objection has always been that it’s not as pretty as wood.  While that is an undeniable fact, it also doesn’t entail the same maintenance requirements as wooden frames.  Sure, you won’t get visitors extolling the aesthetics of your window frames.  However, you’ll never get anyone saying its bad either.  Vinyl windows, while not exquisitely beautiful, fit most homes and are hardly an eyesore.

Originally scoffed at due to suspect quality when they first arrived in the market, most vinyl windows currently sold are highly durable.  Additionally, they never need painting, staining or sealing – that alone is reason for me to get them.  While wood is pretty, you’ll need to work your ass off to keep it that way.  Vinyl windows are also consistently cheaper among all window manufacturers than their wooden counterparts, apart from typically faster turnaround times when you order.

While I love a pretty home, I have to go with practicality when it comes to window replacements.  For that reason, vinyl windows are hands-down my only choice.