PICKING OUT WINDOWS TO MEET YOUR NEEDS: WINDOW MATERIALS

When building a new home, one of the most important decisions you can make is picking out windows that meet your budget, home’s exterior style, and interior spaces needs. There are three areas you need to consider before making your final choices; the first area is window materials.

Window Materials
Most windows are manufactured with either vinyl, aluminum, or fiberglass finishes; however, wood and wood clad windows still have a niche in new home construction.

Wood
If you’re going for natural beauty, then wood is a solid material choice. It is popular among homeowners because it gives the home a traditional, classic appearance, as well as wood windows are a durable natural resource that are environmentally friendly.

Vinyl
Vinyl window frames are composed of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), which is also used in numerous household items, construction, and plumbing products. The quality and durability of vinyl windows have greatly improved over the years, making them a good choice for frames. Although they do not look as nice as wood windows, vinyl windows are cost effective and insulate almost as well as wood windows. Vinyl is the most popular and commonly used window material. These windows are simpler to maintain than wood windows and do not need to be painted.

Fiberglass
Fiberglass windows are composed of reinforced glass fibers and resin which creates a strong durable material that requires little maintenance. Fiberglass can mimic the look of wood windows, providing the home an enhanced look.

Aluminum
For more modern homes, aluminum windows are a good choice; they provide a sleek look and require less maintenance than other materials. Aluminum is lightweight but very strong and can support large expanses of glass. With this material, any home can have a large window space bringing more natural light into the living space.

Wood Clad
Wood-clad windows provide the appearance of wood without the maintenance. They are solid wood window frames with an exterior covered in aluminum or fiberglass. The two materials are joined together creating a window that combines the best of both materials.

Composite
Made from fully recycled and natural products, composite windows combine wood, metal, and vinyl into a frame. Composite windows provide the best characteristics of different materials into one robust product which offers longevity and sustainability.