If you’ve decided it’s time to get new windows before winter, you may have already found out that the two most common options are wood and vinyl Choosing between vinyl and wood windows can be tough, so you’ll want to know how they compare side by side. Find out some of the facts before you buy.
The Basics of Wood Replacement Windows
Wood windows can be beautiful if they are maintained properly. High-end luxury products that have the wood detailing on the inside look beautiful. If the wood is on the outside, it is exposed to many different elements that can make it rot, fade, crack, and even become unstable. The life of wood windows is much lower than vinyl windows.
As far as the warranties go, with the wood frame it lasts around 10 years, 20 for the glass. If maintenance is an issue, you can find wood windows with vinyl clad on the outside to protect against any elements.
The glass part of wood windows are often times made of smaller panes of glass, with the grids containing these smaller glass sections. Cheaper windows have a grid panel over a solid sheet of glass to mimic the look at a lower price.
Wood windows have a natural appearance, which means each window is unique. Their uniqueness provides them with a beautiful look. There are many choices to choose from when it comes to wood windows: tight grained or even wavy. You can find the frames made of cedar, oak, Douglas fir, spruce, and pine – each providing their own unique characteristics. At our MN window company is able to tell you the specifics on each type of wood window that you can find.
Vinyl Replacement Windows Minneapolis
These types of replacement windows dominate the entire market due to their inexpensive price, performance and availability. They provide a beautiful look with beveled exterior design, equal sight line, and even screens that can be removed. They also can come with loop holes in the warranty, made from thin walls, and have screens that need to be removed from the outside. If the vinyl windows were specifically built for the home, they can be stronger, durable, and have high performance glass put in them along with a 50 year warranty. Vinyl gets along better with rain and other condensation than wood. They even have drains built right into them that provide a way for the water to leave once it has gotten inside.
The System
Choosing the right vinyl replacement windows means that you should look for those styles that have a sloped internal drainage system with foam insulated chambers. Most of the time, vinyl windows you find are basic unless you splurge and look for advanced, custom made windows.
The choice is yours on which type of windows you wish to install. The advice of an experienced Minneapolis window company can be valuable in making that choice. With the knowledge from our team here at Window Outfitters, you’re able to get a lot more out of the windows that you choose to go with. We install vinyl windows by Hurd, Unlimited, WeatherShield, and Lindsey. We also offer wood windows from Pella and Marvin as well as wood clad windows from a variety of top-quality window companies.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
