Window Buying Guide - Wood, Fiberglass, Aluminum,or Vinyl 

What type would you buy to replace old rotted wood windows ?

Marvin does not paint the surface of the fiberglass directly. It is wrapped in an acrylic capstock and has a depth of color that resists UV fade and protects the fiberglass stranding from direct exposure. This however is not true of fiberglass windows from Pella and Milguard. A freeze/thaw will break down a wood vinyl/composite Fibrex faster as that material expands and contracts 4x as much as Ultrex Fiberglass.

Most windows in Florida have laminated glass. 👌

Cinfully Awesome by Robin...Check out other video on aluminum, vinyl & how they fail. I read Anderson 400 are very good.

Aluminum Clad, Vinyl Clad, Window Deterioration THE TRUTH Pella Andersen ....Heres that video.

Purchase the best that is affordable to you. By far wood will maintain the façade of the home, historical bottom rails are important, eliminating Andersen products. warranty is the best in wood, as the sash tilt and are easily replaced. Purchase the best you can afford and they will pay off.

Appreciate the kind comments! I understand the place vinyl has in the market and like all things some brands are better than others. There certainly are some good Vinyl windows that provide good performance at a reasonable price point. If you're buying triple pane windows you are certainly buying some of the best performing windows in the market today. I wish you the best in your endeavors. Matt

Do you make any french casements? Looking for a casement window for bedrooms, has to meet egress so has to be french.

Well said!

Grande1124 I just installed some very decent vinyl windows in my house. The brand of windows I used is called Sunrise. They look sharp and mine are in a wood grain finish. I bet most people who look at them could not even tell they are not real wood. Anyway, I replaced some aluminum clad wood windows I had in my house. The windows I replaced were installed about 12 years ago. They were starting to rot at the bottom of sashes, and I had mold problems on a few bottom sashes on double hung units. I also saw a video that was pretty interesting about how modern wood Windows are designed to rot out. The guy who made the video explained how moisture always wants to equalize with exterior air (especially during winter), and the newer vinyl and aluminum clad wood windows prevent that process from happening. The result is that the wood frame of the windows and sashes start rotting out. I am sure most homeowners do not re-stain their wood windows every five years, and their windows are ticking time bombs.

Vynil windows are butt ugly, they should be illegal in middle class and up neighborhoods.

Thanks Joe! Always appreciate you commenting on my videos. Best, Matt

Josh Haughton We are good at making triple panes window for our USA client. Contact me by WhatsApp or email Vincent@doorwingroup.com

Yeah do not do it! Anderson 100s should be good enough? I know Sierra Pacifics seem to score well on price and function. Marvins I am told are expensive and slower to get.

Actually you need to find us. DoorWingroup.com

Mkh

+Greg Pasco HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD!

Grande you’re a moron. Greg makes a solid point. Fibrex is a composite made of wood and thermal polymers and you want me to believe that plastic and 1 mm glass is better? GTFO. You don’t know shit.

So what is really the difference between 366 glass & low e smartsun ? & if it doesn’t last for that long what’s really the better option

My brother had similar issues n he replaced the frame (patio doors) . Bunch of crap 💩

Thanks for mentioning that. I live in Texas so definitely want to stay away from anything susceptible to hail damage!

Oh. Colorado has summers where everyone gets hail damage. Thanks for mentioning that fiberglass fails under hail.

@@melissamybubbles6139 This was golf ball size hail that caused the damage. We normally don't get anything larger than pea size and it held up to all the smaller hail. The weather the last several years has brought crazier weather. First time we've had hail that large.

@@sa3270 our windows with screen coverings were protected. Our windows w/o screens were the ones with the cracking. Something to keep in mind.

Thermal break alulminum

What are examples of those better performing windows? Just getting started with my research.

Ed Sanborn Alpen or Logic are good brands to consider for high performance windows made in the us (mostly). Good luck!

Fenstur windows are the highest end window you can buy. They are actually Passive certified unlike a lot of passive "appropriate" knock offs. Well worth considering if you can get a hold of them.... they are very busy for a good reason.

1% loss a year of argon, industry standard. All the glass have 20 year warranty Andersen, Pella Marvin all get Cardinal glass, so many different types low e 3 is current low e from 20 years ago is obsolete, coatings matter Low e 3 SUN Andersens is what I have flawless, got 29 years out of old Andersen Casements, Andersen low e now changed sashes (glass in factory wood frame) use original hardware 31 sashes changed now low e 3 SUN looks great, sun blocker, low e 3 low e 266 is more sun blocker SUN versus Smart SUN from Andersen SUN blocks a bit more heat from the sun, with a nice tint, privacy on 8 ft slider doors, nice blue grey tint, it actually lets in more visible light on new SUN versus teh old Sun bronze low e 29 years of improved glass....

yea go to Lowes and they have an install program with lots of different window brands and materials

Did you find any you like?

R SJ I'm a big fan of both Marvin and Integrity by Marvin. Both would be excellent choices for your climate. Best, Matt

Yes, vinyl is not strong.

Wood windows ultimately rot, no matter how well it’s treated depends how much upkeep you want to do

Andersen composite windows

have you ordered already? otherwise a moot point

@@johnlombardo7816 no have still not got there with the windows

@@patricecomedy Well I would like to help if I can, that is if you are still in process of doing so. I can offer some advice if you are interested. What area of the country are you? what is your house type/windows you want to buy? contemporary, colonial etc.. how do your current windows operate? You mentioned you want wood, do you plan on painting or staining them, or would you want them from the factory finished?

Thermal break aluminum

Pella & Sunrise No. Jeld Wen once, didn't think highly

@@buildshow Digging back through some old videos to find something for a replacement project I am working on with 4' wide windows and I need operable for egress. The only thing I am finding is tilt turn. Contemporary house, would love your opinion. But that said- Don't you have JeldWen in your new house? What changed?

Grande1124 Thank you so much for the information.

Elizabeth Hereford Did you purchase windows already? If not, I would recommend the triple option if you are contemplating getting storms again and the price is comparable. Those will be easier to keep clean and will be easier to open and close as you do not have to mess with the storm window. I just installed triple pane windows on my house, and they really do cut down on road noise. Of course, you can do a few windows in triple pane. Windows that gain the most advantage are typically larger or on the sides of the house that get the least sun exposure (north and east side). Other windows you might want as triple pane would be ones in areas where you spend a lot of time as triple pane windows minimize cold air convection drafts. I am assuming you are in a colder climate based on the fact you have storms. You could save money by only doing a few in triple pane. Triple pane windows will not look different from double pane models where as windows with storms will look different from ones without.

@@keithfillinger3182 I'm going to get new ones next year. Hopefully around Spring time, or at least shortly after. Thanks.

Demystifying Window Labels - Recommendations for Good Windows I just added the link but here it is... Best, Matt

Sierra Pacific 8000 series have 15 different colors

Reason why they dont offer different colors for vinyl is because its terrible at holding the paint. White or almond is usually the best color you can get without having to deal with repainting constantly. Only draw back of vinyl.

GGK Outdoors No, that's not correct. None of these will off gas fumes.

Scott Sanders I would consider the fiberglass units. Integrity by Marvin is a terrific choice.

+Reggie Reg I'd heavily lean toward Integrity Fiberglass windows for your climate

as a long time rep of Marvin, Weathershield, Lincoln and regrettably Andersen, the engineered fiberglass unit is the best bet. Pella is poor in my opinion as the series from good to best are not visually discerned and delivers the lowest grades they have.

Uptyme...the simple 'sunlight test" where the light runs the bulb that has meter that spins with heat transfer. Anderson created this and all major manufacturers use. pretty much a gimmick, a visual. Also, low E only works when direct sunlight hits the glass, then reflects the majority of the sunrays.

renewal by anderson has a new composite called fibrex which holds up really well in colorado

Why does triple windows stream up

E

Triple Pane with Low - E and Argon Gas or Krypton Gas will the best for noise + Highest for climate control for your home. BUT they are pricey

What does the inert gas has to do with sound proofing?

Argon Gas is denser then air and acts as a sound dampening gas.

Argon might technically be denser, I don't think that's gonna be anything noticeable as far as sound dampening goes. Indeed draining your wallet perhaps. Triple pane should do additional sound proofing beyond than double pane. I was wondering if thickness of pane matter, or distance between panes. Or Frame type (I would think denser frame like wood, vs plastic or aluminum, would add sound dampening).

SIMONTON has a unique sound deadening glass option called Keepsafe glass. Extremely durable vinyl frame with 2-3 times as much vinyl in the frame and superior finish. Best QC in the industry. Research them. Especially the 5500 series. I would put them up against the MARVIN Windows for durability, performance, design and energy performance.

Argon gas in windows has been around for a while. Best, Matt

Matt Risinger Right but I don't know much about this topic. I do see a problem though. Windows still get very cold in the winter. In this age of energy efficiency being important how do we find better ways of insulating windows? We still want sunlight and infred rays in but we don't want the temperature flow.

I've heard the argon eventually and slowly leaks double glazed windows, as the years go by, and that what keeps the window performing, energetically speaking, is actually any thermal layer you decide to put in the glass itself and also the fact that it's still two panes of glass separated by air (not as good as argon but still better than just 1 pane of glass or 2 panes together). I'm not sure about this though.

euheide Well I need a new window because my window is cracked and I'm sure there isn't any Argon inside of there.

George Louis If you live in an area with constant extreme cold weather (snow, etc( area, and don't mind having to replace your windows a bit sooner than you would with thermally broken aluminium frames, then a polymer type window frame (either vinyl or the other newer composite types) will be the best choice since it has slightly better insulation values. You also have the wooden option, which may even last longer than the polymer since, nowadays, the treatment has improved a lot. And wood has even better values than polymer (or so I've heard). This is only regarding the frames though. In other words, the frames themselves won't let as much heat escape your house and won't also feel so cold to the touch. Regarding the double glazing, there is glass with insulating polymer layers inside the window itself (on one or more of the glass panes). You should definitely go for that but be careful that some insulating layers are designed to keep the heat out, while others are designed to keep the cold out. I know this seems strange but this is what I read. And then there are other factors such as the spacing in between the panes of glass, the thickness of the panes of glass and, last but not the least, you have the options of triple glazing or secondary glazing if you are still not satisfied, although secondary glazing is more for sound than for temperature (that I know of). Thermally broken aluminium is usually the best choice IMHO because of durability but, in extremely cold weather it's probably not the best choice.

What about copper clad frames?!?! Does Marvin or other top brands not offer copper?

Haha nice

Historical profile is most true. But the best you can and realize a salesman tries to add to the specs when not needed. Low E is the most prevalent add which only works against direct sunlight.

I think you missed the part at the beginning where he said he was in the Marvin factory.

Still if the area outside the window is 100 degrees the frame work and the window panes will be important for efficiency. The Argon gas is used to not allow the heat to transfer over easily like clear coats.

Don Powell Marvin’s are the best. At least for normal folks. They hold up better than Anderson

Renewal by Andersen is the best window you could INVEST in.

Anderson Hernandez he deserves to make a living just like you.. If you watch this guy's videos, he is more than just a salesman.

Pretty had to be a "salesman" when you often review and approve competing products.

Bryan. he is. i watch him for knowledge. i haven't bought a thing

Anderson Hernandez Agree

u need to be better informed. Norway is harsh and triple-glaze the sash. The thermal break is makes for efficiency, not available in vinyl.

thank you for your ''detailed'' answer. you are wrong! if you manufacture the vinyl windows with the right steel reinforcement they are practically indestructible. but there are so few manufacturers out there that do this. for cost reason they cut the expenses on steel reinforcement either on quality or the thickness and the result is that windows bend. i've seen windows manufactured by our factory 15 year old or more ,they looked like brand new and never required service except maintenance of moving mechanisms. so i speak from my experience. now maybe fiberglass windows are better but it depends on the budget you have. of course a Ferrari is better than a Ford but i can't afford a Ferrari.

it seems to me that you don't read at all my comments. it feels like you are just a troll. bye bye!

i didn't call you names. anyway the comments are here for others to judge. by calling me ignorant you expose yourself for what you are.

ii don't like your attitude. you come and comment on my comment when you have plenty of room to write a comment of yours . i have written a comment full of technical details based on my experience. you just say an opinion based on your perception. if you can't stand a discussion don't enter at all. and yes based on your attitude it feels to me like you are a troll. maybe you're not bu it feels to me that way. you write a comment like '' vinyl is just dirty cheap'' ,after i answer you backing up my opinion you answer they are ugly. sorry but i have analyzed value for money ,i have analyzed the technical aspects and all you have to say is they are ugly. as i said you could have wrote this as an independent comment and i'm fine with that. it's your opinion that vinyl is ugly. but you can't comment a post with technical details in this way is disrespectful . or you debate with me full technical mode or you don't debate, of course you could downvote my comment if you disagree.

What vinyl company does this "steel reinforcement" so well? Vinyl is lower end and always will be. Imperiva by Pella/Fibrex by Andersen are reinforced vinyls that compete with "high end" vinyls from companies like Simonton. This guy presenting isn't telling us anything earth shattering, it's just the truth. However, Integrity is a great product but expensive, cannot do radius shape windows that are actually fiberglass, and limited on height since fiberglass tends to twist at long lineal lengths.