When it comes to buying new windows for your home, you will have to decide what window frame material to go with. The most commonly used materials for window frames are vinyl, wood, and aluminum. More recent introductions to the market include composites and fiberglass. Many manufacturers also started to combine materials to meet a variety of demands for both aesthetics and performance.
Vinyl
The most commonly used material in window framing is vinyl. It requires very little maintenance and provides good thermal performance. Vinyl is used to provide cost-effective products and can be produced in a choice of interior finishes, including colors and woodgrain. To achieve additional strength and insulation, most vinyl products combine rigid vinyl with multi-chamber profiles.
Vinyl windows generally come with welded frame and sash corners. Which makes them less prone to air and water infiltration when compared to corners that are mechanically fastened with screws.
Wood
Wood window frames are offered in a variety of different woods and offer good thermal performance along with natural aesthetics. The downside of wood is that it comes with the most required maintenance, such as periodically painting or staining them.
However, many manufacturers of wood products now offer a combination of vinyl and/or aluminum cladding on the outside of the wood to minimize maintenance requirements. Wood window manufatrurers are also increasingly using ‘engineered’ wood elements, especially in non-visible areas to enhance performance.
Aluminum
Aluminum windows are stronger than both vinyl and wood. Which is the main reason why it’s still the prevailing choice in demanding commercial and architectural applications. Aluminum’s strength allows the use of thinner frame widths, which provides a larger open area for glass.
Aluminum isn’t the most energy efficient material because of its good thermal conductivity. That’s why most aluminum windows feature a “thermal-break” to improve their efficiency. A thermal-break uses an insulating material in between the exterior and interior aluminum.
Fiberglass
Fiberglass is comparable to aluminum in strength and provides insulating properties similar to vinyl and wood. It is offered in a huge variety of finishes and can also be easily repainted. You can’t bend fiberglass framing, which means that it’s not available in elliptical, round-top, or other specialty models.
Other Materials
Some manufacturers use other materials which include cellular PVC, steel, engineered plastics, thermoplastic alloys, and wood/plastic composites. Many of these options give enhanced performance and/or aesthetics.