If you’re in the market for replacement windows, you might find yourself overwhelmed by the number of decisions you have to make regarding the investment. Who should you turn to for your project? Which manufacturer offers the best windows? Which window style best suits your home? What about the frame type—which is the best? It’s easy to get caught up in the middle of all of these questions, but Exterior Source is here to guide you through the process. We can easily answer question one with Exterior Source and two with industry leader ProVia.
Questions three and four depend more on what you’re looking for out of your new windows. Stylistically, you’ll have a wide variety of options to choose from, but before you get there, it’s important to decide on a preferred frame type. Which are better: Vinyl or aluminum windows? Let us help you figure that out.
What to Consider When Deciding Between Vinyl & Aluminum Windows
When you’re choosing between vinyl and aluminum windows for your home, it’s important that you consider:
Appearance
Both vinyl and aluminum windows are available in a wide range of styles, colors, and finishes, but they have some differences aesthetically. With aluminum, the frames tend to be thinner, which means the glass is most of the window. On the other hand, vinyl frames typically possess traditional features that you would expect from your window, plus they provide a more conventional woodgrain look.
Durability
Vinyl and aluminum windows both have their positives when it comes to durability. When aluminum is damaged in some way, it’s more evident in its appearance. But in terms of impact resistance and handling extreme temperatures, aluminum is exceptionally reliable. That’s not to say that vinyl windows won’t provide longevity, though, as vinyl is a material known to resist chipping, cracking, rotting, peeling, and warping over time.
Energy Efficiency
Vinyl windows are known for being impressively energy efficient, working to reduce heat transfer. That will help your HVAC system by lessening its workload as it maintains a comfortable temperature inside your home throughout the year. With aluminum windows, energy efficiency is less of a sure thing. Aluminum is conductive, which can mean your windows might warm up the inside of your home—something you don’t want in the summertime.
Maintenance
With proper installation, vinyl windows require little to no maintenance. Cleaning them is a breeze, as you’ll typically only need to briefly wipe them down. Maintenance for aluminum windows isn’t all that strenuous, but aluminum is a material that is prone to condensation, which can lead to rust and mold. That’s why these windows need to be cleaned regularly with an aluminum cleaner.
Cost
Vinyl windows are significantly more affordable than aluminum windows. So, if you’re looking to get value for your investment, you can’t go wrong with vinyl.
Your Source for Top-Tier Vinyl Windows
If you find that vinyl windows are a more suitable choice for your home than aluminum windows are, there’s no better company to partner with in the Tidewater, Virginia, area than Exterior Source. We install vinyl windows, as well as special Aeris hybrid windows, from industry-leading manufacturer ProVia. Between these phenomenal products and our outstanding installation expertise, it’s no wonder we’ve become such a reliable resource for window replacement projects over the years.
To learn more about the vinyl windows we install at Exterior Source, contact us today.