Vinyl vs. Metal Replacement WIndows in Houston

Why Should I Go With Vinyl Windows?

Metal: Great for skillets… but not for window frames

One thing for sure…you’ve got plenty of reasons to replace those old aluminum-frame or casement windows you’ve already got. Metal is a great conductor of heat, which is fine if it’s used for a skillet…but not if it’s for a window frame. And now with a fat energy-conservation tax incentive from the government, the time is right. So let’s discuss a few characteristics of PVC or vinyl replacement windows:

1. Vinyl formulation. Earlier designs of PVC replacement windows had problems with expansion and contraction during hot or cold spells. With their newer designs, manufacturers have reformulated the vinyl itself, making it much less prone to movement. Newer vinyl replacement windows are also less vulnerable to UV rays from sunlight (and the cracking, peeling and fading that comes with it). This is a huge advantage when it comes to maintenance and durability.
   
2. Appearance. Vinyl replacement windows don’t have to ruin the esthetics of an older home. They’re available with wood grain exteriors in shades that run from maple to oak to mahogany to anything of your choice.
   
3. Frame design. The more modern vinyl replacement window frames have welded corners, rather than screwed-together joints. Welded corners are both sturdier and more energy efficient. All of our windows come with aluminum reinforced sashes.
   
4. Security. Modern vinyl replacement windows can come with either shoot-bolt or “espag” locking setups. Both designs have multiple contact points; the shoot-bolt is more comprehensive, with the windows locked at top and bottom. Both designs are easily compatible with home security systems.
   
5. Environmentally friendly. Unlike some older plastic formulations, PVC is 100% recyclable.
   
6. Glazing. This is where the most dramatic advances in window design have come about. Modern energy codes call for Low-E glass for all residential windows. For years, new windows have been constructed of two or more layers of glass. In Low-E designs, a metallic film is poured in layers and sandwiched between the panes of glass. The windows are then rated according to how much visible light is transmitted through them; they can be as much as 4 times more efficient than conventional glass. The more advanced windows trap a layer of gas (such as argon or krypton) in between the layers for even more efficiency.

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