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When choosing new windows for your Indianapolis home, it’s common to focus mostly on appearance. But beyond color and shape, you should also spend some time carefully considering the material from which your window sashes and frames are made. The window framing material does not get as much attention as the window glass, but it does deserve it. Here are five reasons why window materials matter.
1. Some Window Materials Are More Efficient
Glass is often the focus when homeowners discuss energy efficiency. While there are performance glass options that can greatly improve energy efficiency, window sash and frame materials play a role in efficiency, too. Wood is a good insulator at first, but as wood windows age, gaps form between the glass and wood, allowing air leaks to develop. Aluminum windows are not very efficient because heat passes right through the material. Composite, such as Fibrex® from Renewal by Andersen, is the most efficient option. It resists warping, so leaks do not develop as the windows age, and it is also a good insulator, blocking heat transfer through the window.
2. Some Window Materials Last Longer
Why bother to replace your windows if you’ll have to replace them again in five years? Don’t make the vinyl window mistake and only have your windows last only 20 years. Higher-quality window materials, like Fibrex, last almost 50 years. You won’t have as many problems with the window material chipping, rotting, or failing to secure locks. Renewal by Andersen offers a 10-year limited warranty on window components other than glass, including the sash and frame materials, which illustrates their long lifespan.
3. Better-Quality Window Materials Require Less Maintenance
Like most Indianapolis home owners, you probably have limited time. Do you really want to spend several days each year scraping and painting your windows? Wood windows require this maintenance if you do not want them to start rotting and chipping. Wood composite materials, like Fibrex, require little to no maintenance. They come pre-colored, so you do not have to paint them, and they do not absorb water like wood, so you do not have to treat them with a sealant.
4. Green Window Materials Are Better For The Planet
These days, it’s more important than ever to choose window materials that are sustainable and green. Wood, of course, is a natural material. Fibrex is also a sustainable choice. It is made from wood fibers that are the leftovers from other milling projects and that would otherwise be sent to landfills. By choosing Fibrex windows, you are reducing the amount of waste send to landfills, which helps keep the earth healthy and green.
5. Stronger Window Materials Make For Thinner Sashes
Thinner window sashes are considered more modern and stylish than thick ones. Plus, with thinner sashes, more sunlight can shine into your Indianapolis home. If you choose vinyl windows, you will need to have rather thick sashes because the vinyl is not strong enough to support the window when made thinner. Fibrex is much stronger, so sashes made from it are thinner, leaving more exposed glass for a sunnier room.
Are you unsure of which window material is best for your Indianapolis home? Schedule a free, in-home consultation with Renewal by Andersen. Our technicians will analyze your needs and your home’s architecture to recommend windows that you love.