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Glass is not the only component of your windows. When choosing replacement windows for your Cincinnati home, you’ll also need to decide what type of frame you desire. The four major options are wood, wood composite, vinyl, and aluminum. Here’s a look at each of these window frame options and how they compare.
Some homeowners choose aluminum windows because they are lightweight, which makes them easier to install during a DIY project. They’re readily available at many home improvement stores and come in many sizes.
Aluminum window frames tend to be the least expensive option, but in many respects, you get what you pay for. While you’ll pay less for them up front, they tend to lose a lot of heat because aluminum is such a good thermal conductor. As a result, you can expect your energy bills to increase when you install aluminum window frames on your home — especially in a place like Cincinnati where the winters are bitter cold.
Vinyl window frames are far more energy-efficient than aluminum frames. They don’t require a lot of maintenance (you never have to paint vinyl) and they come in an array of styles. To clean them, you can just spray them off with the hose or wipe them with a damp sponge.
The downfall of vinyl windows is that in order to make the frame strong enough, the manufacturers have to make it pretty thick. This means your window will have less visible glass than with other types of frames, such as wood composite. Vinyl can also crack when exposed to fluctuations in temperature, so it’s not always the most durable choice in a temperate climate like that of Cincinnati.
Nothing is quite as traditional as a wooden window frame. And if you live in a historic home that you’re trying to preserve as authentically as possible, this may indeed be your best choice. Wood is sufficiently energy efficient, blocking heat transfer to keep your heating and cooling bills in check.
The down side to wooden window frames, of course, is that they do require a lot of maintenance. Plan on stripping and painting the windows every few years to keep them looking presentable. If the window frame is exposed to a lot of moisture, rot may set in and termites may invade.
For the majority of Cincinnati homeowners, replacement windows made from a wood composite material, like Fibrex®, really are the best choice. This material has been specially engineered to combine the best features of wood, vinyl, and aluminum window frames without any of the downfalls.
Fibrex is made from wood, offers the strength of wood, and looks just like natural wood. It comes in an array of finishes, from oak to white. But regardless of your finish choice, you never have to paint or stain it like you would ordinary wood.
Fibrex window frames are also incredibly energy-efficient. But unlike vinyl windows, they can be made quite thin since the material is so strong. This means your window can have a larger glass surface area. Fibrex is made from reclaimed wood scraps, making it an earth-friendly choice. It’s even Energy Star® qualified. In contrast, aluminum window frames conduct heat and cold. Heat leaks out of your house in the winter and into your house in the summer.
If it’s time to put replacement windows in your Cincinnati home, contact Renewal by Andersen. We offer free, in-home consultations. And we always include the price of installation in our estimates. After all, any window performs better when properly installed by an expert.