vinyl or aluminum


  #1  
Old 03-27-03, 10:42 AM
jenliu02
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Question vinyl or aluminum

are vinyl or aluminum windows better? and why? is the heavy duty vinyl worth the extra cost?
 
  #2  
Old 03-27-03, 06:53 PM
L
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Depends on what you are using them for. In a residential new construction application, vinyl is becoming the standard. They won't conduct heat and cold through the frame like aluminum does, therefore they are more energy efficient. (New houses have to meet certain energy consumption standards, and this is one of the ways to accomplish that.) Vinyl is softer than aluminum, therefore less likely to break the seal in an IG unit.

In a retrofit application, vinyl is really the only choice (between the 2 options you list) since they are the easiest to install, as well as the above mentioned reasons. Don't know of any window mfgr. that makes an aluminum retrofit window, and have never been asked to try to find one.
 
 

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