Vinyl windows with metal frame inside

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01-22-08, 07:48 AM

fagansmith

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Vinyl windows with metal frame inside

Hi,

I've received some bids on replacing the windows in our house and one contractor has presented us with what he claims is exclusive to his company: CDI or LBL vinyl windows with a redundant metal frame inside the vinyl frame. We saw a cross sectioned sample of this and it looks impressive. Does anyone have experience with this feature and is it necessary, or just a gimmick. It makes sense to me. The salesman said it is helpful structurally in our case because we have several very heavy picture windows being installed. I should also add that our house is block wall construction.

Thanks!

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01-22-08, 03:35 PM

XSleeper

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There are several brands of vinyl windows that have metal reinforcement inside the frames, so it's not really "exclusive", unless he's saying that he's the only one you've talked to that has offered that option.

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01-22-08, 08:09 PM

brandonlarson

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personally i don't think that this would be much of an issue unless you were mulling windows together - in that case you do want a window that has alot of structure in the frame and even more importantly where the windows are mulled. but besides that i can't see why it would really be necessary.

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01-22-08, 10:03 PM

fagansmith

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Thanks for both of your responses. So it sounds like from your responses that it doesn't matter that we have a block wall house, and that we'd be ok going with windows that don't have the metal reinforcement, correct?

Thanks.

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01-23-08, 04:20 AM

Just Bill

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The metal is used to reinforce the poor strength of the extrusion, and will conduct cold into the house. A better vinyl extrusion can be stronger without the use of metal. Windows do not support the openings, so the material is not an issue.

I am an installer for Certainteed windows, and as such have a bias. But if you want a quality replacement window, that would be one of the considerations.

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01-23-08, 05:26 AM

johnam

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I looked at the CDI & LBL websites and didn't see anything about a metal frame inside the vinyl. Some manufacturers use metal in the meeting rails to prevent sagging and to secure the window locks. This is usually in mechanically assembled windows. Their windows are welded and so I doubt if there is any metal reinforcement.

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