New (replacement) windows: vinyl vs. wood?
Asked by
Jeruba (
56062
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October 24th, 2011
All the existing windows in the house are wood, some about 25 years old and some a whole lot older. We now have to replace 4 of the old ones on the sunny side of the house.
We’ve almost resigned ourselves to going with vinyl for the new ones because of the cost of wood. Vinyl looks like junk to me. But I’m not going to let the presence of vinyl windows ruin my life; if I have to cave, I will.
But first we need to know this:
Which is the better choice for the long term?
(And can you really paint the vinyl?)
If we have to replace the vinyl ones in ten or even twenty years, we’ve more than doubled the cost and might as well go with wood.
I see this previous question, but I’d like a fresh set of opinions, please.
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14 Answers
Response moderated (Off-Topic)
If you want ro be able to paint the vinyl, make sure that the type of windows you get ARE Paintable. Not all vinyl is.
I live in one of the hottest places on the planet and we are contractors. We have never had any complaints about vinyl windows, but I think they have only been out less than 20 years. The new retrofit vinyl windows are super easy to install, even if you have a stucco house.
I chose vinyl for my replacement windows, even though I live in a 1920s house. My old wood windows were/are so rotted that they routinely let water into the walls. Since the windows I was replacing were on the second story, it was even more important to me that they be low maintenance. They even wrapped the outside sill and trim in vinyl. I never intend to paint them, so I can’t address that aspect of it.
Some of the newer vinyl windows look identical to the old wood grain windows from a distance. That should not be an issue any more, and vinyl lasts longer with minimum care.
I replaced some of the windows in my house not too long ago. My builder convinced me to go with vinyl because they’re more durable than wood (it’s an apartment building). Plus, they don’t have to be painted, which is one of the top reasons to go with vinyl, IMO.
Although, if it was a single-family owner-occupied house, I probably would have chosen wood for the beauty and elegance.
I’m a wood girl myself. When I had to put new windows in the house (built originally in the 1930’s) I always go with wood. Expensive, perhaps. But not junk. In my view, the house maintains its quality with wood windows. I have not had trouble with the wood windows, old or new. When I was thinking of replacing them a few years ago to double paned vinyl, even the guy who gave me the estimate was saying what a shame it was to get rid of the old wood windows. So I decided to just get storm windows. Happy choice.
I put in vinyl windows, but I had the inside frames trimmed in oak. Outside doesn’t look all that interesting, but the inside is perfect.
Interesting solution, @WestRiverrat! I could live with that, I think.
We went with vinyl and are very pleased. We did buy a high quality type.
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@Jeruba what did you end up going with, and how did it turn out?
We ran out of time for getting the work done before the holidays and the cold weather came on, but we did decide on wood, with vinyl cladding on the outside. We’ll have it done in the spring.
The way I felt after we made the decision told me we’d made the right choice. I think I’d have been displeased with vinyl inside when all the rest of the house has wood.
Good on you. That is what I did basiclly, And I am glad I did.
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