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October 26, 2008
Windows - vinyl clad or aluminum exterior?
We are in the process of selecting new windows for our townhouse. Does anyone have advice on the pros and cons of vinyl clad (Andersen) vs aluminum exteriors (Pella/Marvin)?
Comments
Definitely not vinyl! aluminum is much preferable in our opinion
Posted by: brownstoner at October 27, 2008 9:45 AM
If it's a historical house you probably want to go aluminum.
Posted by: lincolnlimestone at October 27, 2008 12:40 PM
I second Browstoner. Pella also makes an aluminum clad wood window (maybe that's what you meant?). Best of both worlds, assuming its not a historic district (in which case, you'll probably have to go with wood, not vinyl or aluminum).
Posted by: WBer at October 27, 2008 12:56 PM
Vinyl's a bad idea. I don't think the claims for its longevity can really be substantiated. For one, you don't know if you're getting virgin vinyl or a mixture of old and new; this mixing can lead to UV degredation (the windows yellowing). On the other hand, hundred year old wood windows exist.
Furthermore, vinyl's manufacture involves some pretty toxic processes (which produce dioxins), PVC stabilizers include lead (meaning PVC disposal introduces hazards into landfills as it is difficult to recycle), PVC offgasses, and when it burns it creates chlorine gas -- quite poisonous -- not great in a fire for you or firefighters.
Finally, by itself vinyl has poor structural strength, so the frames have to be larger, meaning less glass and less light. As a typical installer will simply leave the old wood frames and cover 'em up with panning, you're replacement windows are apt to be much smaller in terms of light and air than your existing windows.
http://www.healthybuilding.net/pvc/ThorntonPVCSummary.html
Posted by: an architect in Brooklyn at October 27, 2008 1:27 PM
My mother, who knows pretty much everything, says that vinyl expands and contracts with changes in the temperature and eventually you have to replace them. Anyway, they're uglier than aluminum windows. Which are pretty ugly.
Also, at least one engineer/inspector dude backed my mother up on the vinyl expanding and contracting.
Posted by: serpentor at October 28, 2008 11:10 AM
I went with Pella impervia fiberglass frames. Very happy with them. They are supposed to be 5 times stronger than vinyl and do not warp or expand. See my posting under insulation for more detail.
Posted by: Bay Ridge Convert at October 29, 2008 10:39 AM
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