An old drafting window has no place in your home. If your windows no longer shield out outdoor elements, filter out noises, provide thermal insulation, or enhance the facade of your home, it's time for a window replacement. Replacing windows can be quite stressful for homeowners.
Fortunately, choosing the right material for your window frames can make all the difference in the world. Vinyl replacement windows are quickly overtaking other materials as the standard material chosen by San Diego homeowners do their low cost, energy efficiency, low-maintenance and styling options. We'll tell you everything about vinyl replacement windows and why they're the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Why You Need Vinyl Replacement Windows
Vinyl replacement windows are a must-have for San Diego homeowners due to their low-maintenance, affordable costs, high energy efficiency, increased interior comfort, and better security. Homeowners all over southern California are benefiting from the retrofit vinyl windows, and these windows are also made from eco-friendly materials.
Beautiful vinyl windows offer phenomenal curb appeal and lower your utility bills. Dual-pane vinyl windows are a staple for San Diego homeowners due to their energy efficiency, security, and beauty. Milgard vinyl windows offer light commercial windows to residential homes. This means that the windows can block out more heat, protecting your furniture against harmful UV rays and keeping your home's interior temperature more stable.
Vinyl replacement windows, especially from the Tuscany and Montecito series by Milgard, offer a traditional yet artistic look. If you prefer a modern design, the Style Line series offers narrow vinyl frames that allow additional natural light into your home.
Why Vinyl Windows are Better
There are a handful of materials available for window frames including, wood, aluminum, steel, fiberglass, and vinyl. Although your choice may come down to your specific needs, generally, vinyl is the best overall choice for windows. That's because they provide the best combination of durability, low maintenance, high efficiency, aesthetics, and cost.
Wood Windows
Wood windows were common choices for windows in the past, but today's vinyl replacement windows have become the best option on the market. Since wood uses all-natural material, they tend to react poorly to moisture, which causes sagging, splintering, or swelling. As a result, they require constant maintenance, which means you'll need to spend a lot of time and money sanding and refinishing the windows.
Why Choose Vinyl Over Wood:
Wood is generally quite expensive and requires a lot of upkeep. Not to mention, they aren't the best in terms of insulation or durability. The main benefit of wood is its aesthetically appealing look, especially for expensive woods like mahogany and wood. Comparatively, vinyl windows can resemble real wood without any of the downsides!
Aluminum Windows
Aluminum windows are a viable option since it's incredibly durable, strong, and lightweight. Additionally, they are resistant to scratches and dents and can be painted in any color.
Although aluminum doesn't rot, it can oxidize. That's because aluminum has a strong affinity to oxygen, so rather than flaking, the oxide forms a hard, whitish-colored surface skin. As a result, the aluminum will experience discoloration from its original painted color.
Aluminum is an excellent conductor of energy, meaning hot and cold can transfer in and out of your home. Unfortunately, in San Diego weather, you'll want to keep the air from escaping to prevent high energy bills.
Why Choose Vinyl Over Aluminum:
Vinyl ranks higher than aluminum when it comes to thermal protection. In fact, vinyl is 40% more energy-efficient than aluminum. It's also available in more sophisticated finishes, including wood grain finishes. And vinyl is corrosion-resistant, unlike aluminum, which is essential for residents living in the coastal areas of San Diego. Additionally, vinyl is easier to maintain since it doesn't require repainting, unlike aluminum.
Steel Windows
Steel windows have also declined in popularity over the years. It's a high-strength and durable material that lasts for many years. They do have thin sightlines meaning you get clear views from your windows. Furthermore, they are quite resistant to outdoor elements and won't crack or rust.
Unfortunately, steel windows and San Diego coastlines simply don't go together. If you reside near a beach or have a lot of saltwater near your home, steel windows aren't the best idea. That's because steel is prone to corrosion due to airborne salt. Over time the steel can rust, losing its color.
Why Choose Vinyl Over Steel:
Despite the durability of Steel, Vinyl still comes out on top. Vinyl is more affordable and lightweight. Furthermore, vinyl can be easily cut and trimmed to properly fit your precise window size. However, steel is heavy and cannot be trimmed. This is a major problem, especially if you're looking to upgrade your door in the future.
Fiberglass Windows
Fiberglass is probably the best comparison to vinyl windows. They rival vinyl in nearly every category, such as energy efficiency, visual appearance, strength, and durability. Fiberglass is made from polyester resin that does not rot or tempt insects like termites. Both vinyl and fiberglass rank similar in durability, but fiberglass lasts longer due to its rigidity. Also, fiberglass is well-insulated and won't expand or contract under heat or cold.
Why Choose Vinyl Over Fiberglass:
Although fiberglass may have more color options, they are also more prone to peeling and fading. That's because fiberglass must be painted to suit your desired color. With vinyl, the color is manufactured into the Vinyl material itself; therefore, it won't peel or fade.
If cost is a crucial factor in your decision, consider vinyl. It's about 10 to 30% cheaper to purchase and install than fiberglass. Another disadvantage of fiberglass is its difficulty in installation. Fiberglass requires greater precision due to the rigid material. Some window manufacturers are even reluctant to sell windows directly to homeowners and won't provide a warranty unless approved contractors install them.
Styles of Vinyl Windows
Vinyl windows come in many styles and color options, giving you the ability to choose the one that best fits the architectural design of your home. The placement or location of the window can also affect the style you end up going with.
Here are the different style options available for vinyl windows:
Sliding windows are available in two-lite or three-lite configurations. They're designed with slim vertical lines to provide a clean and elegant look, making them the perfect choice near a walkway or a deck. Sliding windows can be configured to slide horizontally or vertically.
Double-hung windows are a traditional window style where both sashes open fully and can tilt inward for easy cleaning. These windows are great for walkways, decks, and patios.
Bow and bay windows are a collection of windows at 25 to 45-degree angles that protrude from the home's exterior. Bow windows appear slightly rounded with three, four, or five windows at either 10 or 15-degree angles, while bay windows are in between the bow windows. These window styles help to make the space feel larger.
Awning and casement windows provide clean lines that complement a contemporary home or are used to refine the look of traditional homes. These windows crank outward and are commonly used over the kitchen sink.
Custom-shaped windows can be made in any geometric shape to fit the style and architecture of your home. Most custom-shaped windows are fixed and are used where natural light is needed.
All vinyl windows come with an array of exterior color options. For example, with the Milgard Vinyl Windows, users can choose many premium exterior colors such as white, clay, espresso, bronze, town, silver, tweed, classic brown, fog, sand, and ivory. Furthermore, all grids and screens on the window will be painted to match the color of the vinyl frame. This enhances the beauty of the vinyl windows and will complement the visual appeal of your home.
Additionally, vinyl can also come with wood grain finishes to add a warm texture to the exterior. Wood also looks luxurious, which can add resale value to your home. The most popular wood grain finishes are cherry wood, dark oak, and English oak. Cherry wood offers reddish tones, dark oak adds a darker brown color, and English oak has lighter yellow tones.
Benefits of Using Vinyl Window Replacements
Vinyl window replacements have quickly become the go-to option for homeowners looking for beautiful, functional, and affordable windows. But what makes these windows so great?
Longer Lifespan
Vinyl windows tend to last between 20 to 40 years, making them one of the most durable materials for window frames. Vinyl construction ensures the corners of the frames are welded for maximum strength. Welded corners are also airtight and watertight to keep elements out. Milgard vinyl windows meet California's requirements for impact resistance as well.
Energy Efficiency
Tired of receiving high energy bills? Upgrading your windows can significantly reduce energy usage by keeping the air in your home and preventing air from coming in. Most vinyl windows will include options like multiple panes of glass and Low-E coating to improve energy efficiency further. At US Window and Door, we can even add stronger, more reinforced insulation through features like comfort foam, tight locking mechanism, and fiberglass reinforcement. This helps to seal the windows from the air outside.
Resale Value
Vinyl windows can add a lot of resale value to your home. That's because potential buyers see the visual appeal of the windows, especially if you have a wood grain finish to them. The right style can also enhance the look. For example, bow and bay windows add an artistic touch to the home that breaks away from the traditional norm. Not to mention, buyers know the energy efficiency, durability, and practical use of vinyl windows.
Noise Reduction
Windows are a big culprit for noise issues. Wood frame windows and single pane glass offer the least resistance to glass. However, vinyl frames provide noise-reducing characteristics. That's because they have a higher sound transmission class (STC) rating for better sound control. A double glazed vinyl window can have a 28-32 STC, while average single-pane windows may only have 18-20 STC.
Low Maintenance
Vinyl windows have the color baked into the frames, meaning they don't require painting. Modern technology has allowed vinyl windows to minimize fading, warping, cracking, or peeling. Most vinyl windows only require the occasional wipe down with soap and water.
Affordability
Windows can be pricey, especially if you need to replace several windows. If you're not trying to break the bank with window replacement, vinyl windows are a safe bet. They offer nearly all the benefits of fiberglass without the extremely high cost.
Many Color and Style Options
Vinyl frames come in a wide variety of colors and styles. Not to mention, they can be trimmed down to meet the specifications of your home. Whether you need a wide sliding window for the basement or a custom-shaped window for the corridor, vinyl windows are a great option. Furthermore, they can be fabricated into more sophisticated wood textures for a warmer ambiance.
Where to Get Installation Services
If you're sold on replacement windows, you may be wondering, where can I get installation services for windows? Chances are, you're not an expert in installing windows. There is a long list of reasons why you should never install windows by yourself. Most people lack the expertise or tools needed for installation. Moreover, it takes much longer, and you won't receive a window warranty.
Many average consumers will go to purchase windows from box retailers. When they make a purchase, they'll be upsold on receiving installation services from them as well. Unfortunately, that's also not the ideal choice. Box retailers often lack true expertise in window installation and about their specific products. Their installers usually only offer minimal specialized training and therefore won't do the best job. Furthermore, once the job is completed, they may only provide corporate communication, making it difficult to receive quality customer service.
US Window and Door is hands down the best way to receive installation services. With well over 30 years of experience, we provide homeowners with customized installation to ensure the windows are correctly fitted to their homes. Our vinyl windows are manufactured with the highest quality materials used in the industry, and we offer a vast range of colors, sizes, and styles of vinyl windows.
Our installation process is designed to be quick and easy, so you'll have beautiful and functional vinyl windows in no time. We offer a thorough process for window replacement:
- Initial consultation with you to learn about your design goals and preferences.
- Share and educate you about our installation and replacement options.
- Provide pre-installation to guarantee that all windows are custom fit to meet the specifications of your home.
- Expert and courteous installation of vinyl windows.
- Inspection following installation along with follow-up.
Installation requires expertise, knowledge, and specific equipment. Vinyl replacement windows are the top choice for San Diego homeowners. They provide excellent thermal insulation, a modern and contemporary look, require little maintenance, and are cost-effective. At US Window and Door, we treat our customers like family. We ensure that you're happy with the installation and walk away with the vinyl windows you absolutely love. Contact us to receive a free in-home quote for your vinyl window installation or replacement.
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