As a frame material, wood had some good qualities but it also had some serious disadvantages. Wooden double-hung windows are a staple of classic American home styles like the Georgian, Colonial, and Victorian. However, these windows were prone to common wood problems like rot, water damage, and regular wear and tear. Wood also required frequent maintenance and repainting, the costs of which could easily reach up to the thousands yearly.
Polyvinyl chloride or, as it’s more commonly known, vinyl, was produced to answer the problems wooden windows had. For a while, vinyl windows held the number one spot in replacement window products. But vinyl was not without its own drawbacks. Here is a quick overview of vinyl windows from our experts at Renewal by Andersen® as well as tips on how to address their common shortcomings.
Like all oil-based products, vinyl can be susceptible to temperature changes. This can cause warping. For certain styles like gliding windows, warping can be detrimental to normal operation, causing the sashes to change shape or size and affecting the way it fits in the frame and jambs. Materials expand under high heat from the sun. This is more pronounced in vinyl which is why warping is usually more observed in these types of windows.
Renewal by Andersen has developed a material that combines all the advantages of wood and vinyl while, at the same time, eliminating the issues common to these types of windows. Fibrex® is a composite material made from reclaimed wood fibers and extruded high-quality PVC. It’s designed to resist warping under a wide range of climate conditions.
Ask your local window replacement contractor about installing Fibrex windows today. With a High-Performance™ Low-E4® glass, you can further maximize the benefits you can get from a Renewal by Andersen replacement window.
At Renewal by Andersen, we are your leading provider of Fibrex window replacement products. Give us a call at (206) 775-7533 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation and request a free estimate today. We serve homeowners in Bellevue and other nearby areas.
