Vinyl or Metal framed windows?

[mikester]

I have a choice between Vinyl or metal framed windows; no cost to me. The vinyl are triple paned, metal are double.

Pros/cons of either please?

Thanks guys...hope Zeke's listening...

[dad911]

With limited info given: vinyl. metal conduct hot/cold.

Are you sure vinyl windows are triple pane?

[mikester]

I've seen them and they do have three physical panes of glass. It's kind of a pain for opening the window but it's part of a residential sound insulation program near LAX. They are supposed to make my house quieter.

[red-beard]

GO with the Triples

[competentone]

I've seen vinyl -- after about 10-15 years -- sometimes get brittle and break. Yea, it's all supposed to be "UV stabilized" but I've seen it enough times that I prefer aluminum framed windows.

The aluminum frame makes them less efficient since it conducts heat more efficiently than the vinyl which is the reason you normally will only see double glazed panes in the aluminum frame. The inefficiency of the frame doesn't justify the highly efficient triple glazed panes.

Either is really probably fine; I might even use vinyl if I were building -- but I would design an installation method (even if using aluminum framed windows) that would allow complete window replacement without tearing into the siding/brickwork/stucco or whatever exterior I'd be using on the house. It's just part of my philosophy of "making it repairable" -- something lacking in most construction today.

It might be "too custom" for you to try something like this, but it's something to think about.

[Moneyguy1]

I have the same quandry. I want to replace the windows on the south side of the house (the sunny side). I have seen vinyl siding exposed to solar radiation for years get brittle. We do not have extreme winters here, but summers are quite warm. About five years ago, I installed double pane aliminum windows and patio doors on the north side and have been very pleased. Interestingly, the windows work so well that the room has no heating/cooling ductwork (260 square feet)and maintains a comfortable inside temp in the Summer at 105 and the dead of winter at 40.

[mikester]

Well, we have it pretty easy where we are (near the beach). It doesn't get too hot or too cold and the sun is pretty gentle to us most of the year.

Still, the vinyl were making a fair run of winning but they only come in white or off white and are not very paintable. The aluminum however I can paint easily and expect that it will stick.

Ultimately it came down to the wife saying she absolutely did not want white windows.

Thanks guys!

[TerryH]

Where is our resident expert on windows, Milt?

[nostatic]

Spend money and get wood. I think both vinyl and metal are really quite hideous.

[Moneyguy1]

Depends on the climate. Believe it or not, wood is a poor choice in hot dry climates.

[Chocaholic]

Or hot, humid climates. Wood can rot and compromise window seal.

[TerryH]

Speaking of wood.... three days ago, I came home to a termite swarm. Damn things were flying everywhere. I killed about 100 in mid-air and another 100 that had landed. In the garage my car sits just below a roof turbine vent. There were about 50 wings that the critters had shed on the roof laying on my hood the next day.

They say practically every wood structure in California has termites to some degree. The take about 6 years to develop into a colony. We fumigated about 5 years ago, it might be time soon again. Guess you can slow them down, but you can't stop them.

[RickM]

The Pellas I use are Metal clad on the outside (white) and wood on the inside. Love em.

[red-beard]

You are close enough to the ocean that the aluminum will corrode. Get the vinyl. And if you plan to get screens, etc, get the ones made of plastic mesh. All of the Aluminum windows and screens we had in San Diego were corroded, Townhouse was 12 years old.

[mikester]

AH! JAmes....why didn't you point that out in the beginning!

[red-beard]

you didn't ask...

[EdT82SC]

Originally posted by TerryH
Speaking of wood.... three days ago, I came home to a termite swarm. Damn things were flying everywhere. I killed about 100 in mid-air and another 100 that had landed. In the garage my car sits just below a roof turbine vent. There were about 50 wings that the critters had shed on the roof laying on my hood the next day.

They say practically every wood structure in California has termites to some degree. The take about 6 years to develop into a colony. We fumigated about 5 years ago, it might be time soon again. Guess you can slow them down, but you can't stop them.

What you have there is subterranean termites. Tenting doesn't do anything but kill the few that are munching on your house. Most of the colony is underground, and they will get right back to work after the tent is gone. The usual treatment is poking small holes in affected walls, and spaying in a poison powder that they get on their bodies, and as they interract with other termites transfer some poison to them, and hopefully eventually kill off the colony. Often you will treat in one spot, and they come back somewhere else. So you treat in the new spots until they don't come back any more. Subterranean termites are nasty, and can cause significant structural damage quickly.

[TerryH]

Originally posted by EdT82SC
What you have there is subterranean termites. Tenting doesn't do anything but kill the few that are munching on your house. Most of the colony is underground, and they will get right back to work after the tent is gone. The usual treatment is poking small holes in affected walls, and spaying in a poison powder that they get on their bodies, and as they interract with other termites transfer some poison to them, and hopefully eventually kill off the colony. Often you will treat in one spot, and they come back somewhere else. So you treat in the new spots until they don't come back any more. Subterranean termites are nasty, and can cause significant structural damage quickly.

Don't mean to hijack this window thread...

Our house only has had drywood termites. They never see the ground and rarely need moisture. I've see sub type, but not near my home. Here's a copy/paste blurb.

"Drywood Termites
Drywood termites infest dry, undecayed wood, including structural lumber as well as dead limbs of native trees and shade and orchard trees, utility poles, posts, and lumber in storage. From these areas, winged reproductives seasonally migrate to nearby buildings and other structures usually on sunny days during fall months. Drywood termites are most prevalent in southern California (including the desert areas), but also occur along most coastal regions and in the Central Valley.

Drywood termites have a low moisture requirement and can tolerate dry conditions for prolonged periods. They remain entirely above ground and do not connect their nests to the soil. Piles of their fecal pellets, which are distinctive in appearance, may be a clue to their presence. The fecal pellets are elongate (about 3/100 inch long) with rounded ends and have six flattened or roundly depressed surfaces separated by six longitudinal ridges. They vary considerably in color, but appear granular and salt and pepperlike in color and appearance.

Winged adults of western drywood termites (Incisitermes minor) are dark brown with smoky black wings and have a reddish brown head and thorax; wing veins are black. These insects are noticeably larger than subterranean termites."

[David]

It's time to buy windows so I'm resurrecting this one so maybe milt will chime in.

Most of the online searches rave about vinyl, but they seem slanted toward a particular brand so I'm suspect. I also found a site rating aluminum better on sound reduction which is a concern.

My current windows are aluminum and almost 30 years old. They're corroded but they still work fine. All my recent experience with plastic leads me to think vinyl would be more prone to cracking from UV damage.

If it matters, the new windows will be white. TIA.

[75'930cab]

I went with Pella with metal clad with wood. You supposedly don't have to paint the outside ever. I got the metal clad in that dark bronze color.