Vinyl Clad Windows
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| Other Names: | |
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| PVC Clad Windows, Replacement Vinyl Clad Windows, Vinyl Clad Wooden Windows, Vinyl Covered Wood Windows | |
| Description: | |
| Vinyl Clad Windows have many advantages that make them a suitable replacement window choice for many home remodeling projects. |
Vinyl clad windows are a suitable window choice for both new construction and replacement window projects. The windows combine the weather resistant properties of the exterior vinyl cladding with the sturdy construction and thermal insulation capabilities of a wood window. When building a vinyl clad window the vinyl is bent and folded over the wood frame exterior. This prevents the weather elements from penetrating into the wood frame. Vinyl clad windows offer a flexible window option that can fit almost any window opening.
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Advantages
Vinyl clad windows are the choice of many homeowners because they have several advantages over other window framing materials.
Versatility
Vinyl clad windows combine the benefits of wood and vinyl to create an aesthetically pleasing window option. Vinyl clad replacement windows are based on a wood frame which is coated on the outside with a vinyl composite material. This creates a weather tight window while still allowing for the inside to be painted or stained. The window retains all the insulating benefits of the wood frame.
Energy Efficiency
Vinyl clad replacement windows are an energy efficient window option that offer a weather-resistant thermal insulated window alternative. Vinyl clad windows help a home retain heat in the wintertime while preventing excessive heat from entering the house in the summertime.
Maintenance
Homeowners will find that vinyl clad windows do not require any type of maintenance of upkeep after installation.
Design
The wide range of design capabilities of replacement vinyl clad windows allow the manufacturers to mold the vinyl cladding into any shape or style. Homeowners can easily find a vinyl clad window which matches their home's architectural design plan.
Installation
Vinyl clad windows are easy to install, resulting in lowered installation costs and the opportunity to purchase a vinyl clad window that will fit any standard size window opening.
Availability
A number of manufacturers build vinyl clad windows and the manufacturers' dealers ensure that these windows are available in locations throughout the world.
Considerations
There are a few considerations that may encourage a homeowner to look at vinyl clad replacement windows closely before making the purchase.
Weather Resistance
If the vinyl clad replacement window is improperly installed the cladding may leak which allows moisture to reach the wooden frame and causes the wood frame to rot. The vinyl clad manufacturers strongly suggest that homeowners who are not familiar with window installations allow a professional vinyl clad window installer to install the replacement windows.
Paint
Vinyl cladding comes in a variety of colors but does not absorb new paint. This means that the exterior color of the window may not be changed. This is a consideration for homeowners who like to change their window color periodically or who don't find an existing vinyl cladding color that matches the color that they envision for their home. In addition, homeowners who think that they may be making other changes in their home's exterior should remember that the vinyl window color will not change.
Appearance
Vinyl is a soft material so creating a durable vinyl clad replacement window involves building a heavier frame. This creates a bulkier look which some homeowners do not like. In addition, the texture of vinyl clad windows may feel too rough for some customers.
Vinyl frames absorb solar heat and may fade the frame color over time. For this reason many vinyl clad window dealers suggest that homeowners who live in extremely hot climates buy white vinyl clad windows.
Vinyl Window Placements
The wide range of sizes, shapes and styles of vinyl clad windows make it a suitable replacement window solution for any area of the home. Vinyl clad replacement windows are appropriate windows for any architectural home design and can be included in living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens as well as bedrooms, attic and basement rooms and hallways. Vinyl clad windows are also a suitable window solution for exposed rooms such as sun rooms, pool rooms, garden rooms and enclosed porches.
Window Combinations
Vinyl clad replacement windows are available both as single units and as component windows of larger window units. Vinyl clad window manufacturers create window combinations including bay and bow windows. Vinyl clad windows may also be installed as groupings of two or more windows which are installed within one window opening. These groupings may include a non-operating window which is installed together with an operating window, two or more operating windows installed within one window opening or two or more non-operating windows installed side-by-side or one above the other.
Replacement vinyl clad windows may also be installed in combinations of shapes. A grouping of two shapes may include a half-round top vinyl clad window which is installed above a square or rectangle non-operating or operating window or a rectangle hopper or awning vinyl clad window which is installed below a square non-operating or operating window.
Thermal Insulation & Weather Resistance
Vinyl clad replacement window frames combine the insulating properties of a wood frame window with the weather resistant capabilities of the vinyl framing material. Vinyl frames are manufactured using UV (ultraviolet light) stabilizers which keep the sunlight from breaking down the PVC vinyl material. Vinyl PVC is a versatile plastic material which provides a quality insulating value
Vinyl cladding may warp in extremely hot temperatures which can cause the frame to become less airtight over time. Vinyl clad replacement windows are available with low U-Ratings which indicate that they are judged to be a quality energy efficient window product by the National Fenestration Ratings Council (NFRC). The ratings of the NFRC are accepted by environmental governmental agencies worldwide including the United States Department of Energy.
Frame Sizes and Shapes
Vinyl clad replacement windows are available in a wide range of styles, shapes and sizes, making them a popular replacement window alternative.
Shapes
Vinyl clad windows are produced in all shapes including squares, rectangles, triangles, octagons, quarter-rounds, half-rounds and full circles. Special shaped vinyl clad windows are available as special orders. Vinyl is a pliable material which allows manufacturers to produce vinyl clad windows in any shape.
Styles
Vinyl clad replacement windows are available in a wide variety of both operating and non-operating window styles. Operating vinyl clad window style alternatives include horizontal sliding windows such as one sash, two sash or three sash sliders and vertical sliding windows including single-hung and double-hung windows. Tilt-and-turn windows are available in vinyl clad frames as well as hinged vinyl clad casement windows. Hinged vinyl clad replacement window options are available as both inswing and outswing casement windows, bottom-hinged hopper windows and top-hinged awning windows.
Sizes
Vinyl clad replacement window sizes vary widely. Whereas regular vinyl windows are generally limited to smaller or medium sizes because of problems with the strength of the vinyl frame, the strong wood base frame of a vinyl clad window ensures that the vinyl clad window will offer a good replacement window solution in small, medium or large sizes.
Manufacturers
Replacement vinyl window frames are manufactured by Anderson Windows, Dufferin Windows and Pollard Windows.
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