Window Framing Materials
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| Other Names: | |
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| Replacement Window Frame Materials | |
| Description: | |
| Homeowners can choose from a number of window frame materials, each of which offers its own suitability for appearance, durability and energy efficiency. |
Replacement windows are generally one of the more complex items to consider for home renovations. Careful consideration of replacement window options can ensure a home that has the required daylighting, ventilation and appearance. Homeowners who are preparing to replace their windows should carefully consider the available framing alternatives which will greatly impact on these elements of design and insulation.
The replacement window framing options include wood clad frames, wood-clad window frames, composite window frames, vinyl window frames, aluminum window frames and fiberglass window frames.
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[edit] Wood Window Frames
Wood frame replacement windows offer a long-lasting window option which provides excellent thermal insulation and a traditional appearance. Wood window frames can be installed into buildings with wood frame construction as well as into buildings which are constructed with clay, straw bale, concrete or stone construction. Wood frame windows present an authentic, warming and cozy feel to any home design or décor. They are often included in older and period properties and may be manufactured using either hard woods or soft woods including pine, oak, mahogany, Douglas fir, pine, alder, maple or teak. Windows made with wood have low R-values and are excellent insulators. Wood windows are able to withstand temperature extremes because wood is a naturally insulating material. Wood frame windows can, if properly maintained, last for centuries. Proper maintenance of a wood frame window involves annual painting or varnishing -- without this yearly maintenance, the window's exterior can deteriorate due to exposure to weather elements.
[edit] Wood Clad Window Frames
Homeowners who are interested in replacement wood frame windows but are unable or uninterested in the annual maintenance that wood frames requires can chose wood clad window frames for their replacement window requirements. The wood clad frames are genuine wood frame windows which are clad on the outside with an aluminum or vinyl material. This treated cladding protects the window frame's exterior from the weather elements and strengthens the window while displaying the authentic traditional look and feel of a wood frame window interior. Wood clad windows are suitable window options for any home construction or architectural style. They combine the natural insulation capability of wood together with the weather resistant cladding to ensure durability and prevent the wood frame's decay due to moisture or condensation build-up.
[edit] Aluminum Window Frames
Aluminum window frames are a strong yet lightweight window solution for replacement window projects. They extrude into complex shapes to match any window size or shape requirement. Aluminum frames are manufactured with factory-baked and anodized enamel coatings which create durable replacement window solutions. They are a lower-cost window option than many other framing materials but can corrode more easily than other windows. In addition aluminum windows are not energy-efficient window solutions because they conduct heat which may lead to a build-up of condensation around the pane edges and window frame. Aluminum windows are sometimes available with thermal breaks or additional foam insulation, both of which improve the frames' U-Value. Aluminum frames are most suitable to homes built in warm or temperate climates.
[edit] Composite Window Frames
Composite replacement window frames are manufactured from more than one type of material. Such window frames may involve different types of combinations, such as wood clad windows in which the frame is constructed from wood and the cladding is made of vinyl or aluminum, or other types of hybrid framing materials such as frames comprised of wood chips and recycled plastic, frames made from fiberglass and wood and frames made from wood veneer and vinyl. Composite windows produce stable replacement windows which have durable structural and thermal properties. They also resist moisture and decay. Composite frames are relatively new on the window market but initial reviews by consumers indicate that they are an energy efficient window frame solution.
[edit] Fiberglass Window Frames
Fiberglass replacement windows are manufactured using a composite fiberglass material which is created by the "pultrusion" process in which glass matting and glass strands are pulled through a resin-filled tub. This process creates a material that, when hardened, provides a strong and durable window frame. The frames are hollow, allowing the manufacturer to fill them with insulating materials to enhance the windows' thermal performance. The lifetime of fiberglass frames and seals are extended because the expansion and contraction rates of the panes and the frames are similar. This reduces the stress on the frames. Fiberglass frames do not conduct cold or heat and do not warp, shrink, swell or degrade due to weather conditions.
[edit] Vinyl Window Frames
Vinyl replacement window frames are manufactured using polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC -- vinyl -- material is a flexible material which enables the manufacturer to bend or twist the material to fit almost any window opening. Vinyl replacement windows are a low cost window alternative which offer a durable window for new construction and replacement window solutions alike. Vinyl windows do not require maintenance and do not peel, corrode or decay due to weather conditions. The level of energy efficiency depends on the quality of the vinyl frames. Some vinyl frames have foam insulation which can enhance the windows' energy efficiency. Welding the corners using a fusion- or heat-welding technique can strengthen a vinyl window frame.