Dear Jim: I am tired of old leaky inefficient windows that stick closed or won’t stay open and sweat during the winter. What is the very best type of replacement window that is maintenance-free and long lasting? — Carl A.
Dear Carl: Replacement (or for new construction) windows with fiberglass frames are clearly the best type of window available. If I had to replace the windows in my own home, I would definitely choose fiberglass windows.
Maintenance-free fiberglass windows cost more than some vinyl windows, but are on a par with high-quality wood and clad windows. Factoring in their maintenance-free life and long-term energy efficiency, fiberglass windows have one of the lowest lifetime costs of any frame material.
Other than metal, a heat conductor, fiberglass is the strongest frame material. This allows for the narrow frame profile, which in turn allows more glass area to provide a better outdoor view and more natural light indoors. Its strength allows much larger custom windows to be produced than with most other frame materials.
Most fiberglass windows are made by a pultrusion process, which differs from the manufacturing processes of, say, boat hulls and Corvette bodies. Long glass fibers are coated with a resin. They are pulled through a hot die with the shape of the window frame profile. The heat cures the resin to form a strong frame member.
This thermosetting resin cures chemically, so it will no longer melt or weaken substantially from high heat. In contrast, vinyl is a thermoplastic material that loses strength when heated. With fiberglass, you need not worry about a dark frame color, when the temperatures rise in the summer sun.
In addition to strength, the long glass fibers in the fiberglass frames expand and contract with temperature changes at the same rate as the glass windowpanes. This makes the glass and frame perform as a single unit minimizing stress and wear on the seals and allowing many manufacturers to offer lifetime warranties.
Fiberglass windows can be painted at the factory with several decorator colors or you can paint them at your house for a perfect match. For an elegant look, choose fiberglass windows with natural real oak wood interior veneers and snap-off grilles for easy cleaning. They are held on by hidden clips.
Fiberglass windows are tops in energy efficiency. Some fiberglass window frames offer optional foam insulation filling (up to R-10). With triple-pane, low-e glass and krypton gas fill, the glass panes are also R-10 in the center.
Since fiberglass windows, like vinyl ones, are made to custom fit your window openings, they are fairly easy to install yourself for big savings.
Write for (or instantly download) Update Bulletin No. 567, buyer’s guide of ten high-quality fiberglass window manufacturers listing styles, glass options, frame colors, features, and typical installation instructions. Please include $3.00 and a business-size SASE. James Dulley, Conscious Choice, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244.
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