All about replacement windows and doors. Window Discussion Board
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#1 2007-09-04 13:23:51
- bmwgolfguy
- New member
- Registered: 2007-09-04
- Posts: 2
vinyl versus fiberglass replacement windows
I'm looking for some expert advice on choosing between vinyl and fiberglass window replacements. my homeowners association has determined that we must replace our old (originally installed in 1977) windows with fiberglass, rather than vinyl, windows. two estimates received to date (comfort line from the window man and infinity from marvin) are rather expensive: $14,000 for the comfort line and $10,100 for the infinity for twelve windows. are there other fiberglass products that would be less expensive but equally good? can a case be made that vinyl (such as prodigy from unicorp) is equally efficient as fiberglass? i have a gazillion other questions, but figure this will get me off on the right foot. thanks in advance for your advice/guidance.
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#2 2007-09-04 13:24:41
- Bill
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- Registered: 2007-01-19
- Posts: 17
Re: vinyl versus fiberglass replacement windows
Comfortline has a Next Generation series and a Oak Originals series. The NG series comes in only double hungs, sliders, and picture windows. The Oak Originals come in all styles but is a much bulkier window. Depemding on your sizes and style I might suggest one over the other.
I like the looks of the Infinity and feel it's a very good window, but has limited options when compared to the Comfortline. Milgard also has fiberglass windows with quite a few options. The selection is small but the aboved mentioned are the front runners in Fiberglass.
There are a number of Canadian mfrg's with a small presence in this country but fiberglass is still pretty much on the horizon. Of what you have looked at Marvin's going to be the winner price wise and is a good choice.
Your info is limited, so it's hard to give you a better direction. Give a few more details and perhaps I can make additional comments.
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#3 2007-09-04 13:25:40
- bmwgolfguy
- New member
- Registered: 2007-09-04
- Posts: 2
Re: vinyl versus fiberglass replacement windows
hi again, and thanks for your feedback. my threshold question is how to weigh the merits of fiberglass versus vinyl windows; i'm not yet persuaded that fiberglass is the only or best way to go. re your assessment, i appreciate the feedback and must say that my neighbors who have used comfort line already are not entirely happy; not sure if it's the windows themselves (there are reports of factory problems) or the windowman company. but i'm not eager to spend the $14,400 i noted for the comfort line when i can also find fiberglass from marvin for $10,000. however, i'm also researching prices for vinyl windows, with a lifetime warranty, and am quite surprised by the price differential.
so, what would be really helpful is a sense of how much better, if at all, fiberglass frames would be. are there any reports, etc., that i can be directed to that would help me understand the different pros/cons of each type of window? thanks again,
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#4 2007-09-04 13:26:26
- Bill
- New member
- Registered: 2007-01-19
- Posts: 17
Re: vinyl versus fiberglass replacement windows
I was using your statement that the condo assoc would only permit fiberglass, which would lead me to reccomend Marvin. We sell quite a few Comfortline, Milgard, and a few other assorted fiberglass brands and steer the customer in this direction when the critera calls for a real oak or pine interior that they want to match or have a particular exterior color in mind.
A good fiberglass window with low-e and argon will save you very little over a good vinyl with the same type of glass. New standards which will have a er number shows fiberglass to out perform vinyl because of infiltration and exfiltration due to the low expansion contraction rate of the fiberglass, but I can't tell you exactly what that translates to in dollars. Common sense tells me if you live in an area that has a lot of high winds and bitter cold fiberglass becomes a better option, but at what cost, because you can't live long enough to recover the difference in energy savings. I know if I were in the market for new windows, fiberglass would be my only consideration. My problem would be asthetics. Milgard can solve that for me but they have a crappy glass package. Comfortline can solve the glass problem but they have a crappy looking window thus my reccomendation for the Marvin for you. It's priced below many vinyls and will perform well. There are a quite a few good vinyl windows but when you get up over $700 per it;s time to seriously consider fiberglass.
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