Vinyl Windows versus Wood Windows

Vinyl clad wood windows blend the best of both worlds. With vinyl clad windows, the exterior of the wood window frame is sheathed in a vinyl clad that helps protect it from the elements and makes maintenance easier.

Wood windows offer tradition and beauty not matched by most vinyl windows, though they are typically more expensive than vinyl windows. Wood windows also require painting or staining on a regular basis. On the plus side of this, however, is the fact that you can paint the windows to match or complement the rest of your home’s exterior paint job.

Even with the best painting and maintenance plans, however, sun and moisture do eventually take their toll on wood windows, though it can take decades to become an issue. This said, if you do not maintain wood windows regularly, rot and checking of the sills will occur faster than you could ever imagine.

Besides their economical prices, vinyl windows require little to no maintenance. An occasional cleaning with a moist cloth is typically all that is required. In addition, the hinges and locks may need to be occasionally maintained. With vinyl windows, painting is not required.

Depending upon the quality of the vinyl window, it may have more or less insulation in its core.
With more insulation in the vinyl window’s core, the higher the R-value of the window, and the better the thermal and sound resistance.

On the down side, vinyl windows and vinyl window replacements are limited in color options so if they do not match your house siding, you may have no choice but to go with a wood window. In addition, lower quality vinyl windows can be prone to condensation issues.