I keep going back and forth on whether the chunkier frame is worth sacrificing a bit of glass. The sightlines bug me sometimes, but then again, maybe I’m overthinking it.
You’re not alone—those thick frames are kind of a love/hate thing for me too. When we redid our living room windows last fall (the old aluminum ones were basically wind tunnels), I spent way too much time staring at sample corners in the showroom. The Fibrex 100s definitely looked bulkier compared to what we had before. My wife was all about “modern and clean,” but I kept thinking about losing that extra inch or so of glass.
After living with them through one winter, I will say the room *feels* less drafty. Not sure how much of that is the material itself versus just having new, tighter windows, but there’s definitely less cold air pooling by the couch. Our energy bill dropped a bit—maybe $10-15/month in the coldest months? Not earth-shattering, but noticeable.
As for insulation, I asked the installer if the chunkier frame actually mattered and he said it’s partly design (for strength) but also helps with thermal resistance compared to skinny metal frames. Still, you do lose some view. In our case, it wasn’t a dealbreaker since we face a fence anyway… if I had a killer view, I might’ve hesitated more.
The sightlines bugged me at first too, especially when the sun hits just right and you notice that wide border around each pane. Over time though, my brain just sort of stopped noticing it unless I really focus.
Funny thing—I tried to get clever and “fix” an old window once with foam tape and plastic film… looked like a science project gone wrong. New windows are definitely less embarrassing.
All in all, I’d say if your main goal is comfort and energy savings, the chunkier Fibrex frames do help some. If you’re super picky about glass area or have a great view, maybe worth looking at slimmer options (but probably pricier). For us it was a decent tradeoff.
The sightlines bugged me at first too, especially when the sun hits just right and you notice that wide border around each pane. Over time though, my brain just sort of stopped noticing it unless I really focus.
That’s exactly what happened to me after our swap to Fibrex. At first, I thought I’d made a huge mistake and was about to break out the sledgehammer. But after a couple months, you really do stop noticing unless you’re standing there with a tape measure, obsessing over fractions of an inch.
But here’s my thing—am I the only one who actually likes having a beefier frame when it comes time to clean the windows? Those skinny aluminum ones always felt like they’d slice my fingers off if I leaned on them wrong. The Fibrex frames are chunky enough that I can get a good grip and not feel like I’m going to snap anything. Plus, no more mystery drafts whistling through every gap when the wind picks up.
I get the glass loss argument, especially if you’ve got a killer view or want that wide-open feel. For us, it was either look at the neighbor’s trash cans or have warmer toes in winter. Easy choice. But man, window shopping (literally) is exhausting—so many options, and none of them are cheap.
Curious if anyone has tried painting their Fibrex frames? Installer said it’s possible but “not recommended” (which always sounds like a dare to me). My wife wants black frames now because apparently we live in an Instagram house. Wondering if anyone’s rolled the dice there and how it’s held up.
Also, anyone else notice the window latches on the 100s are... just okay? Ours work but don’t feel super solid. Maybe I’m nitpicking, but for what we paid, kinda expected more heft.
But here’s my thing—am I the only one who actually likes having a beefier frame when it comes time to clean the windows? Those skinny aluminum ones always felt like they’d slice my fingers off if I leaned on them wrong.
Funny you mention the cleaning thing. When we put in our 100 series a couple years back, I thought the frames were going to annoy me for blocking more glass, but now I secretly appreciate that extra chunk. I’m not exactly graceful with a squeegee, so the wider Fibrex frame is almost like a built-in guardrail for my knuckles. With the old metal windows, I’d always end up with at least one scraped finger or a bent screen tab. Now it’s just wipe and go, no bloodshed.
As for painting Fibrex, I got the same “not recommended” line from my installer. My spouse went down a Pinterest rabbit hole and suddenly black frames were “non-negotiable.” We ended up skipping it, but I did do a test patch on a leftover scrap (don’t ask why I kept it, I’m a packrat). Used a high-adhesion primer and some exterior paint. It looked good for a few months, but after last winter, I noticed a little flaking at the corners. Could be user error, but I’d say if you’re picky about finishes, maybe stick with the factory color. Or just embrace the “modern farmhouse beige” like we did, which apparently is a thing now.
About the latches—yeah, I hear you. Ours work fine, but they have kind of a… plasticky vibe? Not flimsy, but not what I’d call “satisfying.” Like, I want a little *clunk* when I lock it, not a *click*. Small gripe, but when you’re shelling out that much, you start noticing the little stuff.
Window shopping is a whole ordeal. We spent so long comparing options that by the end I couldn’t remember which brand had what. Ended up going Fibrex mostly because of the no-draft promise and the fact that the frames wouldn’t rot (our old wood ones were basically compost). All in all, happy enough, but yeah—nothing’s perfect.
With the old metal windows, I’d always end up with at least one scraped finger or a bent screen tab. Now it’s just wipe and go, no bloodshed.
Same here—my old aluminum sliders were basically finger traps. The Fibrex frames on our 100s are chunkier than I expected, but honestly, I don’t miss the extra bit of glass. I’d rather have my knuckles intact. Agree about the latches too… mine feel a little cheap, but at least they haven’t broken (yet). For the price, I guess I expected a bit more heft.
Agree about the latches too… mine feel a little cheap, but at least they haven’t broken (yet). For the price, I guess I expected a bit more heft.
Funny, I thought the same thing when I first handled those latches—kinda plasticky, right? But after a year of regular use (and two kids slamming them), still holding up. I do wish they felt sturdier, though. The chunkier Fibrex frames bugged me at first, but once I realized my knuckles weren’t getting chewed up anymore, I stopped caring about the slimmer glass line. Worth the trade for me.
I do wish they felt sturdier, though. The chunkier Fibrex frames bugged me at first, but once I realized my knuckles weren’t getting chewed up anymore, I stopped caring about the slimmer glass line.
I get what you mean about the “chunkier Fibrex frames bugged me at first,” but honestly, I still kind of miss the slimmer profile of my old windows. Maybe it’s just me, but the daylight difference is noticeable in my living room. The trade-off for not scraping my hands is nice, but I can’t help feeling like the extra frame makes things look a bit clunky, especially in smaller rooms.
And about the latches—yeah, they haven’t broken on mine either, but I’m with you on the plasticky feel. For how much these windows cost, I expected something that felt more solid. I guess time will tell if they keep holding up, but I’m not totally convinced yet. I do like how low-maintenance the Fibrex is, though. Haven’t had to repaint or really fuss with them, which is a relief compared to my old wood frames.
Just wish there was a way to get that durability without sacrificing so much on the look and feel. Maybe I’m too picky, but it’s hard not to notice.
I totally get where you're coming from. The chunkier frames do take some getting used to, especially if you had those old-school skinny ones before. I keep thinking about how much more light we used to get in our kitchen before we swapped ours out. Still, not having to sand and repaint every couple years is a huge relief... I guess it’s always a trade-off. I’m with you on the latches too—they work fine, but they just don’t have that solid “click” feel I expected for the price. Maybe they’ll surprise us and hold up better than they look?
That’s exactly what I noticed with ours—the thicker Fibrex frames definitely cut down on how much sunlight comes in. I mean, energy efficiency is better, but sometimes I miss that brighter look, especially in the mornings. The low-maintenance part is a big win, though. Not having to deal with peeling paint or warped wood every few years is a huge time-saver.
About the latches, I get what you mean. They feel a bit lightweight compared to what I expected. No issues so far, but I’m curious how they’ll hold up after a few winters. Did you have any trouble with the installation? Our contractor said the Fibrex material can flex a bit during install, which was new to me—just wondering if that’s common or if we got unlucky.
Yeah, the thicker Fibrex frames are a double-edged sword. I’ve installed a bunch of these 100 series, and while the energy savings are legit, you definitely sacrifice a bit of that open, airy vibe you get with slimmer frames. Some folks care more about the insulation, others want every bit of sunlight—guess it depends on what bugs you more, drafts or dim mornings.
About the latches, I’ve had a few clients mention they feel a little flimsy too. Haven’t seen any major failures yet, but I’d keep an eye on them if you get a lot of freeze-thaw cycles. As for the flexing during install, that’s actually pretty normal with Fibrex. It’s got a bit more give than wood or pure vinyl, especially in bigger sizes. As long as your installer took their time and made sure everything’s square, you should be good. I’ve only had issues when folks tried to rush or force the fit.
Honestly, not having to scrape and repaint every couple years is worth a lot to me. But yeah, there’s always some trade-off.
That’s interesting about the flexing—I always wondered if that was just my install or the material itself. I do like not having to mess with painting, but the chunkier frames kind of bug me on cloudy days. Has anyone noticed if the color fades at all over time? I’m in a spot that gets a lot of sun, and I’d hate to end up with mismatched windows down the road. The latches feeling flimsy is a little concerning, but I guess as long as they don’t actually break, it’s fine... right?