"Wood looks great but can warp or fade faster, especially in harsher climates... learned that the hard way with our last house."
Yeah, I hear you on the wood frames. We went with wood initially because we loved the natural look, but after just a few years, they started showing their age—especially on the south-facing side of our house. The sun really did a number on them, and repainting every couple of years got old fast. Eventually, we switched to fiberglass frames with a matte black finish, and honestly, it's been night and day. They still have that farmhouse charm without the maintenance headache.
One thing I'd mention though—fiberglass can be pricier upfront. But when you factor in the time and money saved on upkeep, it balances out pretty quickly. Aluminum was tempting too, but we worried about condensation issues since winters here get pretty cold. Curious if anyone else has had similar experiences with aluminum frames in colder climates...
"Aluminum was tempting too, but we worried about condensation issues since winters here get pretty cold."
Yeah, aluminum can definitely have condensation issues in colder climates, especially if they're not thermally broken frames. I've seen cases where homeowners had to deal with moisture buildup and even mold around the sills. Fiberglass is a solid choice—good insulation and minimal expansion/contraction. Vinyl's another decent option, though it doesn't always nail that farmhouse aesthetic as well as fiberglass or wood does...
We went fiberglass for ours and haven't regretted it yet. A few winters back, our neighbors had aluminum installed, and they ended up with towels on the sills every morning to soak up condensation... not fun. Fiberglass frames look clean, hold paint really well, and they've got that subtle texture that fits nicely with farmhouse vibes. Wood looks amazing too, but maintenance-wise fiberglass just made more sense for us.
We’re still weighing fiberglass vs. wood ourselves—fiberglass sounds great for low maintenance, but I’ve always loved how wood ages over time. Quick question though, did you have to prep or prime the fiberglass frames before painting them? I’ve heard mixed things about paint sticking properly, and I’d hate to deal with peeling or touch-ups every year...