Yeah, fading's definitely a thing. Had a friend who went with dark navy grids—looked amazing at first, but after a few summers, they turned kinda denim-y. Still charming though, and honestly, most folks barely notice unless you point it out...
"Still charming though, and honestly, most folks barely notice unless you point it out..."
Totally agree—most people won't even catch it. But if fading bugs you, maybe consider lighter grids or even wood tones? They age gracefully and blend naturally into that farmhouse vibe over time...
Good point about lighter grids and wood tones—they definitely age better. But speaking of fading, has anyone noticed if certain window materials hold up better long-term in farmhouse-style homes? I've seen vinyl windows that start out looking great but get kinda chalky after a few years in the sun. On the other hand, wood looks amazing but can be a pain with upkeep (been there, done that, got the splinters to prove it...). Maybe fiberglass or aluminum-clad wood hits that sweet spot between durability and charm? Curious if anyone's had experience with those options holding their looks over time.
Fiberglass does seem promising—I've read it's pretty resistant to fading and warping compared to vinyl. Aluminum-clad wood also sounds good, but does anyone know if the aluminum part gets noticeably dull or oxidized after a while? Curious about that...
We've had aluminum-clad wood windows for about 7 years now, and honestly, they still look pretty sharp. Maybe a tiny bit less shiny than day one, but definitely no noticeable oxidation or dullness. I'd say they're worth considering for sure...
"Maybe a tiny bit less shiny than day one, but definitely no noticeable oxidation or dullness."
Totally agree—our aluminum-clad wood windows are about 3 years old now, and they've held up great. Easy upkeep too, just a quick wipe-down every now and then. Definitely fits that farmhouse vibe nicely...
We've had aluminum-clad wood windows for about 6 years now, and while they're pretty solid overall, I've noticed a little fading and dullness on the south-facing side. Not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind if your windows get a ton of sun exposure...
"We've had aluminum-clad wood windows for about 6 years now, and while they're pretty solid overall, I've noticed a little fading and dullness on the south-facing side."
Yeah, aluminum-clad wood can definitely fade a bit over time, especially with intense sun exposure. But honestly, I've seen similar fading issues even with vinyl windows after several years. No window material is completely immune to UV rays, unfortunately.
One thing I'd suggest considering is fiberglass windows. They're not as popular or widely known as aluminum-clad or vinyl, but from my experience installing them, fiberglass holds up exceptionally well against sun exposure. I worked on a farmhouse renovation a couple of summers ago where the homeowner specifically requested fiberglass because their property had zero shade and faced directly south. I drove by recently and those windows still look sharp—no noticeable fading or dullness at all.
Fiberglass also has that clean, crisp look that fits nicely with the farmhouse style you're going for. Plus, you can paint it if you ever want to freshen things up down the road (though honestly, most people never need to).
Not knocking aluminum-clad wood—it's still a great choice overall—but if fading bothers you even slightly, fiberglass might be worth checking out before you commit. Just my two cents from what I've seen in the field...
We've had aluminum-clad wood windows for almost 10 years now, and yeah, the south side gets hit pretty hard. Like you said:
"I've noticed a little fading and dullness on the south-facing side."
Honestly though, it's not too noticeable unless you're really looking for it. A quick clean and polish once a year helps ours look fresh again. Fiberglass sounds interesting, but if you're happy overall, I wouldn't stress too much about minor fading—it's just part of the deal with sun exposure.
We've had ours about 8 years, same aluminum-clad wood style, and yeah there's some fading too. Honestly, it just adds a bit of character...farmhouses aren't meant to look brand-new forever anyway, right? A little wear from the sun feels authentic.