Been looking into upgrading our old drafty windows lately, and I'm kinda stuck between composite and vinyl. Composite seems like it's supposed to be stronger, better insulation, and lasts longer, but geez...the price difference is no joke. Vinyl is way cheaper, and a buddy of mine got them installed last year and says he's pretty happy so far. But then again, composites are supposed to hold up better in harsh weather, and winters here can get pretty rough.
I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with both or switched from vinyl to composite (or vice versa)? Did you feel like the composites were actually worth shelling out the extra bucks, or was vinyl good enough for what you needed? I mean, I don't wanna cheap out totally, but also don't wanna blow money on something that's just marketing hype, you know?
Went through this exact dilemma a couple years back when we replaced our windows. At first, I was dead set on composite because, you know, "premium quality" and all that jazz. But then I saw the price tag and nearly spilled my coffee. Ended up going vinyl mostly because my wallet was screaming at me, and honestly, they've been pretty solid.
That said, my brother-in-law lives up north where winters are brutal, and he swears by composite. He had vinyl before and said they warped a bit after a few harsh winters—nothing catastrophic, but enough to annoy him. He switched to composite about five years ago and hasn't stopped bragging about how warm his house stays now (he's kinda insufferable about it, tbh).
So I guess it depends how rough your winters really get and how long you're planning to stay in your place. If you're sticking around for the long haul and winters are nasty, composites might actually pay off. But if you're like me—moderate climate, not planning to stay forever—vinyl's probably good enough. Just my two cents...or maybe one cent after inflation.
"Ended up going vinyl mostly because my wallet was screaming at me, and honestly, they've been pretty solid."
Glad to hear vinyl worked out for you—I went the same route about four years ago. Winters here aren't exactly mild, but they're not brutal either. Honestly, zero regrets so far. I do wonder sometimes if composite would've made a noticeable difference in heating bills...but probably not enough to justify that price jump. Sounds like you made a sensible call.