Totally get where you're coming from on the dulling. I put in fiberglass windows maybe six years ago, and the frames definitely aren’t as crisp as when they were new. They don’t chalk up like the old vinyl ones I had, but there’s this kind of faded look, especially on the south side where the sun hits all day. I tried one of those “restore” wipes last spring—didn’t really do much except make them look greasy for a week. Not a huge deal for me, but it’s not zero maintenance either.
Condensation’s always been a thing for me too, no matter what the frame’s made of. I live in a 70s ranch, and when we crank the humidifier in winter, the glass still fogs up if it’s really cold outside. I will say, the fiberglass frames don’t feel as cold to the touch as the old aluminum ones did, so maybe they’re helping a bit with drafts? But you’re right, if the humidity’s up, you’re still wiping.
About the seals—yeah, I’ve had two panes where the seals failed after about five years. Got some fogging between the glass. I thought fiberglass was supposed to be better about that, but maybe I just got unlucky too. The warranty covered it, but dealing with the installer was a pain and took forever. I guess nothing’s perfect.
All that said, I do like that I don’t have to paint them, and they haven’t warped or cracked like my neighbor’s wood windows. Energy bills dropped a bit after the swap, but honestly, not as much as I hoped. Maybe my attic insulation’s the real problem...
Anyway, I’d say fiberglass is a step up from vinyl and wood for me, but it’s not some magic fix. Still gotta do some upkeep and cross your fingers on the seals.
Yeah, the fading is a thing. Mine are about five years old and the color’s just not as sharp as when they went in, even though they’re supposed to be “UV resistant.” Still, way better than the old vinyl, which would chalk up and look gross. The whole condensation issue bugs me too—fiberglass helps a bit with drafts, but it’s not a miracle worker. I do think not having to paint or deal with rot is worth it, though. Seals failing after just a few years is frustrating, but at least you don’t have to worry about the frames falling apart. All in all, not perfect, but I’d still pick fiberglass over wood or vinyl again.
All in all, not perfect, but I’d still pick fiberglass over wood or vinyl again.
That’s pretty much where I landed too. I swapped out the last of my old wood sash windows for fiberglass three winters ago. The fading is real—mine are “UV stable” as well, but the south-facing ones have definitely dulled a bit. Still, like you said, nothing compared to the way my old vinyl would yellow and get that weird powdery film after a few summers.
Condensation’s a mixed bag. Fiberglass frames don’t conduct cold like aluminum, so you get less sweating around the glass edge, but if your house is humid (like mine in spring), you’ll still see it on cold mornings. I did notice a drop in drafts though, which was huge for comfort.
The thing that bugs me most is what you mentioned about seals failing. My installer said it’s “normal wear,” but those insulated glass units aren’t cheap to replace if they fog up. At least with wood, you could reglaze just the pane... here it’s more like swapping out a whole unit.
Maintenance-wise, though? Not having to scrape and repaint every couple years is worth a lot to me. The frames are solid—no swelling or rot even after some nasty storms last year.
Cost is another factor people forget. Fiberglass isn’t cheap up front, but factoring in not having to repaint or deal with rot repairs, it balances out over time. Still stings when you’re writing that first check though.
If I had to do it again, I might go for white or lighter colors instead of dark brown—seems like the fading shows less and keeps the house cooler in summer.
All things considered, no regrets on switching over. Not perfect windows, but they’re holding up better than anything else I’ve tried since moving into this place 15 years ago.
- Totally agree on the “no more scraping and repainting” part—huge relief.
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Noticed the same, especially after showers or cooking.“if your house is humid (like mine in spring), you’ll still see it on cold mornings.”
- The cost up front was a bit of a shock for me too. Still, not having to worry about rot or warping is worth it.
- Curious if anyone’s tried DIY fixes for minor seal failures? I’m a little nervous about the idea of replacing a whole unit if one fogs up.
- Kind of wish I’d gone with a lighter color too... dark frames get hot in the sun and show every speck of dust.
I get the appeal of never scraping or repainting again, but honestly, the up-front cost still bugs me. For what I paid, I kind of expected zero condensation issues, but like you said, it still happens on humid days. On the seal failures—has anyone actually managed a long-term DIY fix? I tried a defogging kit once, but it didn’t last. Also, about the dark frames, I actually like how they look, but yeah, they’re dust magnets... Not sure I’d pick them again.
Totally get what you’re saying about the up-front cost. When we swapped ours out, I kept thinking, “Geez, that’s a chunk of change for something you barely notice unless you’re cleaning or paying the heating bill.” I had the same hope—no more condensation—but we still get those little beads on the inside when it’s muggy. I guess nothing’s perfect, even when you shell out for the “good stuff.”
Seal failures are a pain. I tried the whole drill-a-hole-and-defog thing on an old window before we replaced, but it fogged up again after a few months. Maybe there’s some magic trick out there, but for me, it was just a band-aid fix.
As for the dark frames, I thought they’d be sleek, but yeah... if you skip dusting for a week, they look like a crime scene. Still, I don’t totally regret it—they do look sharp when they’re clean, just wish I’d known how much upkeep they’d need. It’s always something, right?
You nailed it—there’s always some tradeoff, even with the pricier upgrades. I see a lot of folks surprised by lingering condensation, especially in humid climates. Sometimes it’s not the window, but the house’s ventilation or humidity levels. Have you tried running a dehumidifier nearby, or does that just feel like overkill? And yeah, dark frames... they look amazing, but dust is relentless. Still, you’re right—they really do pop when they’re clean.
Yeah, humidity’s a beast. I swapped to fiberglass a couple summers ago, thinking it’d solve all my problems—nope, still got condensation in the corners when it’s muggy out. Ended up running a small dehumidifier, and honestly, it helped more than I expected. As for those dark frames, totally agree—look sharp but every speck of dust shows. Worth it for the look, but definitely more cleaning than I bargained for.
That’s interesting about the condensation still hanging around—kind of disappointing, honestly. I always thought switching to fiberglass would just fix that, but it sounds like it’s not a magic bullet. Did you notice any difference in noise or drafts after you swapped them out? Our old wood frames are pretty drafty in the winter, and I’m mostly hoping for better insulation if I make the switch.
The dust on dark frames is something I hadn’t really considered, but now that you mention it, I can see how that’d be a pain. Are they hard to keep looking clean, or is it just a quick wipe every so often? I’m torn because the look is definitely sharp, but I don’t want to add more chores if I can help it.
Curious if you had any trouble with installation or if anything surprised you once they were in.
I totally get where you're coming from with the hope that fiberglass would just solve everything. We swapped out our 80s-era wood windows for fiberglass last spring, and honestly, the drafts got way better—especially in the living room where it used to feel like a wind tunnel every January. The noise reduction was a nice bonus, too. Our street gets pretty loud with buses, and now it’s way less noticeable. But yeah, you’re right: condensation isn’t magically gone. It’s less of an issue, but we still see it on the coldest days. I guess that’s more about humidity and how well your house breathes overall.
As for the dark frames, I was all about the modern look, but I didn’t think about dust either until it started showing up. It’s not terrible, but if you’re picky about smudges or fingerprints, you’ll notice them more than with white frames. For us, it’s just a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth every week or so—nothing crazy, but it does show more than the old white ones did.
Installation was mostly smooth, but one thing that surprised me was how much trim work was needed inside. Our walls weren’t perfectly square (old house problems), so there was some extra caulking and touch-up painting. The installers handled most of it, but I had to do some patching after they left. Not a huge deal, just something I hadn’t budgeted time for.
Curious—did you consider vinyl at all? We almost went that route since it’s cheaper, but I worried about warping in our climate. Wondering if anyone’s had luck with vinyl holding up in places with big temperature swings.