“the curb appeal of black against white brick is worth a little extra cleaning”
That’s what sold me too—black frames just look sharp, especially with lighter siding. I do notice the dust, but honestly, it’s not as bad as I expected. Curious if anyone’s tried those new composite frames? Supposedly you get the look and less heat transfer, but I haven’t seen them up close yet.
Curious if anyone’s tried those new composite frames? Supposedly you get the look and less heat transfer, but I haven’t seen them up close yet.
I’ve installed a few composite frames recently—mostly for folks who wanted that black look but were worried about warping or fading. Honestly, they do stay cooler to the touch than aluminum, especially on south-facing walls. The texture’s a bit different, more matte than metal or vinyl. Cleaning-wise, it’s about the same as painted wood in my experience. Anyone else notice composites can look a little less “crisp” around the edges compared to metal? Maybe I’m just picky...
I noticed the same thing with the edges—mine aren’t as sharp as the old metal frames. I do like that they don’t get hot, though. We went with dark gray and honestly, I was worried it’d look too modern for our older house, but it blends in better than I expected. Only thing is, up close you can tell it’s not metal if you’re picky about details... but from the street, nobody’s noticed.
Only thing is, up close you can tell it’s not metal if you’re picky about details... but from the street, nobody’s noticed.
Yeah, that’s kinda what bugs me with these newer frames. I get that they’re way more efficient and don’t heat up like metal (which is nice in summer), but I’m a stickler for those crisp edges and the weighty feel. I actually went with black aluminum for my place—old brick house—and honestly, I think the sharper lines make the windows pop more, even from a distance. The trade-off is they do get a bit toasty in direct sun, but I’ll take that over the plasticky look up close. Guess it just comes down to what details matter most to you.
Yeah, I totally get the appeal of the black aluminum—there’s just something about that clean, sharp edge that looks right on older homes. I did white vinyl on my last place and honestly, it always felt a little off to me up close. Never really looked like wood or metal, just kind of... there. The heat thing with aluminum is real though; in the afternoons, you could practically fry an egg on those frames.
I’ve been wondering if anyone’s tried those new composite frames that are supposed to split the difference? Like, maybe they give you the look without the heat or the plasticky vibe? I’m skeptical, but curious. Also, does anyone actually regret going bold with window colors? I keep seeing those dark greens and blues, but I’m always worried it’ll look trendy now and dated in five years.
I get the temptation with those bold colors, but honestly, I think they’re a gamble. My neighbor did deep blue frames a few years ago—looked sharp at first, but now they just seem out of place as trends shifted. Composite frames are interesting, but I’ve seen a few up close and they still have a bit of that “not quite wood, not quite metal” vibe. If you’re worried about regret, I’d stick with something classic and just change up the trim or shutters for color. Easier to swap out if you get tired of it.
If you’re worried about regret, I’d stick with something classic and just change up the trim or shutters for color. Easier to swap out if you get tired of it.
Had a similar situation a few years back—went with a bold forest green for the frames. Looked great for about two summers, then I started wishing I’d stuck with white or tan. Swapping out shutters is way easier than redoing all the frames, trust me.
I’m right there with you on the indecision. When we bought our place last fall, I had visions of deep blue frames—like, “wow, this’ll really pop!” But then I started picturing myself five years down the road, cursing past-me for making a bold choice I couldn’t undo without basically living in a construction zone for a month. Ended up going with basic white frames and just swapped out the shutters for a dark charcoal. Not exactly groundbreaking, but it feels way safer.
Honestly, I think about how much I change my mind about throw pillows and get nervous committing to anything too wild on the outside of the house. At least with shutters, you can just take ‘em off and paint or replace them if you get bored or regretful... not so much with the frames. Plus, my neighbor did red frames last year and now he’s trying to convince everyone it was “intentional.” Not buying it.
Anyway, classic might be boring, but at least it doesn’t haunt your dreams every time you pull into the driveway.
Been there. I actually did go for a bold color once—forest green, thinking it’d look “classic with a twist.” Looked great for about a year, but then every chip and scratch stood out like crazy. Ended up repainting to white after three years.
- Agree on frames being a pain to change. Swapping shutters = weekend project. Frames = multi-week headache.
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Exactly this.“At least with shutters, you can just take ‘em off and paint or replace them if you get bored or regretful... not so much with the frames.”
- White might feel safe, but it hides dirt, matches everything, and doesn’t date as fast.
Honestly, I think “boring” is underrated when it comes to stuff you see every day.
I get what you mean about “boring” being underrated. We went with white too, mostly because I was worried about resale and didn’t want to commit to a color I might regret. Honestly, I already have enough to worry about with the yard and siding... didn’t need high-maintenance windows on top of it. I do sometimes wish we’d gone for something with a bit more character, but at least I’m not stressing every time the kids throw a ball near the house.