"Yeah, aluminum near the coast is always a gamble."
Definitely noticed this myself—moved into my first coastal home last year and quickly learned how unforgiving salt air can be. I haven't personally tried vinyl yet, but a neighbor installed vinyl windows about three years ago, and they still look pretty sharp. Slight fading maybe, but nothing major. Seems like regular cleaning and UV-protective coatings help quite a bit. Fingers crossed, anyway... coastal living has its quirks, but it's worth it.
I've had aluminum windows for about 5 years now, and yeah, the salt air can be brutal. One thing that's helped me is rinsing them down every couple of weeks with fresh water—just a quick hose-off to get rid of salt buildup. Every few months, I wipe them down with a mild soap solution, dry thoroughly, and then apply a thin coat of car wax. Sounds weird, but it really slows down corrosion and fading... might be worth a shot if you're sticking with aluminum.
"Every few months, I wipe them down with a mild soap solution, dry thoroughly, and then apply a thin coat of car wax. Sounds weird, but it really slows down corrosion and fading..."
Haha, glad I'm not the only one waxing windows like they're a sports car. I started doing this a couple years ago after a neighbor recommended it—thought he was joking at first. But honestly, it works surprisingly well. My aluminum frames still look pretty fresh despite the salty breeze around here. Plus, it's oddly satisfying seeing water bead up and roll off windows... or maybe that's just me?
I've seen a few homeowners do the wax trick, and yeah, it does help. Just make sure you don't go too heavy on the wax—thin coats work best. Otherwise, you'll spend your weekend buffing windows instead of relaxing... learned that one the hard way.
Good tip about the thin coats—I almost made that mistake myself. It's reassuring to hear I'm not the only one figuring this stuff out as I go. Homeownership is definitely a learning curve... thanks for sharing your experience!
"Homeownership is definitely a learning curve..."
Haha, tell me about it. When we first moved in, I thought window maintenance meant occasionally wiping off bird poop. Fast forward two years, and I'm out there sanding and repainting frames like it's my new hobby. Thin coats are key, but also don't underestimate good caulking—saved me from some nasty drafts last winter.
I feel this! When we bought our place, I figured windows were basically "set it and forget it." Then one rainy day, I noticed water pooling on the sill...turns out the seals were shot. Lesson learned: regular checks save headaches later.
Regular checks help, sure, but honestly...seal failure isn't always about maintenance. Sometimes it's just age or poor installation from day one. I've seen brand-new windows leak because someone rushed the install. If you're noticing pooling water, it might be worth having a pro check the flashing and drainage setup too—could save you from replacing seals again in a year or two.
Good points, rushed installs definitely cause headaches later. Had a similar issue—turned out the flashing was done wrong from day one. Quick fix once we knew. Makes me wonder though, anyone tried DIY-ing flashing repairs, or is it strictly a pro job? Seems straightforward, but I don't wanna make things worse...
I've tackled flashing repairs myself a couple of times, and while it does seem straightforward at first glance, there's definitely more nuance than you'd expect. The tricky part isn't necessarily the installation itself—it's making sure you've got the right materials and techniques for your specific window type and climate. I once underestimated how critical proper sealing was, thinking a quick caulk job would suffice. Ended up with moisture sneaking in after a heavy rainstorm, and had to redo the whole thing properly.
That said, if you're comfortable with basic carpentry and have patience to thoroughly research beforehand, DIY flashing repairs can be manageable. Just don't underestimate the importance of prep work—cleaning surfaces thoroughly, using quality materials, and double-checking your measurements. If you're unsure or dealing with extensive damage though, calling in a pro might save you headaches down the line.