That’s interesting, because I’ve had a bit of the reverse. My vinyl windows actually seem to creak more than the old aluminum ones did, especially when temps swing fast—like those weird spring days where it’s freezing in the morning and 70 by afternoon. I do wonder if part of it is the way the house settles too. My place is from the 70s and nothing’s quite square anymore, so maybe the frames are just fighting the walls a little. I wouldn’t be surprised if installer technique plays into it, but I’m not sure it’s the only thing going on.
Interesting you mention the creaking—my vinyls do the same, especially during those big temp swings. I always chalked it up to expansion and contraction, but maybe my install wasn’t as square as I thought either. The house settling definitely doesn’t help… mine’s from the late 60s and you can see where things just aren’t lined up anymore. Have you checked if your frames are pushing against the drywall or trim? Sometimes a little extra caulk or shimming helps, but sometimes it’s just old house quirks.
Have you checked if your frames are pushing against the drywall or trim? Sometimes a little extra caulk or shimming helps, but sometimes it’s just old house quirks.
Yeah, I’ve seen this a bunch—especially in houses from the 60s and 70s. I did a job last winter where the homeowner swore the install was square, but turns out one side was just barely pressing on the jamb and it caused these tiny cracks to show after a cold snap. Sometimes you can shim it out, but with older places, you’re kinda fighting against decades of settling. Expansion and contraction are real, but those little shifts add up over time.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen hairline cracks show up even when the window’s framed perfectly and there’s plenty of clearance. Sometimes it’s more about the glass itself or even a manufacturing defect—especially with some of the newer low-e coatings. Had a case last year where the panes started cracking after a sudden cold snap, but everything else checked out. Settling can play a role, but I wouldn’t rule out issues with the glass or thermal stress, especially if it’s happening right after install.
Thermal stress cracks right after install aren’t that rare, especially with big temp swings. Did the cracks run straight from an edge, or were they more random? Sometimes edge damage during handling sets up those failures, even if everything else looks fine.
Thermal stress cracks right after install aren’t that rare, especially with big temp swings. Did the cracks run straight from an edge, or were they more random?
Gotta say, I’m not totally convinced it’s just thermal stress. I mean, yeah, big temp swings can do a number on glass, but in my experience, those cracks usually look pretty textbook—long, mostly straight lines from the edge inward. If you’re seeing more spiderweb or zigzag patterns, sometimes that points to a manufacturing defect or even a bad batch. Had a client once where the whole shipment had microfractures... installer nearly lost his mind thinking it was his fault. Just saying, sometimes it’s not about the install or handling at all.
That’s interesting—when I swapped out a couple windows last fall, I got a crack that looked almost like a lightning bolt, not the straight edge-to-center thing you’d expect from thermal stress. Made me wonder about the batch too. Was your glass double-paned? Sometimes the inner pane cracks and you barely notice until it spreads. Did you see any weird marks or bubbles near the cracks? Just trying to rule out if it’s a flaw from the get-go or something that happened after install...
Lightning bolt cracks always make me raise an eyebrow. In my experience, that’s rarely just thermal stress—usually, it’s a manufacturing defect or a bad install. I’ve seen double-paned units where the inner pane went first, and you barely notice until it spiderwebs. I’d check for tiny air bubbles or distortions near the crack—sometimes you’ll spot a flaw in the glass itself. But I’ve also seen installers crank the frames too tight and cause weird cracks days later. Not always easy to pin down, honestly.
That’s a sharp observation about the install—frame tension can definitely sneak up on you. I’ve seen panes crack months after a supposedly “perfect” job, especially in spots with big temp swings. Sometimes the tiniest flaw in the glass just needs that extra nudge. It’s frustrating, but you’re not alone noticing this stuff.
I’ve seen panes crack months after a supposedly “perfect” job, especially in spots with big temp swings. Sometimes the tiniest flaw in the glass just needs that extra nudge.
I get where you’re coming from about frame tension, but honestly, I think it’s overblamed sometimes. I’ve seen hairline cracks pop up even when the install was textbook-perfect. Sometimes it’s just junk glass from the factory—tiny flaws you can’t spot until it’s too late. Especially with some of the cheaper panes out there now. Temperature swings matter, sure, but if the glass was solid to begin with, they shouldn’t be cracking this easy.