I've had fiberglass windows from Marvin installed for about 6 years now in a pretty harsh mountain climate—think heavy snow, freezing temps, the whole deal. Honestly, they've held up great. No seal issues yet, knock on wood. I do think installation quality is huge though. Had a neighbor with the same brand installed by a different contractor, and he's already had to reseal a couple windows after just 3 winters.
That said, I've also seen Andersen vinyl windows hold up surprisingly well in similar conditions. Makes me wonder if it's less about fiberglass vs vinyl and more about the quality of the specific product line and how carefully they're installed. Maybe it's worth asking around locally about contractors who specialize in mountain installs?
Interesting points about installation quality—I think you're onto something there. I've seen some pretty high-end fiberglass windows fail prematurely because the installers cut corners on sealing and flashing. Makes me wonder, though, how much does altitude factor into window durability? I'm guessing UV exposure at higher elevations might degrade vinyl faster than fiberglass...anyone have experience with that specifically?
- Good point about UV exposure at altitude—vinyl definitely gets brittle faster in intense sunlight.
- Fiberglass might hold up better, but I've seen some vinyl windows last surprisingly long if they're high-quality and properly installed.
- Makes me wonder though, does anyone know if window color or coatings significantly affect UV resistance at higher elevations? Seems like darker frames might degrade quicker...
Good question about the color affecting UV resistance. From what I've seen, darker frames do absorb more heat, which can speed up degradation—especially noticeable at higher elevations where UV is stronger. I've noticed neighbors with dark brown vinyl frames that started fading and cracking way sooner than the lighter beige or white ones nearby.
Also, coatings definitely matter. Had a friend who installed vinyl windows with a UV-protective coating, and they've held up surprisingly well for several years now at around 7,000 ft elevation. Not sure exactly how much longer they'll last compared to fiberglass, but the coating seems to make a noticeable difference.
Makes me wonder if fiberglass windows have similar color-related issues, or if the material itself is just inherently more stable regardless of color? Seems like fiberglass might handle heat expansion and contraction better too, which could be another factor to consider in mountain climates with extreme temperature swings.
Has anyone here actually had fiberglass windows installed for a long period at high altitude? Curious how they've held up over time compared to vinyl.
We've had fiberglass windows up here at around 8,500 ft for close to 10 years now, and honestly, they've held up impressively well. Ours are a darker charcoal color, and I haven't noticed any significant fading or cracking yet. We previously had vinyl frames (light beige), and after just a few winters they started warping a bit—nothing terrible, but noticeable enough to bug me. Fiberglass seems way more stable with temp swings...definitely worth considering if you're dealing with harsh mountain weather.
Interesting to hear your experience with fiberglass. I've still got vinyl windows (white frames) and yeah, they do warp a bit in winter—nothing major yet, but enough to make me wonder if fiberglass would be better long-term...might have to look into it more seriously now.
I've had vinyl windows for years now and honestly, they're not terrible...but yeah, they do get a bit cranky when the temps really drop. A friend of mine switched to fiberglass a couple winters ago and swears by them—said the drafts practically disappeared overnight. I'm still on the fence since it's a decent chunk of change upfront, but considering how much heat we lose each winter, might be worth biting the bullet soon.