Totally agree with you there—vinyl windows seemed like a great idea at first (hello, wallet-friendly!), but after two winters of nonstop cold drafts, I was seriously questioning my life choices. Switched to fiberglass last year, and it's been night-and-day different. No more plastic shrink-wrap DIY insulation kits and duct tape fixes...my heating bill even dropped noticeably. Definitely worth the extra bucks upfront to avoid the wintertime window drama.
"No more plastic shrink-wrap DIY insulation kits and duct tape fixes..."
Haha, been there, done that—my living room windows used to look like a bad science project every winter. I actually had decent luck with vinyl windows after sealing them properly and adding some weatherstripping, but I get why fiberglass is tempting. My neighbor switched last year and swears by them now. Maybe when these vinyl ones finally bite the dust I'll give fiberglass a shot...sounds like less hassle overall.
I've been looking into fiberglass too, but the price has me hesitating a bit. Vinyl's definitely cheaper upfront, and honestly, if you take the time to install and seal them right, they can hold up pretty well. Still, fiberglass seems like it'd handle extreme cold better over the long haul without warping or cracking. Has anyone actually had fiberglass windows for several winters yet? Curious how they've held up in real mountain conditions...
We've had fiberglass windows in our place for about five winters now, and honestly, they've held up pretty well. We're up around 7,000 feet, so winters here aren't exactly gentle—lots of snow, ice, and temps regularly dipping below zero. Before these, we had vinyl windows, and while they weren't terrible, we did notice some warping and drafts after a few seasons. With fiberglass, haven't seen any of that yet. They still seal tight, no noticeable drafts or cracks, and the frames look pretty much like they did when we installed them.
That said, I get the hesitation on price. Fiberglass was definitely a bigger upfront investment, but I figured if it meant fewer headaches down the road, it'd be worth it. So far, that's been true for us. But I do wonder sometimes if newer vinyl windows have improved enough to close that gap... Has anyone installed vinyl recently and noticed improvements in durability compared to older models?
"But I do wonder sometimes if newer vinyl windows have improved enough to close that gap..."
Installed vinyl windows about three years ago, and honestly, they've come a long way. I'm not quite at your elevation (around 5,500 ft here), but we still get harsh winters. Haven't noticed any warping or drafts yet, and they seal surprisingly well. Maybe fiberglass is still superior long-term, but modern vinyl seems way better than what we had back in the early 2000s...
I've seen vinyl improve a lot too, but I'm still skeptical about its long-term durability in extreme cold. Had vinyl windows installed at my folks' cabin around 6,000 ft about five years ago, and while they're holding up okay, I've noticed some minor shrinkage and stiffness in the seals during deep winter snaps. Fiberglass just seems more stable over time, especially if you're dealing with constant freeze-thaw cycles...but maybe it's just me being overly cautious.
I've wondered about this myself, actually. Installed vinyl windows at my place about 8 years ago, and they've held up pretty well overall, but I do notice the seals getting stiff and a bit brittle during those brutal cold snaps. Haven't had any major shrinkage yet (knock on wood), but it does make me wonder how they'll look in another 5 or 10 years.
Fiberglass does seem like it'd handle the freeze-thaw cycles better, at least in theory. A buddy of mine went fiberglass for his mountain cabin, and he swears by them—no noticeable issues yet after several harsh winters. But then again, fiberglass usually comes with a heftier price tag...so I guess it depends on how much peace of mind is worth to you.
Maybe vinyl tech will keep improving enough that durability won't even be a question down the line. But for now, if I were building something new at higher elevations, I'd probably lean toward fiberglass just to be safe.
Your experience lines up pretty closely with what I've seen too. Vinyl windows have definitely improved over the years, but the brittleness you mentioned is still a common issue in extreme cold. I've noticed similar stiffness in seals at my own place, especially when temps dip below zero for extended periods. Nothing catastrophic yet, thankfully, but it does make me wonder about their long-term resilience.
Fiberglass, from everything I've read and seen firsthand, seems to handle temperature swings better due to its lower thermal expansion rate. A neighbor of mine replaced his vinyl windows with fiberglass about five years ago—he's been pretty satisfied so far, especially with how stable they remain through harsh winters. But you're right about the cost factor; fiberglass can be significantly pricier upfront.
Still, considering energy efficiency and durability over the long haul, fiberglass might justify the extra investment if you're planning to stay put for a while. Either way, sounds like you've done your homework and made a solid choice for your situation.
Good points on fiberglass windows holding up better in extreme cold—I can vouch for that from personal experience. We replaced our vinyl windows with fiberglass about three years ago after dealing with some pretty annoying issues. Our vinyl frames weren't terrible, but on those brutally cold days (I'm talking -15°F and below), we started noticing drafts creeping in around the edges. Nothing major at first, but over time it got worse, and eventually we even had some cracking around one of the frames after a particularly harsh winter.
Switching to fiberglass was definitely pricier upfront, no doubt about that. But honestly, it's been worth it for us. The difference in comfort levels inside the house is noticeable—no more cold spots near windows or that annoying stiffness you mentioned with vinyl seals. Plus, our heating bills have dropped noticeably since making the switch, which helps offset some of that initial cost.
I do think vinyl has improved quite a bit compared to 10-15 years ago...my brother-in-law installed new vinyl windows last year and they're holding up decently so far. But he's not living up in the mountains like we are, so he doesn't deal with the same extremes. I guess location really matters here; if you're dealing with consistently harsh winters and big temperature swings like we do, fiberglass seems to handle it better long-term.
Still, everyone's budget and situation is different—vinyl can still be a decent choice if you're mindful about quality and installation details. But based on what I've seen firsthand, fiberglass is probably your best bet if you want something that'll hold up reliably for decades without much fuss or maintenance.
Your experience with fiberglass mirrors mine in many ways. We had vinyl windows installed about six years ago, and while they're holding up okay-ish, the extreme cold here (-20°F some nights) definitely tests them. The frames get pretty stiff, and we've had to reseal a couple spots. Fiberglass was tempting, but yeah, that upfront cost...ouch. Still, your points about comfort and energy savings make me wonder if biting the bullet earlier would've been smarter. Maybe next house, haha.