"Vinyl's thermal expansion rates are higher, so warping and seal deterioration become real issues over time."
Yeah, learned that the hard way myself. Installed vinyl windows thinking I'd save a few bucks, but after two winters of drafts and condensation, I was kicking myself. Switched to fiberglass last year—wallet wasn't thrilled at first—but man, what a difference. No more chilly breezes sneaking in or foggy panes every morning. Sometimes spending a bit more upfront saves you from freezing your butt off later...
- Been there myself, vinyl was a bust in cold climates.
- Fiberglass windows made a huge difference here too—no more drafts or foggy mornings.
- Hurts the wallet upfront, but worth it long-term for comfort. Hang in there, good call switching over.
"Hurts the wallet upfront, but worth it long-term for comfort."
Yeah, that's usually the catch with fiberglass. Did you notice a difference in heating bills right away, or was it more gradual? I've installed both types up here in the mountains, and fiberglass always seems to hold up better when temps really drop. Vinyl can warp and shrink over time—seen it happen more than once. Curious if you've had any issues with condensation buildup since switching? Either way, sounds like you made the right move. Hang tight, winter won't last forever...
We switched to fiberglass about three winters ago, and the condensation issue pretty much vanished overnight. Heating bills dropped noticeably within the first month, though it wasn't dramatic—more like steady improvement. Definitely worth the upfront sting for peace of mind during those brutal cold snaps...
"Heating bills dropped noticeably within the first month, though it wasn't dramatic—more like steady improvement."
Yeah, that's pretty much what I've heard from friends who made the switch too. I'm still on vinyl windows and the condensation drives me nuts every winter morning—towels on the sills, anyone? I've been curious if fiberglass really makes that big of a difference or if it's mostly marketing hype. Did you notice less draftiness too, or was it mainly the condensation issue that improved?
Honestly, fiberglass windows are decent, but I wouldn't expect miracles. I swapped mine out a couple winters ago hoping to ditch the towel routine too (seriously, my sills were practically swimming pools). Condensation improved noticeably, but drafts? Meh...still had to weatherstrip around the frames. If you're mainly after draft reduction, I'd say invest in better sealing first—way cheaper and surprisingly effective. Fiberglass helps, sure, but it's not the magic bullet some ads make it out to be.
I dunno, sealing helps but only goes so far. Last winter I put in vinyl windows—nothing fancy—and the drafts dropped way more than expected. Maybe fiberglass isn't all it's cracked up to be? Worth considering vinyl if drafts are your main headache.
Interesting point about vinyl. I was skeptical at first too, but after our first winter in the new place, I'm pretty sold on vinyl windows. We had fiberglass in our rental before buying, and honestly, the drafts were still noticeable. Switched to vinyl when we moved in here (mostly because of budget, lol), and the difference was night and day. Not saying fiberglass is bad, but vinyl definitely punches above its weight for keeping the cold out.
Glad to hear vinyl worked out for you! We're in our first winter as homeowners too, and vinyl's been pretty solid so far. Did you do anything extra like weatherstripping or insulating curtains, or was vinyl alone enough?
Vinyl's decent, but honestly, I'd be cautious about relying on it alone in a harsh mountain winter. We had vinyl windows in our old place, and while they held up okay initially, after a few seasons of extreme cold, we noticed drafts creeping in. Fiberglass windows, though pricier upfront, have been way more reliable for us over the long haul. If you're sticking with vinyl, definitely consider insulating curtains or weatherstripping—better safe than sorry when temps really drop...