Had vinyl windows for over 15 years at our place—cold winters, high elevation—and fading was noticeable but never terrible. Wonder if fiberglass is really worth the extra cost or just marketing hype...anyone have fiberglass installed long enough to really see a difference?
I've installed both vinyl and fiberglass windows in homes around here (similar climate—cold winters, altitude, lots of sun exposure). Fiberglass does have some genuine advantages, especially when it comes to thermal expansion. Vinyl expands and contracts more with temperature swings, which can eventually lead to seal failures or drafts over time. Fiberglass is closer to glass itself in terms of expansion rates, so seals tend to hold up better long-term.
That said, if your vinyl windows lasted 15 years without major issues aside from fading, that's honestly pretty solid performance. Fiberglass frames do resist fading better, but the real benefit is structural stability and longevity of seals rather than just appearance. If you're looking at another 15-20 years or more in your home, fiberglass might be worth the extra upfront cost. But if you're planning on moving sooner or haven't had significant performance issues with vinyl, it's probably not a must-have upgrade...
Good points about fiberglass, especially the thermal expansion thing—I hadn't really thought about that before. Honestly though, if your vinyl windows held up for 15 years in our harsh winters and intense sun, that's pretty impressive. My neighbor replaced his vinyl windows after about 12 years, but mostly because he wanted a different look, not because they failed. Fiberglass sounds great, but vinyl seems like a solid choice too if budget's a factor...either way, you're probably good!
Vinyl can surprise you, but I've seen plenty warp or crack around year 10-12 in extreme cold. Fiberglass costs more upfront, sure, but I've rarely had callbacks on those—even after brutal winters. Just something to consider from experience...
"Fiberglass costs more upfront, sure, but I've rarely had callbacks on those—even after brutal winters."
Yeah, fiberglass is definitely solid in harsh climates. I've seen vinyl hold up okay sometimes, but when you're dealing with mountain winters year after year... fiberglass usually pays off in the long run. Good call.
Interesting points here, but I'm still wondering—is fiberglass really that much better than vinyl in the long haul? I've had vinyl windows for about five years now, and they've been decent through some pretty nasty winters. Granted, they're starting to show a bit of wear...but is the extra upfront cost of fiberglass really justified if vinyl can get you through maybe 10-15 years anyway? Curious if anyone's had vinyl last longer without major issues.
"Granted, they're starting to show a bit of wear...but is the extra upfront cost of fiberglass really justified if vinyl can get you through maybe 10-15 years anyway?"
Honestly, I think it depends on how much you hate window shopping (pun intended). I've had vinyl windows for about 12 years now in a similar cold climate, and they're still holding up pretty well. Sure, there's some minor warping and discoloration, but nothing that's made me regret the choice yet. My neighbor went fiberglass about the same time, and yeah, his windows look newer and probably insulate a bit better—but he also paid almost double what I did.
If you're planning to stay put for decades and don't want to think about windows again, fiberglass might be worth the extra cash. But if you're okay with possibly replacing them after 15-ish years or dealing with minor annoyances like drafts or sticking frames, vinyl's probably fine. Personally, I'd rather save the money upfront and spend it on something more exciting...like a snowblower upgrade or heated driveway mats.
"Personally, I'd rather save the money upfront and spend it on something more exciting...like a snowblower upgrade or heated driveway mats."
Haha, heated driveway mats sound tempting. But honestly, after switching to fiberglass windows last winter, the difference in drafts alone made me wish I'd done it sooner. Worth every penny IMO.
Heated driveway mats do sound pretty sweet, especially when you're staring down a foot of snow at 6 am. But gotta agree on the fiberglass windows—made the switch two years ago and it's been night and day:
- Way fewer drafts, even during those brutal cold snaps.
- Noticeably quieter indoors (bonus perk I didn't expect).
- Heating bills dropped enough to actually notice.
Curious though, anyone notice if fiberglass holds up better than vinyl against harsh UV exposure at altitude? Seems like it would...
"Curious though, anyone notice if fiberglass holds up better than vinyl against harsh UV exposure at altitude? Seems like it would..."
From what I've seen, fiberglass definitely handles UV better long-term. My neighbor's vinyl windows started looking faded and brittle after just a few years up here. Meanwhile, our fiberglass ones still look practically new... fingers crossed they stay that way.