Totally agree on fiberglass being a solid upgrade from aluminum. Aluminum frames are notorious for thermal bridging—basically, they transfer heat way too easily, making your heating bills spike. Fiberglass, on the other hand, has a much lower thermal conductivity and expands/contracts at nearly the same rate as glass, meaning fewer seal failures and drafts over time. Plus, if you're living high up, wind pressure can amplify those drafts, so fiberglass or even vinyl frames can really help keep things cozy.
Good points—fiberglass is definitely a step up. Couple extra thoughts:
- Vinyl frames can be decent too, but watch out if your place gets tons of direct sunlight; vinyl tends to warp or discolor over time.
- Also, triple-pane glass is worth considering for higher floors... cuts down noise and drafts even more.
Fiberglass frames do hold up really well, especially if you're dealing with intense sun. Had vinyl in my last place and while it started off fine, after a few years the south-facing windows definitely showed their age—yellowed frames and a bit of warping. Triple-pane is nice too, but honestly, unless noise is a big concern, good-quality double-pane windows with proper seals can handle drafts pretty well. Might save you some cash without sacrificing comfort.
Totally agree about fiberglass—I've had mine for almost a decade now, and they're still looking pretty good despite constant sun exposure. Vinyl definitely has its limits, especially in harsh climates. Also second your thoughts on triple-pane windows. I installed double-panes with solid seals years ago, and drafts haven't been an issue at all... saved me a decent chunk of change too. Sounds like you're making smart choices!
Interesting points about fiberglass. I've had vinyl windows for about 12 years now, and while they're holding up okay, I do notice some fading and minor warping on the south-facing side—nothing major yet, but it's there. Curious though, did you find the triple-pane noticeably quieter than double-pane? I've heard mixed things about noise reduction benefits versus cost. Wondering if it's worth the upgrade next time around...
"Curious though, did you find the triple-pane noticeably quieter than double-pane?"
I swapped out double-pane for triple-pane about 5 years ago, mainly for efficiency reasons. Honestly, noise reduction was subtle—traffic sounds slightly muffled, but nothing dramatic. If quiet's your main goal, better sealing and insulation might do more bang-for-buck...
Interesting take...but honestly, I'd say triple-pane can make a bigger difference than you might think. Sure, sealing and insulation help, but glass thickness and the extra air gap between panes can really cut down certain frequencies—especially higher-pitched noises like sirens or street chatter. I installed triple-pane windows in a customer's high-rise condo last year, and she swore it was night-and-day quieter compared to her old double-pane setup. Maybe it depends on your specific environment though? Like, if you're already pretty insulated from street-level noise (being way up high), the difference might feel subtle. But if you're dealing with wind noise or nearby HVAC units humming away outside your window, triple-pane could be a game changer. Just my two cents...
"Maybe it depends on your specific environment though?"
Yeah, that's exactly what I've noticed too. Triple-pane can definitely help with high-frequency noises, but I've found that in some high-rise situations, structural vibrations from elevators or mechanical rooms can be just as annoying. Have you tried pairing triple-pane windows with laminated glass? The combo seems to tackle both airborne and structure-borne noise pretty effectively...might be worth considering depending on what's causing the most disturbance in your specific building.
I've noticed the laminated glass combo helps too, especially if you're dealing with lower-frequency vibrations. A couple years back, I was helping my brother renovate his condo on the 23rd floor, and he had this constant low hum from the building's HVAC units on the roof. Triple-pane alone didn't quite cut it—still had that subtle drone at night—but once we added laminated panes into the mix, it made a noticeable difference. Not perfect, mind you, but enough to finally get some decent sleep.
One thing to keep in mind though: sometimes noise travels through structural elements like floors or walls rather than windows. In my brother's case, we ended up also adding some acoustic insulation behind drywall in the bedroom. It was a bit of extra work (and cost), but honestly worth it for peace of mind. Just something else to consider if window upgrades alone aren't fully solving your issue...
Good points about laminated glass. Had a similar issue when we moved into our 18th-floor place a couple years ago:
- Triple-pane windows helped with street noise but didn't do much for that annoying elevator hum.
- Eventually added laminated panes, noticeable improvement but still could feel a faint vibration at night.
- Ended up isolating the bed frame from the floor with rubber pads—surprisingly effective for structural vibrations.
Just another angle to consider if windows alone aren't fully cutting it...