Good points on vinyl, especially if they're holding up well. Just one thing to consider though—fiberglass does have a slight edge when it comes to expansion and contraction. In mountain climates, temperature swings can be pretty extreme, and fiberglass tends to handle that stress better over the long haul. Vinyl's great if you're careful about brand and installation, but if you're planning to stay put for decades, fiberglass might be worth the extra upfront cost...just something to keep in mind.
I've had vinyl windows in my mountain home for about 18 years now, and honestly, they've held up better than I expected. When we first moved in, everyone was pushing fiberglass because of the temperature swings and all that. But at the time, fiberglass was just way out of our budget, so we went with a reputable vinyl brand instead.
Now, I'm not saying fiberglass isn't great—I'm sure it is—but I haven't really noticed any major issues with expansion or contraction on our vinyl windows. And trust me, we've seen some pretty wild temperature swings up here. One winter it dropped from 50°F to below zero overnight...thought for sure we'd see some cracking or warping, but nope. Still solid.
Maybe it's luck, or maybe it's because we paid extra attention to installation (had a friend who knew what he was doing help us out). Either way, I think sometimes the whole "fiberglass handles stress better" thing might be a bit overstated. Sure, if money's no object and you want peace of mind, go fiberglass. But from personal experience, good-quality vinyl can definitely hold its own—even over the long haul.
Just my two cents based on almost two decades of mountain living...
"Maybe it's luck, or maybe it's because we paid extra attention to installation (had a friend who knew what he was doing help us out)."
Honestly, I think you nailed it right there. Good installation makes a huge difference, probably more than the material itself sometimes. I've seen fiberglass windows installed poorly that ended up leaking air like crazy, and vinyl ones done right that lasted forever. We went vinyl too, mostly because fiberglass was just way too pricey at the time. Thought we'd regret it eventually, but nope—still going strong after 12 years.
Funny story: my neighbor went all-in on fiberglass windows, bragging about how they'd handle the mountain weather better. Fast forward a few winters, and guess whose windows fogged up first? Yep, his. Turns out the installers rushed the job and didn't seal them properly. He wasn't thrilled when I pointed out my "cheap" vinyl windows were still crystal clear...but hey, lesson learned.
Anyway, glad yours are holding up well. Sometimes the budget-friendly choice surprises us in the best way possible.
"Good installation makes a huge difference, probably more than the material itself sometimes."
Couldn't agree more. Proper flashing, sealing, and insulation around the frame are critical—especially in mountain climates. Even premium windows fail quickly if moisture gets behind them...seen it happen way too often.
Yep, learned this the hard way myself. Dropped a good chunk of money on high-end fiberglass windows a few years back, thinking they'd be bulletproof. But the installer rushed through sealing around the frames, and next thing I know—water stains and drafts everywhere. Ended up redoing half of it myself. Quality install is definitely key...doesn't matter how fancy your windows are if they're letting moisture sneak in behind them.
Had a similar experience with fiberglass windows myself, but honestly, I wouldn't write them off completely. A few years back, I installed vinyl windows in a client's mountain cabin—thought they'd hold up fine. Well, turns out the extreme temperature swings and harsh UV exposure up there warped them pretty badly within just a couple seasons. Ended up replacing them with fiberglass, and they've been rock solid ever since.
You're totally right about installation quality though—seen plenty of high-end windows fail because someone rushed the flashing or skimped on sealant. But I'd argue that fiberglass still has an edge in mountain climates if done right. Vinyl can get brittle or warp over time, especially at altitude with intense sun exposure. Fiberglass seems to handle those extremes better in my experience.
Still, nothing beats proper install technique...and maybe keeping an eye on your installer so they don't sneak off early for lunch halfway through sealing things up (ask me how I know).
"Fiberglass seems to handle those extremes better in my experience."
Yeah, I'm starting to lean that way myself. Last winter was my first in our mountain home, and the vinyl windows the previous owner installed definitely struggled. On colder nights, I could actually hear them creaking and popping as temps dropped—pretty unsettling at 2 AM! I'm thinking fiberglass might be worth the extra upfront cost if it means fewer sleepless nights worrying about window seals and warping frames...
Fiberglass does seem like a solid choice, especially if you're dealing with big temperature swings. A friend of mine replaced vinyl with fiberglass in his cabin two years ago, and he's noticed a definite improvement—not just in comfort, but also in energy bills. He mentioned the fiberglass frames didn't warp or contract as much, which means fewer air leaks and drafts overall.
"On colder nights, I could actually hear them creaking and popping as temps dropped—pretty unsettling at 2 AM!"
Yeah, I've heard similar stories. Vinyl can get pretty stiff and brittle when it's really cold, which probably explains the noise. Fiberglass has a reputation for being more stable under extreme conditions.
One thing I'm curious about though...has anyone here actually compared the long-term energy savings of fiberglass windows versus high-quality vinyl? I've seen some conflicting info online, and it'd be helpful to hear real-world experiences before committing to the higher upfront cost.
One thing I'm curious about though...has anyone here actually compared the long-term energy savings of fiberglass windows versus high-quality vinyl? I've seen some conflicting info online, and it'd...
I've noticed the same thing about vinyl getting noisy in cold weather—had a rental cabin once with vinyl windows, and those midnight pops were definitely creepy. Fiberglass seems sturdier, but honestly, I'm still skeptical if the energy savings justify the extra cost long-term...
I've had both types installed over the years, and honestly, the fiberglass ones do feel more solid—especially when the temps really drop. Never had those creepy midnight pops with fiberglass, thankfully... Vinyl's definitely cheaper upfront, but from what I've tracked on my energy bills, fiberglass seems to hold heat better long-term. Not sure if it's enough to fully offset the extra cost, but comfort-wise, fiberglass wins hands-down for me.