Fiberglass frames are solid, no doubt, but honestly, I've found them a bit overrated for coastal areas. Did an install for a client right on the beach a few years back—premium fiberglass windows, top-dollar stuff. Sure, they held up fine against corrosion, but the finish faded pretty noticeably after just a couple seasons in direct sun and salty wind. Vinyl might look cheaper initially, but in terms of bang-for-buck durability, I'd still lean vinyl over fiberglass for seaside properties.
Had a similar experience with fiberglass myself. Did a job out in Cape Cod about five years back—client insisted on fiberglass, thinking it'd be bulletproof against the salt. Structurally, yeah, they held up fine, but within three summers the color was noticeably duller. Ended up repainting them, which wasn't cheap or easy. Makes me wonder if aluminum-clad wood might actually be worth considering for coastal spots... anyone have long-term experience with those in salty conditions?
I've seen aluminum-clad wood hold up pretty well in salty air, but it's not exactly maintenance-free either. Had a friend install them on his place near Charleston about eight years ago. Structurally solid, no warping or anything, but the aluminum finish did start showing some corrosion spots after about five years. Nothing major, just cosmetic stuff, but still needed attention. Honestly, seems like nothing's totally bulletproof against coastal conditions... just gotta pick your battles I guess.
Had fiberglass windows installed at my place near Cape Cod about 7 years ago. They've held up surprisingly well—minimal corrosion and no warping issues yet. Still, I agree nothing's totally maintenance-free in coastal areas... salt air always finds a way.
I've had fiberglass windows at my coastal property in Maine for about five years now. Similar experience—minimal corrosion and no noticeable warping. However, one thing I've observed is that the seals around the glass panes tend to degrade faster than expected due to constant exposure to salt spray and temperature swings. This has slightly impacted their energy efficiency over time, causing minor drafts during harsh winters.
To mitigate this, I've started inspecting and resealing the edges every couple of years. Not a huge task, but worth noting if energy performance is a priority. In terms of structural integrity though, fiberglass has definitely outperformed the vinyl windows I previously had installed, which warped noticeably after just three seasons.
Overall, fiberglass seems like a solid choice for coastal climates—durable and resistant—but as you mentioned, nothing's completely maintenance-free near the ocean. Regular checks and minor upkeep are still essential to maintain optimal performance and efficiency.
"However, one thing I've observed is that the seals around the glass panes tend to degrade faster than expected due to constant exposure to salt spray and temperature swings."
I've noticed the same issue with fiberglass window seals at my parents' beach house in Rhode Island. One thing that helped us was upgrading to marine-grade silicone sealants—they're specifically formulated for harsh saltwater environments and seem to hold up better over time. Still, you're right, nothing's completely maintenance-free near the ocean... regular inspections are just part of coastal living.
Have you tried vinyl windows with stainless steel hardware? We swapped ours out a few years back, and they've held up surprisingly well. Still gotta check the seals now and then though... coastal life, right?
Vinyl with stainless hardware sounds solid, but have you noticed any discoloration or fading on the vinyl itself? I've heard mixed things about how vinyl holds up long-term in direct sun and salty air. We went with fiberglass windows a while back—pretty happy overall, but the hardware's definitely showing some corrosion now. Thinking stainless might've been smarter. Did you have to special order yours, or was it easy enough to find locally?
- Installed vinyl windows with stainless hardware about 5 yrs ago (coastal FL).
- No significant fading yet, but slight dulling on vinyl facing direct afternoon sun.
- Stainless hardware holding up great—zero corrosion so far.
- Had to special order mine; local shops mostly stocked standard coated hardware.
- Fiberglass was tempting, but price difference pushed me toward vinyl...still happy with the choice overall.
"Fiberglass was tempting, but price difference pushed me toward vinyl...still happy with the choice overall."
Glad to hear your vinyl windows are holding up well! I'm also near the coast (NC here), and went with fiberglass about 3 years ago. They're doing great so far, but honestly, seeing your experience makes me wonder if I could've saved some cash going vinyl. Stainless hardware is definitely key though—learned that lesson the hard way with my old coated hinges rusting out in no time. Live and learn, right?