I've been living near the ocean for a few years now, and one thing I've learned the hard way is that aluminum windows tend to corrode pretty fast with all the salty air. Switched to vinyl recently, and they're holding up way better. Curious if anyone else noticed this or has other tips?
Vinyl's definitely a solid choice, but fiberglass windows are worth checking out too. Installed some at my folks' beach house a couple years back—zero corrosion issues so far, and they handle storms like champs. Just pricier upfront...but hey, less hassle later, right?
"Installed some at my folks' beach house a couple years back—zero corrosion issues so far, and they handle storms like champs."
Fiberglass is definitely a solid contender, especially if you're looking at longevity and storm resistance. But another option worth considering is aluminum-clad wood windows. I helped my brother install these at his coastal place about five years ago, and they've held up surprisingly well. The aluminum exterior resists corrosion nicely, while the wood interior gives a warmer feel inside the house.
The key with aluminum-clad is making sure they're properly sealed during installation—otherwise, moisture can sneak in and cause trouble down the line. We took extra care sealing around the frames with high-quality flashing tape and silicone caulk, and so far, no leaks or corrosion issues (knock on wood...literally).
Price-wise, they're somewhere between vinyl and fiberglass, but if you enjoy the look of natural wood interiors without sacrificing durability, it's a pretty good compromise. Just something else to throw into the mix when you're weighing your options.