Fiberglass is definitely a solid choice, but I've seen vinyl windows hold up surprisingly well in coastal conditions too—especially if you're careful about installation details. People sometimes dismiss vinyl, but with proper flashing, sealing, and quality hardware, they can handle humidity and salt air pretty effectively. Had a project a couple years back where the homeowner went vinyl (good brand, not the cheap stuff), and they've held up great so far. Fiberglass is nice, sure...but vinyl isn't necessarily out of the running either.
"Fiberglass is nice, sure...but vinyl isn't necessarily out of the running either."
Good point—vinyl often gets overlooked. From an energy efficiency standpoint, quality vinyl windows with proper installation can perform surprisingly well. Seen them hold up nicely myself, even in salty air. Worth considering for sure.
"quality vinyl windows with proper installation can perform surprisingly well."
Yeah, that's been my experience too. I was skeptical at first—vinyl always seemed kinda cheap to me—but my neighbor installed some higher-end vinyl windows about five years back, and honestly, they've held up great. No fading or warping, even with the humidity and salty breeze we get here. Fiberglass is solid, sure, but vinyl might save you a decent chunk of change without sacrificing much performance-wise. Worth a second look, I'd say.
Vinyl can definitely surprise you, but I wouldn't dismiss fiberglass too quickly. I've had vinyl windows in the past, and while they did hold up decently, after about 8-10 years I started noticing some minor issues—mostly around the seals and weatherstripping. Granted, these weren't top-of-the-line vinyl windows, but they weren't exactly bargain-bin either.
When we moved closer to the coast, I decided to give fiberglass a shot. It's been about six years now, and honestly, they've been rock solid. The frames haven't budged or warped at all, even with the constant salty air and humidity. Another thing I've noticed is that fiberglass seems to handle temperature swings better—less expansion and contraction—which might explain why the seals have stayed tighter.
Cost-wise, yeah, fiberglass is pricier upfront. But if you're planning on staying put for a long time, it might balance out in the long run with fewer maintenance headaches. Vinyl's definitely improved over the years, no doubt about that, but if you're in a particularly harsh coastal environment, fiberglass could be worth the extra investment.
Just my two cents based on personal experience... everyone's mileage varies, of course.