We all know that wood windows require many hours of maintenance, and the end result is always flaking paint or rotting sills:

• Wood windows do not have an internal drainage system, meaning the water has to pass over the frames to drain.
• Fibreglass windows do have an internal drainage system but the corners of the frame are screwed and caulked together. This means that through expansion and contraction the corners will open up, resulting in air and especially water leakage.
• Aluminum Windows have the same corner leak problems as Fiberglass, as well as being colder.

  Vinyl is the most durable product with very little maintenance. All corners are welded together, leaving no chance of leakage.
  However, not all windows are the same! Look carefully at a cross section of a vinyl window frame. Count the number of chambers, and note the thickness of the chamber walls. Multi-chamber construction is crucial; the frame must be able to properly support the glass. Also, the more chambers in an extrusion the better the insulation value. Avoid vinyl windows that require added steel or wood to the interior of the extrusion. This is usually an indication of a weak extrusion.

If your home was built in the 80’s or 90’s you should consider removing the old frames:

• Most existing wood window frames have very little or no insulation between them and the frame of the house. Having high performance windows installed on such frames is really only doing half the job, as cold air will still penetrate your home around the wood frame.
• You will lose a significant amount of glass area by having a new vinyl window installed on an existing wood frame.
  Existing frames are not shimmed to support your new vinyl window, which will cause it to sag in the future, resulting in problems with drafts and leaks with you new window.
• If you choose to have your new windows installed “Brick to Brick” (or stud to stud) you will have eliminated the 3 problems stated above. You will also eliminate the bulky look of the aluminum capping that is used to cover over wood that remains.

Replacing some or all of your windows can easily cost thousands of dollars. This is a good place to start. The Consumers Guide to Buying Energy Efficient Windows and Doors is an excellent source of information. This will help you understand the basics of windows and doors, styles and features, to more detailed information on vinyl extrusions, Low E coatings, gas fills, spacers, as well as installation methods. Once you have familiarized yourself with this information you will be better able to access the quotes you receive.

Yes, Vinylbilt windows come with an industry leading lifetime warranty on GLASS, HARDWARE and Vinyl Components. More information can be found by scrolling down the page on the Vinylbilt website here.