Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
cdn1234

vinyl vs wood windows in hot climate

cdn1234
9 years ago

My husband and I recently bought a 1970's starter home with original aluminum, single paned windows. We're trying to keep down costs since we have many other home projects needed to be done. I've read several posts and am still confused as to whether or not we should go with wood clad or vinyl. We live in Tucson with lots of heat, wind, and torrential rain ( monsoon season) in the summer months. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Comments (25)

  • millworkman
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Your climate I would tend to think you would want to stick with aluminum as that sun/heat will kill either vinyl or wood. You should not get the cool temperatures that would make aluminum a no go. As far as brands I will have to let some of the more knowledgeable people chime in but I would think Milgard or Don Young would be available in your area and may be a good place to start.

  • HomeSealed_WI
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Vinyl can work in a hot climate, but getting a higher end unit (better engineering and materials) will be imperative to withstand the extreme temps. Fiberglass and thermally broken aluminum can be good choices in that region as well.

  • PRO
    Out of the Woods Inc.- Window & Door Specialists
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Try Kolbe Ultra Series windows or Integrity Wood Ultrex. Milgard has a fiberglass window now but it's my understanding the price point is much higher than similar products.

  • PRO
    Windows on Washington Ltd
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    +1

    Can't go wrong with thermally broken aluminum or fiberglass.

    Good vinyl will do fine but there probably just aren't that many out there where you are.

  • PRO
    Ultra Windows
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thermally-broken aluminum is a very good choice for the environment that you are in, as is fiberglass. As WoW said, the premium grade of vinyl window that would hold up the best, aren't available where you're located.

    Fiberglass will come in quite a bit higher than the TBA, and while it is more energy efficient, it can be hard to justify the additional cost.

  • allmarsh
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    We are also in a desert climate and you see a lot of vinyl windows successfully installed here. White or beige are the standard colors and Milgard is very prominent in the southwest. Milgard used to have a manufacturing plant in Arizona before the recession and housing decline The Anderson 100 window states that it has been tested for hot climates and it comes standard in some darker colors also. We also looked at the Milgard thermally broken aluminum, but the energy efficiency numbers are not as good as the vinyl or fibrex (Anderson). We are leaning towards the Anderson window because we need a dark bronze/black color. A darker color is available in the Milgard vinyl, but it is painted on the vinyl and we're just not sure how that would hold up over time.

  • millworkman
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Andersen 100 series is as close to the bottom of the barrel as you can get in Andersen (only Silverline is lower). I would seriously consider shopping more as none of the pro's that I am aware of would use the 100 series except for maybe in a shed.

  • allmarsh
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Millworkman, I appreciate the feedback, but I'm curious what you would consider to be a good option when one needs a dark bronze exterior and bronze or white interior. Do you know how a painted vinyl holds up in hot climates? Aluminum is an option, but we were hoping for something with better efficiency ratings.

  • millworkman
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    In a hot climate Thermally Broken aluminum in my opinion is a fine choice. Vinyl is tough as I am on the east coast as are most of the higher end vinyl companies (and they do not generally distribute that far west). I will have to defer to some of the more experienced vinyl guys as to what may be available near you.

  • PRO
    Out of the Woods Inc.- Window & Door Specialists
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Integrity All ultrex in Bronze color is a good alternate to the andersen and milgard, price point is going to be maybe a little bit higher but the fiberglass will do better in high heat. The thermal performance will be better than all aluminum even the thermal broken.

  • millworkman
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Lol, Thanks FT. Integrity is fine choice and am a little miffed that I failed to mention it (think it was due to alum and vinyl as mentioned by the op I guess).

  • PRO
    Windows on Washington Ltd
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Integrity is a pretty solid window.

  • allmarsh
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I just want to make sure I understand how Marvin sells their windows; we can buy Integrity to install ourselves in our new build guest/garage. Later, we want to replace windows in existing home to match; does an Integrity dealer handle installations for replacement windows or do we need to deal with Infinity for that? We will likely want dealer to do installation on replacement windows. From reading other forum posts it sounds like Integrity and Infinity windows look different (some described Integrity as an ugly window).

    In Phoenix there is only one dealer for Integrity and one other dealer for Infinity. Is that typical? Milgard offers multiple dealers in our area that at least gives consumers some options. I'm just concerned that pricing will be fair and service decent with only one available Marvin dealer.

  • PRO
    East Bay 10
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Infinity is a Marvin authorized installed product. It is not Marvin but an independent company that has been given the rights to an exclusive area to sell and install the product.

    Integrity is not distributed in the same manner. If you have only one dealer in your area, that means Marvin decided they were the only ones that met their parameters to sell the product. If you feel that you are not getting a competitive price, go to the website's dealer locator, type in your zip code and get a price from the next closest dealer. Good luck!

  • allmarsh
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    My husband stopped last week and looked at the Marvin Integrity windows. He felt they had the look of a pretty basic window and thought the window locks seemed kind of cheap. That was just his impression compared to some of the other windows we have looked at. I'm going to go look at them this week too to see what I think since many of you seem to like this brand.

    In summary, we're going to choose from these windows we have looked at:

    Milgard thermal break alum
    Anderson 100 fibrex
    Milgard Tuscany premium color (painted)
    Marvin Integrity all ultrex
    Milgard Ultra Fiberglass

    I've listed these based on the least expensive to most expensive quotes we have gotten, but all are within a price that we consider acceptable. There is a difference of $2060. between the least and most expensive option.

    It looks like the thermal performance numbers are about the same for the Anderson 100, Milgard Tuscany vinyl, Integrity ultrex and Milgard fiberglass based on UF around .30 and SHGC around .22. The thermal break Milgard alum has UF of .37 and SHGC of .23.

    Anderson and Marvin have a similar 20/10 warranty and Milgard offers a lifetime warranty with glass breakage (except the alum which does not include glass breakage).

    We are currently installing 7 windows in our new build ourselves, but we want to have a window dealer replace the windows in our main home down the road so we want to pick a window that will be good for both projects.

    Based on this information, what would be your recommendation for our warm climate? Does the improved energy efficiency of the other windows or other features outweigh thermal break alum enough to warrant the additional cost? Your thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you for the help.

  • PRO
    Windows on Washington Ltd
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I have had the most success with the Marvin from that list.

    My experience with Andersen is limited but I have dealt with all the others.

  • PRO
    Ultra Windows
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I agree with WoW. My experience with Milgard, though years ago, was not good at all. Their fiberglass window is clunky compared to the Integrity, IMO. Marvin enjoys a good reputation in the industry.

    The Andersen 100 might be a nice window too but the frames are awfully thick.

  • allmarsh
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Thanks for the input windowsonwashington and ultrawindows. I appreciate the expert advice since it is a learning process to narrow down all the window choices that are out there.

    I feel more comfortable about the Anderson 100 window after talking to the dealer here who also services Anderson's warranty work. It sounds like issues with this product have been quite minimal and the fibrex exterior has not chipped or cracked in the desert heat.

    We've ruled out painted vinyl since the paint can scratch and there are other good alternatives to consider.

    Fiberglass in the Milgard is one of the few options we've looked at that offers the dark colors on the interior also. Since we can live with a white interior I don't think the extra cost is necessary given fibrex and ultrex as an alternative.

    It's likely we'll choose between the Anderson 100 and the Integrity.

  • toddinmn
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I think the 100 series has a nice casement window, do not care for there single hung or single slider since it is a single hung and the sill design is not that impressive. I don't think there frames look all that bulky and look better than the Marvin. I do not have any experience installing these windows just general observations. I heard the new Vettes are going to made of Fibrex, so it has to be good?

  • PRO
    East Bay 10
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I heard the new Vettes are going to made of Fibrex, so it has to be good?
    Really? Vinyl, wood and resins. Don't think so or you may as well recall them now.

  • PRO
    Windows on Washington Ltd
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Ha....The RBA Corvette.

    Maybe it will get better gas mileage as a result of the efficiency increases.

  • allmarsh
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    What is an acceptable deposit when placing a window order? Does it vary depending on whether it is for the windows only or if it includes the installation also? Thanks!

  • PRO
    Windows on Washington Ltd
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    If it is just materials, figure on 50% as a safe bet.

    If it is install and materials, 33% is usually the minimum.

  • gd2garden
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    We went back again today to look at the Integrity All Ultrex window. We need an ebony exterior and would like the same interior, but may be able to live with a white interior. Our impression is that the All Ultrex window is not nearly as nice as the ultrex/wood window; it just comes off kind of cheap looking to us. Are we crazy to consider the ultrex/wood window if we're just going to have a white interior? Is it hard to paint the interior black ourselves? Painting the interior of a window sounds like a lot of work. We're trying to consider more energy efficient windows such as the Integrity or Milgard Ultra, but those thermal break aluminums may be our best option due to the black interior/exterior need.

Sponsored
BME Construction LLC
Average rating: 5 out of 5 stars20 Reviews
Loudoun County's Source for High-End Custom Decks & Outdoor Structure