Wood Vs Vinyl Windows: Which is Better for Your Home?
The age old debate of what window material is superior rages on to this day. When it comes to wood vs vinyl windows, there’s really only one option that stands out – and you’ll soon see why.
For decades, wooden windows seemed to be everywhere, and it wasn’t until new technology came along that homeowners finally began questioning everything on the subject of windows.
Maintenance: For Vinyl Windows, You Can Store Away Your Paint Brushes
As far as maintenance is concerned, vinyl windows reign supreme. Issues with the upkeep of wood are numerous because it’s more likely to require painting, sealing and sanding after so many years.
For many homeowners, especially those in older homes with dire need of updates, windows are a top priority and, unfortunately, installing new windows isn’t one of the cheapest things to check off that long home improvement list.
When burdened with the decision of which material to choose for your home, think about this: in a few years, you’ll need to spend your time and money on expensive paint and stains to keep your wooden windows looking and operating like new.
Wood windows require checking to ensure that they’re fully operational. You can’t avoid the fact that my wood will expand and contract due to additional moisture being absorbed in the air or drastic temperatures.
This will unavoidably impact the operation of your wooden windows, and in so many years, you’ll need to get out a sanding block and make a few trips to the paint store in order to get the windows smoothly opening and closing once more.
Wood rot and termites, along with other insects that can burrow and destroy wood windows are also common. Vinyl, on the other hand, is unappealing to various bugs and obviously cannot experience wood rot and, in the end, this will save you frustration and expenses on terminators and repair.
Alternatively, vinyl windows require relatively little upkeep. Aside from cleaning, checking, and lubricating, your vinyl windows will maintain their functionality for years on end. All you’ll have to do to maintain and upkeep your vinyl windows is periodically check by opening and closing them once a year to ensure their smooth operation.
Availability: Wood or Vinyl? Which is at Your Disposal?
The ebb and flow of supply and demand often dictate the accessibility and cost of materials. This applies to trends like window material, too. The convenience of vinyl can be traced back to post World War II, when the war drastically reduced the availability of wood and aluminum. Germans innovated the design of the vinyl window as a means to recover from the shortage and soon, Americans followed suit, realizing that vinyl was cheaper and lasted longer.
The trend of vinyl has steadily increased since its post-war days and can now be found in numerous designs, styles, colors and shapes. The time that has passed since vinyl’s introduction as a window material has only made it more versatile.
Nowadays, homeowners prefer vinyl to the long-used aluminum or wood materials. Contractors know to stock plenty of vinyl to meet this demand and, in the end, this makes it cheaper to install and purchase.
Overall Cost: Which Material is Best: Wood or Vinyl?
In the wood vs vinyl window debate, cost is one of the most important categories to discuss. Ever since vinyl’s introduction in the 1970’s as an alternative to wooden windows, its popularity as a window material has steadily increased. Of course, this led to discovering that vinyl isn’t only more cost effective to produce, but looks just as nice as the traditional wood windows – and once this was realized, homeowners trended towards vinyl.
There’s a true cost advantage to choosing vinyl as opposed to wood, and even aluminum windows. As stated previously, you won’t find yourself running out to buy expensive paint to touch up vinyl windows. Plus, you won’t need to decipher if your vinyl windows are experiencing wood rot, and have to shell out your hard-earned money to fix it.
It’s not the maintenance alone that’ll save you money on vinyl, it’s also the installation. The increase of vinyl’s popularity has paved the way for its greater availability. A better availability means that contractors will likely have vinyl at their disposal, leading to better rates for installation as opposed to wood, which is now less in demand.
When it comes to cost, it’s a mirage of factors that make vinyl a better choice for your home. Availability, cost of installation, upkeep, cost of material production; all of these concerning variables dictate the overall expense of vinyl windows.
Resale Value: Is Wood or Vinyl More Attractive to Prospective Home-Buyers?
For those buying a new home, finding ways to save money on the new investment is often a key factor before committing to this big purchase. Prospective buyers look at things like older windows and consider if they’ll end up costing them money or saving money.
New vinyl windows can increase the resale value of any home. Buyers know that with new windows, especially vinyl ones, they’ll see energy savings during the time of their ownership, instead of high energy bills that allude to the heat or air literally leaking from drafty, old windows. According to a recent report, a $10,000 investment on new windows led to an increase of $8,500 on the asking price on a home, which is an 85% return of investment.
Energy Efficiency: Vinyl is a Low-Cost, High Energy Saver
A big concern for any homeowner is the waste of energy caused by old and inefficient windows and the corresponding high energy bill that accompanies it. Compared to wood and other leading window materials, vinyl windows are rated higher in energy efficiency as of 2018.
The reason behind the popularity in vinyl isn’t simply because it’s cheap to purchase and a low cost installation (although these factors are extremely attractive to homeowners, no doubt), but rather the return of investment homeowners see on their energy bills. Tight construction and proper insulation allows for vinyl to keep in the energy rather than expel it.
The Verdict: Vinyl Windows are Better for Your Home
Wood windows may have that traditional look and appeal, but their upkeep and constant need for sanding, painting and repair cannot justify their initial, expensive investment. Their faltering favorability with homeowners has made wood windows harder to come by, meaning a greater expense to purchase outright and install, plus an off-putting lead-time from local contractors due to the decrease of their demand.
As the saying goes, there’s a price for beauty. As wood windows are concerned, is the price truly worth it?
Vinyl windows clearly have a reason behind their trendiness. With their low cost of production, energy efficiency, relatively no maintenance and steadily increasing availability, vinyl windows are simply the best option on the market. Installing new windows is a rather large expenditure, but with vinyl, homeowners can rest easy knowing that with their low cost, vinyl will still perform as one of the best materials out there.
When Springfield homeowners need replacement vinyl windows, they turn to Feldco. With premium products, professional installation and expert customer service, it’s no wonder 350,000 homeowners have trusted us. Get a free quote now and get started on your replacement window project today.
