Vinyl is a popular material for window frames. It’s affordable, it’s low maintenance, and it’s easy to clean. But, like any material, it has both its pros and its cons. This can be particularly noticeable somewhere like Alaska, which can experience extremes of weather throughout the year. So the question is, vinyl windows Alaska: yes or no? We go over the pros and cons and suggest an amazing alternative below.
The Pros of Vinyl
One of the most attractive things about vinyl is that it’s about the cheapest option. It’s substantially more affordable than aluminum or wooden frames, for example.
Maintaining vinyl frames is generally much quicker than wood and aluminum as well. It’s less prone to staining and most marks can be easily wiped off. However, as you’ll see in the cons, there are some upkeep considerations to keep in mind.
Vinyl is a very good insulator for a window frame. It’s far superior to, say, aluminum, which has a much higher thermal conductivity rating. That means it’s easier for heat to transfer through aluminum, letting cold in and heat out.
Last, but not least, is that vinyl has a very slim profile compared to other materials. This gives you more glass area and thus more light into your home.
The Cons of Vinyl
Remember how we mentioned some maintenance issues? One of the biggest problems, especially when considering vinyl in Alaska, is its tendency to sag. This affects darker colored vinyl frames in particular, as they absorb more heat over time. Since vinyl has a very low warping temperature, it will deform quickly and leave gaps around the edges of the frame.
An aesthetic consideration is that vinyl has fewer styling options than some other materials. This severely limits its usefulness in different types of houses. While function should always come first, aesthetics are an important consideration whenever renovating your home.
The Best Vinyl Alternatives
The best-known alternatives to vinyl are wood and aluminum. Both are sturdy and strong, but with their drawbacks. Wood will inevitably rot over time when exposed to the elements, even with the best weather-proofing materials.
Aluminum is likewise strong but lacks insulating properties. There’d be no point getting dual pane SunSmart glass only to mount it in an aluminum frame.
So what would be the best alternative?
Fibrex.
Fibrex is an amalgam of wood pulp and PVC. It has the strength of wood, the weather resistance of plastic, and the insulating properties of vinyl. It’s built to withstand the extremes of temperature that vinyl can’t, while not rotting in the elements like wood. And as a bonus, it’s an environmentally friendly option — all the wood pulp is sourced from sawdust left over from wood manufacturing.
In conclusion: Vinyl windows Alaska: yes or no?
No! Choose an alternative like Fibrex. Your windows will thank you for it.
If you’re looking for an affordable, long-lived, insulating material for your windows, contact us today and ask about Fibrex.
