Energy Efficient Windows – The Differences Between Wood and Vinyl

As the demand for energy efficient buildings has increased, replacing windows with energy-saving windows is becoming a popular choice among many home buyers and home owners alike. While the demand for energy efficient windows may seem like a small change, the savings you see over the lifetime of your windows can add up to significant money. Here is a breakdown of the two major types of replacement windows: wood and vinyl.

Wood windows were created in the early 1970’s, to compete with less expensive, more energy efficient vinyl windows. However, the installation of wood is considerably more labor intensive. The cost of wood is also typically higher, but the benefits far outweigh the cost when you consider the energy savings it offers. If you are considering installing wood, it is important that you hire an experienced contractor who is skilled at installing vinyl windows. A good vinyl window contractor will have experience with both types of windows and will be able to recommend a contractor who can install both wood and vinyl windows for your project.

Vinyl windows are the newest and most popular choice in replacement windows for homes and businesses today. The advantages of vinyl over wood include higher energy efficiency, higher resale value, and no additional work involved in installing the windows compared to wood.

Vinyl windows are easy to install, even for first-time homeowners. The vinyl material is extremely durable, and the installation process is quick and painless. You can use your existing hardware, including nails and screws, and you don’t need to buy new hardware. The installation process will allow you to install the windows right over your existing siding, which means there is no need to do any siding installation, and your siding will remain intact.

Wood windows are more affordable than vinyl, but they are not energy efficient. If you are considering replacing your windows with wood, you may want to consider replacing them all together. While vinyl will continue to save you money, wood will not. Even if you use a professional contractor to install the wood, you still save money by not having to pay for the energy cost of energy efficient windows over your old windows. If you replace your entire windows, you can save on your energy bills and save money in the long run as well.

In addition to the energy efficiency, wood is much easier to clean. You don’t have to worry about dirt, dust, mold, or pests getting into the windows as is with vinyl. Even if you are an avid handyman, you can easily take care of these problems with vinyl. with regular vacuuming and cleaning. With wood, you need to be careful about taking it off of the siding, which means using special cleaning products to clean the surfaces and avoiding water spots and possible damage to the wood.

When it comes to installing vinyl, it can be very difficult to install on its own, because it is such a large surface area. While the cost for installation is significantly lower than wood, it is still much larger than the opening in the wall. If you are not sure if your home is large enough, it may be necessary to hire a professional. If you do need to hire a contractor to install it, make sure they have experience installing wood.

Both wood and vinyl offer benefits, but the only disadvantage is the initial cost of installation, and the additional cost of hiring a professional. When you compare the cost, it can be hard to make a choice between the two options.