- Vinyl home windows are reasonably priced and have decrease upkeep necessities.
- Wooden frames present pure magnificence and are extremely customizable.
- On common, a vinyl window prices $650, in comparison with $1,300 for a wood-framed window.
When it’s time to exchange your home windows, one of many largest choices you’ll face is selecting a body materials. Vinyl home windows, produced from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are reasonably priced and provide sufficient power effectivity and sturdiness. Better of all, they’re just about maintenance-free — excellent for householders who don’t need to fear about portray or resealing.
Wooden home windows, usually crafted from pine, mahogany, or Douglas fir, provide a basic look that vinyl can’t replicate. Wooden is a pure insulator, making it one of many most effective window body supplies. Plus, wooden home windows are extremely customizable; you possibly can paint or stain them to fit your fashion.
Nonetheless, wooden home windows include a hefty price ticket. “Wooden home windows value greater than vinyl home windows. The supplies and set up add to those prices, making them 50% to 100% dearer,” stated Jim Marino, CEO of Pinnacle House Enhancements. Wooden-framed home windows additionally require ongoing upkeep to maintain them in good situation.
You’ll additionally need to think about elements resembling lifespan and set up when making your choice. Should you’re prepared to attach with high window firms, enter your ZIP code under.
Vinyl Vs. Wooden Home windows: What’s the Distinction?
Vinyl and wooden home windows primarily differ by way of worth, look, and upkeep necessities. Vinyl home windows normally value much less and don’t require a lot repairs. Nonetheless, you possibly can’t paint or stain them after set up — and getting nonstandard shapes or sizes usually requires a particular order.
The desk under highlights key elements resembling these.
| Components | Vinyl Home windows | Wooden Home windows |
|---|---|---|
| Price per window | $255–$1,050 | $700–$2,000 |
| Look | Not simply paintable | Extremely customizable with paint or stain |
| Upkeep | Low upkeep | Have to be refinished, painted, or sealed each 5–10 years |
| Power effectivity | Medium to excessive, relying on the model | Excessive, so long as the window is well-maintained |
| Lifespan | 20–40 years | 30+ |
| Set up | Might be DIY-friendly | Skilled set up mandatory |
Right now’s Home-owner Tip
No matter whether or not you go together with vinyl or wooden home windows (and relying in your producer), you possibly can select the variety of glass panes, specialty glass coatings, and insulating gasoline filling between the panes to spice up power effectivity.
Price
Vinyl home windows are recognized for his or her affordability. The common value of a single vinyl window ranges from $255 to $1,050*, however costs fluctuate primarily based on the scale, model, and customization stage. Changing 10 vinyl home windows usually prices between $2,550 and $10,500, with a nationwide common of $8,500. (Though in case you’re after a low cost window substitute, yow will discover choices that set you effectively under the typical value.)
Wooden home windows are among the many costliest body sorts. Count on to pay between $700 and $2,000 per wooden substitute window. Changing 10 wooden home windows usually prices round $10,000.
*Prices are sourced from contractor estimates utilized by Angi.
Look
Vinyl home windows are much less customizable than wooden home windows. Most producers provide a wide range of factory-applied colours and finishes, in addition to ornamental grille patterns and a number of body types. Nonetheless, vinyl can’t be simply repainted or stained. Customized shapes or sizes could also be doable however contain an extended lead time and better value.
You should purchase strong wooden frames and stain or paint the inside and exterior to match your private home’s design. Many producers additionally provide customized prepainted or prestained choices. One other fashionable alternative is wood-clad home windows, which characteristic a wooden inside with a skinny layer of fiberglass, vinyl, or composite cladding on the outside to raised defend towards the weather and scale back upkeep wants.
Upkeep
The place vinyl home windows really shine is their sturdiness. Except for washing the frames a few times per 12 months to take away dust buildup and dirt, they require virtually no ongoing upkeep.
Wooden home windows usually require portray, staining, or resealing each 5 to 10 years, relying in your local weather and the end used. Wooden is a porous materials. If it’s not protected with paint or a sealant, it should take up moisture, warp, and decay.
“Whereas wooden home windows present a sure appeal, householders will certainly should be ready to place extra effort into their upkeep through the years,” Marino stated. Wooden home windows in extraordinarily humid, wet, or snowy climates would require extra repairs than these in milder climates.
Power Effectivity
Whereas vinyl doesn’t provide fairly the identical pure insulating properties as strong wooden, these home windows are nonetheless good picks in case you’re after energy-saving properties. Effectivity varies by model, however lots of immediately’s greatest vinyl home windows characteristic multichambered designs, which have a number of hole cavities throughout the body, enhancing insulation. When paired with energy-efficient glass, a vinyl window can rival the efficiency of a wooden window.
Wooden is a pure insulator, making wood-framed home windows extremely energy-efficient. Lengthy-term effectivity, nonetheless, relies upon closely on upkeep. Poorly maintained wooden home windows are weak to warping and decay, which might result in drafts and power loss.
Lifespan
Most vinyl home windows final between 20 and 40 years, relying on the standard of set up, local weather, and the window model. Frames uncovered to fixed daylight and excessive temperatures are inclined to deteriorate quicker than these in milder climates.
Wooden home windows can final 30 years or extra with correct upkeep, in line with the Worldwide Affiliation of Licensed House Inspectors. As a result of wooden is porous and might take up moisture, the longevity of wooden frames largely relies on the consistency of repairs. To forestall moisture harm and wooden rot, these home windows should be repainted or resealed each 5 to 10 years.
Set up
Vinyl home windows are lighter and simpler to deal with. Since they don’t require sanding, staining, or portray beforehand, they’re a extra manageable possibility for seasoned DIYers.
Wooden home windows are heavy and require exact becoming, making skilled window set up mandatory. In reality, some producers will void the guarantee if the window isn’t professionally put in.
That stated, whatever the body materials, an improperly put in window will compromise power effectivity. For most owners, we advocate skilled set up for peace of thoughts and efficiency.
Benefits and Disadvantages of Vinyl Vs. Wooden Home windows
There isn’t any single greatest window materials. Vinyl frames are reasonably priced and low-maintenance, however they aren’t as customizable as wooden and should not final as lengthy. Picket home windows provide basic magnificence and superior insulating advantages, however they require a number of repairs and include the next price ticket.
Vinyl Home windows
Execs
- Require nearly no upkeep
- Are available many colours and body types
- Most reasonably priced window body materials
Cons
- Not stainable or paintable after set up
- Barely much less energy-efficient than wooden frames
Wooden Home windows
Execs
- Supply timeless pure magnificence
- Absolutely customizable; you possibly can paint, stain, and reshape
- Lengthy-lasting with correct upkeep
Cons
- Costly in comparison with vinyl frames
- Require common repairs to stop rot or warping
Are Vinyl or Wooden Home windows Greatest for You?
Should you’re frightened about upkeep, a vinyl-framed window shall be your greatest buddy. Aside from washing away common dust buildup from the body a few occasions a 12 months, no ongoing upkeep is required. You may also choose a body shade on the time of buy to enhance your private home’s design. Simply needless to say vinyl frames aren’t simply paintable, so that you’ll need to select a shade you’ll be pleased with for the lengthy haul.
Should you’re searching for the unequalled magnificence and customization of wooden, then wooden frames could also be a no brainer. They supply a excessive stage of power effectivity and might final for many years when well-maintained. Simply make sure that you might have a upkeep plan in place, whether or not which means tackling refinishing initiatives your self or hiring an expert each few years to repaint or reseal the frames.
Subsequent Steps
Should you’re on the fence about whether or not a vinyl or wooden body is greatest, communicate with an skilled contractor. They can provide you customized recommendation primarily based in your native local weather and your private home’s fashion. When you might have a body kind narrowed down, we advocate getting a couple of totally different quotes and reviewing value and guarantee data to make an knowledgeable choice.
Alternatively, in case you’re nonetheless undecided, think about exploring much more kinds of window frames to search out the most effective to your finances and residential.
FAQs About Vinyl Vs. Wooden Home windows
Do wooden home windows enhance a house’s resale worth?
Changing outdated drafty home windows with new energy-efficient fashions will enhance a house’s worth. You possibly can anticipate to recoup 62.9% of the price of substitute wooden home windows, in line with the Zonda Media 2024 Price vs. Worth Report*. For comparability, you possibly can recoup 67.1% of the bills for vinyl substitute home windows.
Should you’re changing home windows with house worth in thoughts, it’s necessary to contemplate your private home’s fashion and what consumers in your space anticipate. The dearer possibility isn’t all the time the most effective funding.
*© 2024 Zonda Media, a Delaware Company. Information from the Zonda Media 2024 Price vs. Worth Report could be downloaded free at www.costvsvalue.com.
Ought to I substitute outdated wooden home windows with vinyl home windows?
You possibly can substitute outdated wood home windows with vinyl in case you’re searching for a low-maintenance body possibility. Vinyl home windows could not final so long as high-quality wooden home windows, however they’re extra reasonably priced, require minimal upkeep, and are available many colours and types.
Some house types, nonetheless, don’t look nearly as good with vinyl home windows. Wooden home windows are a greater match for log cabin, Craftsman-style, and American Farmhouse-style properties.
Are composite home windows higher than wooden or vinyl?
Composite home windows is usually a nice various to vinyl or wooden frames. They’re constructed from a mix of wooden fibers, steel, and resin and might mimic the look of wooden with out the related upkeep. These frames are additionally extremely energy-efficient and sturdy.
The draw back is that not all producers produce composite home windows, making them more durable to search out, and they’re much dearer than vinyl-framed window choices (although seemingly cheaper than wooden home windows).
Are wooden home windows higher than plastic home windows?
Plastic home windows, also called vinyl home windows, are extra reasonably priced than wooden home windows. Wooden is best in case you’re after a pure look and premium power effectivity. Nonetheless, plastic home windows will also be extremely energy-efficient and are available a wide range of types and colours to swimsuit many house types.
