What Are Todays Windows Made Of

Things to Consider When Looking for the Best Window for Your Home


WindoW Frames:The BackBone oF WindoWs

Owning a home does not end in the purchase and moving in. For as long as you live in your home, you also own the res- ponsibility of maintaining it, which entails learning about each of its aspects. If you want your house to remain efficient and well protected throughout the years, one of the things which condition you must regularly check, is your windows.There are factors that you should carefully consider when searching for the right windows, including the materials that compose it. The term ‘window materials’ mostly refers to the frame. While it is only a part of the entire product, it is the primary factor considered when categorizing windows. Thus, it is necessary to learn more about it, especially be-cause much of a window’s functionality depends on its frame.


The common WindoW

Frame maTerialsThere are many frame materials that have been used in window production for years. Each of them has under-gone extensive industry advancements in order to keep up with the demands of the modern times. All of them also offer different sets of advantages and disadvantages that are worth looking into.

aluminum In the mid 1950’s and early 1990’s, aluminum reigned supreme in the window in-dustry, despite its initial plain physical appearance. This is because of its affordability and strength. Until now, alu-minum windows remain as one of the cheapest window frame materials. However, it is a heat conductor, requir-ing the insertion of a thermal break to make it cooler and energy-efficient. While it comes in pre-painted finishes, repainting may prove to be a challenge.

FiBerglassFirst developed in the 1930s, fiberglass is known for its insulating properties. It is a composite structural mate-rial composed of fiber reinforcements, commonly glass, which is bound together in a resin mix. Since glass fiber has a high tensile strength, it cannot easily break.

Fiberglass also has a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it resistant to warping and corrosion. It is also a good insula-tor and works well in areas with extreme temperatures. Be-ing a thermoset material, it also cannot be affected by tem-perature changes. Fiberglass window frames also come in different finishes. However, they can be a little pricey.

Window Frames: The Backbone of Windows


VinylInvented in the early 1920s, vi-nyl has been considered as the world’s most versatile plastic. Even if it did not immediately enter the window industry, it now makes up about 80% of today’s market. Vinyl is generally indes-tructible and can outlast any other window frame material. It also needs little to no maintenance, requiring just regular cleaning to look like new. Furthermore, while it is soft and susceptible to scratches, it can be eas-ily smoothed out again. Vinyl is also known for being affordable.

The main setback of vinyl window frames is its appearance, as it is bulky by nature. Fortunately, industry advancements allowed for the introduc-tion of toned down profiles that give a “softer” look.

Wood For those who love classic style, wood windows are a winner. A good wood win-dow is definitely an excellent product, both aesthetically and functionally. Depending on the quality of wood used, it will also last a long time. However, it comes at a price. It can easily be three or more times expensive than a vinyl window.

As beautiful as they may be, wood windows are not for everybody. They are considered luxury high-end products and they require extensive care and maintenance, including regular repainting. They have bragging rights, but those who are after cost efficiency may not see it as a practical choice.


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sTeelIn the early 20th century, steel became a widely popu-lar and accepted material for window frames. It is known for its strength and avail-ability. However, over the years, its weaknesses were exposed -- heavy and prone to rust. By the middle of the century, it fell out of the limelight, and was taken over by the lighter and more versatile material aluminum.

Today, because of the advancements in manu-facturing, steel window frames that are stronger than aluminum and have minimal dimensions, are made available.

composiTeMade from bonded wood fibers, scraps, and ground up knots in a resin mix, composite win-dow frames have gained a significant market share as manufacturing technology continues to improve. Structurally, they are superior to solid wood frames as they can last longer and are less prone to warping, expand-ing, and shrinking. Not to mention, they are cheap-er. However, if they come pre-painted, they cannot be stained or repainted.



The oTher ViTal componenTs

oF a WindoW

Searching for the ideal windows for your home can be more cha-llenging than you think. Without efficient windows, you can eas-ily lose home heat and energy, which in turn can increase your utility bills. It may even compromise your heating and cooling equipment’s integrity and the protection of your belongings. Fur-thermore, the efficiency of a window depends on more than one factor -- aside from the frame that serves as its backbone, it is also made of other vital components that are about as important.


glassOver the years, glass used in window production has received multiple treatments and methods to en-hance strength, energy efficiency, and appearance. Below are the common types of glass that come with modern-day windows.

▶ Float glass▶ Annealed glass▶ Heat strengthened glass▶ Fully tempered glass▶ Heat soaked tempered glass▶ Laminated glass▶ Wire glass▶ Insulated glass unit (IGU)▶ Low-emissivity glass

Among these types, low-e glass is known to be the most energy efficient, therefore making it a popular choice among those who wish to save on utility costs and raise their home’s resale value. Glass of this type is treated with a special coating that can reflect infrared rays while still letting visible light through. IGUs also make for an energy effi-cient and practical choice.

hardWareWindow hardware such as hinges and handles are made from various materials. Most often than not, your chosen window units will also have the same hardware material as the frame. Given this, they can be made of vinyl, wood, steel, or aluminum, and so on.

sealsRubber has become the universal material used for window seals. However, it comes in various qualities and better ones offer longer service life.

The Other Vital Components of a Window


Things To consider When

looking For The BesT WindoW

For your home

When thinking of updating your home or building a new one, among the things that you should consider prioritizing is the windows. Knowing about its parts and their primary function is one thing -- learning about the features, value, and qualities that you must look for is another. Here are some of the consid-erations that you should put in mind when shopping for new windows. Depending on your primary concerns and priorities, one or more of these may be more important than the others.

happy WindoW shoppingNow that you know all about the different window materials and their advantages and disadvantages, you will be able to make better choices if and when you are

looking for new or replacement windows.


duraBiliTyThis pertains to the overall strength and endur-ance rating of the window. A high quality, durable material can make your investment worthwhile, as you won’t need to worry about replacing or re-pairing the unit too soon. A durable enough prod-uct will also give you the peace of mind that it will not leak or perform below your expectations.

cosT-eFFiciencyThis quality can be affected by several things. For instance, a durable product can be said to be cost-efficient because replacement and repair won’t be an issue. A cheaper alternative such as vinyl win-dow can also be said to be cost-efficient because it is generally affordable and yet offers consider-able resistance against wear and tear, as well.

securiTyWindows can have various locking mechanisms that you must carefully look into. Some windows of today come with multi-point locking systems, enhancing your home’s security. The materials that make up these locking systems should also be checked to be sure of its performance.

FiTTingThe fitting of your windows must be closely moni-tored. If your window does not fit snugly in your wall, it can lead to extra and faster wear and tear on the hardware.

mainTenanceA window system that requires extensive main-tenance may not be as attractive as those that do not. Maintenance requires everything from cleaning to repainting, and if you think you don’t have that much time or money to indulge, go for a material that needs little to no maintenance such as vinyl or fiberglass.



energy eFFiciencyThe energy efficiency of a product depends on a number of variables: the type of framing mate-rial, type of glass, and quality of placement and fitting of the entire hardware. Some framing ma-terials reflect away the heat of the sun better than others, making them cooler. Furthermore, the glass used affects the window’s energy effi-ciency greatly because of the treatments it may have gone through. Lastly, proper fitting and positioning of the hardware and the window it-self will keep energy or indoor air from seeping through gaps and cracks. All of these contribute to the conservation of energy.

aesTheTic FeaTuresOf course, you also want for your windows to be good looking. Thankfully, most of the prod-ucts offered today come with various textures and finishes that can help selection easier. Find one that not only suits the overall theme of your house but one that also offers easy and cost effective updating solutions and options in the future. This is to make sure that you can still make your windows look anew even years after initial installation.

WarranTiesThe parts of a window unit may have different warranties. For example, the hardware can have a warranty of one to five years. Meanwhile, glass can be covered from seven to 15 years. Differ-ent manufacturers offer different warranties and it will always help to ask about them.



References:http://www.about-home-design.com/window-materials.htmlhttp://martin-ddp.hubpages.com/hub/windowmaterialusedhttp://www.rusco.ca/windowpages/window%20materials.htmhttp://www.archtoolbox.com/materials-systems/doors-windows/104-glass-types.html

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What Are Todays Windows Made Of