Modern windows are made from advanced materials using the latest machining techniques to produce a product that looks great and helps maintain conditioned air. The most common materials used today are vinyl and fiberglass. Both offer wonderful benefits, but the differences are clear. To understand which is best for you, your budget and living needs should be carefully considered.
Here, we will explore the question of are fiberglass windows a good investment and cover vinyl and fiberglass windows pros and cons to help you make an informed decision. But first, let’s consider some valuable information about the benefits of fiberglass and vinyl windows.
The Advantages of Fiberglass & Vinyl Windows
Durable: Fiberglass and vinyl are stronger and longer lasting than traditional wooden frames.
Weather Resistant: Fiberglass and vinyl are 100% corrosion proof. They do not absorb moisture, which means they will not swell in the rainy season. Materials are closely matched and fitted to mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures, whether heat or cold.
Customizable: Fiberglass in particular is especially customizable. It comes in a range of colors and styles that you can choose for home.
Efficient: While fiberglass is slightly more efficient than vinyl, both will help retain treated air all year long at approximately 70% efficiency. That’s more than double the efficiency rate of most traditional wooden frames.
Good ROI: With a long functional life span and superior HVAC efficiency, fiberglass, and vinyl windows are an excellent investment. They can be expected to retain at least 70% of their initial value when you resell your home.
Fiberglass and Vinyl Window Side-By-Side Comparison
| Fiberglass | Vinyl | |
| Appearance Options | Larger Variety | Limited |
| Maintenance | Low | Low |
| Cost | $570 – $1,700 per Window | $500 – $750 per Window |
| Energy Efficiency | Great | Good |
| Resale Value | Greater than 70% | Greater than 70% |
Appearance
At a glance, both vinyl and fiberglass have very similar appearances. With fiberglass, you get more color options and styles.
Fiberglass frames are slightly thinner than vinyl frames. This means fiberglass admits a bit more light, offering a wider view. Vinyl window frame are slightly thicker and include a noticeable join line at the corners.
Depending on your needs, fiberglass can be better geared toward matching the decor needs of the home. Vinyl may be considered to be more utilitarian in nature, but when it suits your design preferences and efficiency needs it is the more economical choice.
Maintenance and Care
The maintenance and care needs of both types of window are very low. These materials are highly resistant to the elements. They will never corrode and are much more resistant to physical breakage than traditional wood windows. Fiberglass windows in particular are eight times stronger than vinyl windows and they don’t warp, chaff, crack, or peel. This also means the seal they provide will not break, helping you save money on your heating and cooling needs. Vinyl has a tendency over time to swell, warp, or crack if heat builds up within the frame.
Additionally, unlike wooden frames, dust and dirt wipes away easily on both fiberglass and vinyl. This is due to the fact that they offer a smooth, solid surface that is not porous like wood.
Cost
Both vinyl and fiberglass are less expensive than wooden frames. Vinyl is the least expensive of all but is less versatile than fiberglass. It should be noted that fiberglass is the longest lasting of the two options. Fiberglass can be expected to last an average of 20 years longer than vinyl. Therefore the greater upfront cost will be more than offset by its superior functional life.
Energy Efficiency
Both vinyl and fiberglass offer impressive energy efficiency benefits, however, fiberglass does take a slight lead in this regard. Fiberglass windows are approximately 15% more energy efficient than vinyl. Interestingly, fiberglass is also more eco-friendly and insulates against sound better than vinyl.
Resale Value
Fiberglass windows are low maintenance, will last longer than vinyl, and come in a range of styles and colors. While vinyl is the more budget-friendly choice, both materials are well worth the investment. Both vinyl and fiberglass have been shown to maintain their resale value at about 70% of the initial cost.
Enhance Your Home With Fiberglass Windows From Marvin
With Marvin Fiberglass Window products from DiGiorgi Roofing & Siding Inc., you get top quality insulation with the added advantage of dimensional stability. This means that when the glass and frame expand and contract with heat and cold, they will do so in unison. The result of this dimensional unity is that the glass and frame will not collide and create mutual resistance which would eventually lead to warping or breakage.
Marvin also offers two types of fiberglass; Ultrex® fiberglass and high-density fiberglass.
Ultrex® is strong and durable which is proprietary to Marvin. These windows are used for exterior walls for Marvin Elevate products and interior walls for Marvin Essential products. Ultrex® fiberglass windows are 8 times stronger than vinyl and 3 times stronger than wood/vinyl composite frames.
High-density fiberglass shares many of the characteristics of Ultrex® but is, remarkably, even stronger. High-density fiberglass is used for the exteriors of Marvin Modern products and offers the same clean look, feel, and strength as aluminum and steel. But its insulating qualities are superior to even these trusted construction materials.
Be sure to look through Marvin’s exciting Elevate and Essential Collections below
Our home improvement team here at DiGiorgi Roofing & Siding Inc. is proud to work closely with Marvin, a leading manufacturer of high quality windows and other home improvement products. We can install Marvin fiberglass windows for your home today.
DiGiorgi Roofing & Siding has decades of cumulative practical experience in replacement windows and installation. Our mission is to deliver the windows of your choice, provide expert-level installation, and get the job done right the first time every time. Our team understands that the job is not done until you love the windows you’re looking through.
That’s why we remain on site until you are fully satisfied. All of the products and services we provide are backed up with our ironclad guarantee, and thorough customer service is where it all starts. To learn more about what advanced window materials and design can do for your home, get in touch today, and get your free estimate.
