Replacement Windows Case Studies: Choosing a Low Maintenance Window Solution for Your Home

Challenge

These days, a lot of companies market their products and solutions as maintenance free. The problem is that this is often misleading, as nothing can really be maintenance free (all windows have to be cleaned).

So when choosing new replacement windows, which options require the least maintenance?

Vinyl Replacement Windows

Vinyl windows are a popular option for their affordability but are shying away from because of a lot of their drawbacks. But are they maintenance free?

Not exactly. Because of their shorter lifespan, you might see seal breaks and other issues happening pretty quickly, especially because they expand and contract. This means more upkeep for you.

Wood Replacement Windows

Wood windows are definitely stronger than vinyl but aren’t the best option available. Wood also expands and contracts due to moisture vs high heat  with vinyl, so you might start to see small cracks and crevices become exposes which could lead to water damage.

In terms of general maintenance, it’s recommended that you repaint or refinish your wood windows every 3 or 4 years. When you have other options that won’t require any upkeep, it makes it feel like having to repair sun damage and fading is just another chore.

Fiberglass Replacement Windows

Fiberglass windows may be the lowest maintenance windows out there. Because it’s so strong, it doesn’t melt, rot, warp, etc. Even dark finishes are resistant to fading and scratching.

Marvin fiberglass windows actually have a mechanically bonded inline acrylic finish. What does this mean exactly? Acrylic is much stronger than glass itself, so this makes your panes even stronger and damage-proof. So you won’t have to worry about any real damage to your panes.

The only maintenance that would be required for fiberglass windows is to clean them once a year. Marvin’s Infinity windows also have an easy tilt feature which makes cleaning doable in no time.

Solution

So which window is best for you?

When comparing wood vs vinyl vs fiberglass windows, if you’re looking for something truly low maintenance, your best bet would be a fiberglass option. Vinyl and wood aren’t necessarily bad options if you choose higher quality materials and have it installed professionally, but you’ll still have to repair and rework parts that wear and tear. You won’t see those issues with fiberglass windows.