Vinyl VS Aluminum

Aluminum

  • Color sprayed on - will scratch, flake & peel. Color can fade/streak - can require scrubbing and/or painting or touch-up

  • Requires no painting/finishing inside or out - initially

  • Readily conducts heat and cold

  • Supports condensation, frosting in cold weather

  • Waterproof - unaffected by water, except salt water

  • Corrodes in moist, salt-laden air, from pollution and airborne chemicals

  • Impervious to insects

  • Subject to abrasion, corrosion that reduces ease of operation - can cause binding and sticking

  • Structurally rigid and stable

  • Subject to impact damage, denting & scratching

  • Transmit noise

  • Will not support combustion

  • Material cost fluctuates dramatically - supply is good

  • Material is energy intensive to produce, (8-10%) recyclable

  • Scrap in production is recyclable

  • Requires finishing which can contribute to “greenhouse” effect, depletes ozone

Vinyl (PVC) Material Characteristics

  • Maintenance-Free

  • Requires no painting/finishing inside or out — ever

  • High resistance to heat loss or gain

  • Resists condensation

  • Waterproof — unaffected by water

  • Resistant to moist, salt-laden air, pollution, airborne chemicals

  • Impervious to insects

  • Smooth surface properties that help prevent moving parts from “sticking”

  • Structurally rigid and stable. Many designs with excellent wind load ratings

  • Strong, durable frames, withstands mechanical stress and strains

  • Multi-chambered design insulates against noise

  • Will not support combustion. Will burn only while enveloped in flame

  • Material is competitive in cost with other window materials. PVC supply is abundant, price is stable

  • Material is energy efficient to produce, recyclable

  • Limited scrap in production - recyclable

  • Material requires no finishing

Wood

  • Paint can fade, streak, flake, peel - must be repainted periodically

  • Must be painted/stained — initially and repainted

  • High resistance to heat loss or gain

  • Resists condensation

  • Water resistant but vulnerable to water damage

  • Swells, rots, deteriorates in moist, salt-laden air, from pollution and airborne chemicals

  • Resistant to insects, subject to insect damage

  • Subject to swelling from moisture, paint build-up that can cause binding and sticking

  • Structurally rigid and stable. Subject to shrinking, swelling, bowing, warping and cracking

  • Subject to impact damage - denting splintering

  • Insulates against noise

  • Will support combustion - burns readily

  • Prices rising dramatically - supply fluctuates

  • Material is energy intensive to produce tremendous waste. Scrap not readily recyclable. Cutting of trees depletes forests, etc.

  • Requires finishing and preservative treating which can contribute to “greenhouse” effect, depletes ozone