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Vinyl is Widely Reported to Fail
in Sunlight and Heat
We have gathered some interesting
reports from around the world that point to vinyl windows not being able to
withstand sunlight and heat.
"Ultraviolet (UV) light can fade
colors other than white and cause
yellowing and "crazing" in the plastic's surface. Vinyl frames are also
not very rigid.
Vinyl windows with large openings usually require an internal
metal extrusion to make the frame stiffer. This can lower the frame's R-value
significantly.
Vinyl window frames can
also soften, warp, and twist if heat builds up within the frame. In very
hot sunny climates direct exposure to
sunlight is not recommended." U.S. Department of Energy.
"Solid
vinyl windows are an inexpensive last
resort. Give them about 10 years and the vinyl will become
faded and brittle from exposure to
sunlight and temperature." Teaman Architectural Newsletter, 1999
"PVC (vinyl) expands and contracts
and can warp due to heat."
Nation's Window's Windows 101, 1999
"All vinyl becomes brittle in extreme
cold. It expands and softens in heat."
Reader's digest New Do It Yourself Manual
"Vinyl frames are not strong.
Vinyl frames get soft and warp.
They are dimensionally unstable causing
warping, cracks, air leaks which cause thermal failure and glass fogging."
Washington Post, April 21, 1996
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NEW REPORT
We have a new report online "137
Things Window Companies Won't Tell You About Vinyl".
Major Institutions View Vinyl
Windows as a "Poor Choice"
"For builders and architects, our
recommen-dation is to choose non-PVC
(vinyl) applications when it is affordable and a clearly superior product
exists". Environ-mental Building Sciences, June 1999
"Oakland, CA passed a resolution to
reduce and phase out the use of PVC
(vinyl) recommends non-PVC alternatives". City of Oakland, California,
February 1999
"GM
announced plans to eliminate PVC (vinyl) on all its vehicles worldwide.
PVC's lack of durability, cracks, warps
and fades too quickly. The leaching of PVC's plasticizers sited as
reasons." General Motors Corp. January 28, 1999
"The inherent problem with the
material vinyl is thermal expansion and
contraction". Energy Efficient Building Assoc. August 12, 1997
"PVC
windows are not regarded as a favorable material for windows under
sustainable construction programs". Dutch EPA Hearings, 1997
"Although vinyl is more energy
efficient than aluminum, vinyl can warp
and fade." Popular Science, June 1995
"Vinyl continues to
decline (since 1999) as the product of choice." The Home
Improvement Institute.
Vinyl Windows,
Replacement Windows
Replacement
Vinyl Windows,
Vinyl Replacement
Windows |
