Vinyl Window Facts

 

"Who says that vinyl windows can warp, twist, bow, crack, turn brittle, fade and discolor under sunlight?"

 

 

Government

 

US Dept. of Energy – Four times since 1994, the US Dept. of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy consumer fact sheet on windows, stated that vinyl windows can warp, twist, bow, fade and crack.

2002 – “Vinyl frames are 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 hot sunny climates, direct exposure to sunlight is not recommended.”

 

Canadian Dept. of Natural Resources Consumer Guide 2005 – “The disadvantages of vinyl framing material is that vinyl expands and contracts with temperature, opening up cracks for air leakage.”

 

Canadian Center for Energy Technology 2005:– “Un-reinforced PVC window profiles have a lack of rigidity and a high coefficient of expansion. PVC profiles are subject to distortion.”

 

National Research Council Canada website 2006 – “Because of the plastic’s high coefficient of expansion, dark colors may cause excessive distortion. The high coefficient of thermal expansion has to be taken into account in the decision of the window. In cold climate, contraction of the window frame will enlarge the width of the joint with the wall.”

 

Germany EPA 2003 – “The average lifetime of a PVC window is 15 years.”

North-rthn.org Canadian Research and Technology in Housing 2005:– “PVC is too brittle in cold conditions and breaks easily. PVC is not as stiff as wood. It is recommended that PVC frames have metal reinforcements provided. PVC can also experience significant dimensional changes under temperature differentials.”

 

Canadian Institute of Research in Construction website 2006:– “To increase the rigidity of a large PVC window sash, a steel reinforcement is inserted. In cold climates, the coefficient of thermal expansion has to be taken into account. Contraction of the window frame will enlarge the width of the joint with the wall.”

 

The only people promoting vinyl windows are those who profit from it.

 

The vinyl warranties tell the truth. Read the fine print. Almost none cover warping, twisting, bowing or UV breakdown.

 

Government

 

Canadian Center for Energy Technology, Study of Long Term Performance of Operating Windows – “Air Leakage in vinyl windows increased 136%, significantly more than aluminum or wood. Un-reinforced PVC profiles have a lack of rigidity and a high coefficient of expansion; PVC profiles are subject to distortion.”

 

City of Oakland, California 2/1999 – “Resolution to reduce and phase out the use of PVC (vinyl) recommends non-PVC alternatives.”

 

Dutch EPA 1997 – “PVC windows are not regarded as a favorable material for windows under sustainable construction programs.”

 

OEAKF Austria, The Standardization of PVC Window Frame Recycling 1997:– “60 tons of PVC (vinyl) window frames are collected each year. PVC window frames are taken back for free if the customer buys wood windows to replace them. The cost of recycling is paid by the manufacturer.”

 

Ireland Dept. of Energy 1998 – “…Passed an initiative to eliminate the use of all PVC in windows and doors.”

 

US Senate Committee of the Environment 4/2004:– “The CPSC finds lead poisoning for young children in imported vinyl mini blinds.”

 

National Research Council Canada 2006 – “Efforts are being made to improve the characteristics of glazing and frame materials using a combination (composites), which are more durable than conventional materials.”

 

Environmental Ministry UK 2006 – “The average PVC window tends to be disposed of in 18 years. PVC windows are extremely difficult to repair. The material turns yellow and brittle by sunlight and even forms hairline cracks. Once degraded, vinyl windows are impossible to repair.”

 

US Dept. of Energy 2006 – Fact sheet on storm windows: “Vinyl may expand and warp at high temperatures and crack at low temperatures. Also, if sunlight hits the material for many hours a day, colors other than white may fade over time.”

Government

 

US Dept. of Agriculture – Overview of Siding Materials for Forest Services Facilities 2000 – “Plastic siding can buckle in hot weather if not installed properly. It can become brittle and crack if it is struck. Where hail is common, vinyl is not the best choice.

 

Alberta Infrastructure Data Sheet infras.gov.ab.ca 2006 – “Vinyl components can absorb enough solar energy to heat up, causing unacceptable dimensional instability. Some heat reflective paints are available, but this is a new, unproven technology. Due to expansion of plastic windows, you shouldn’t form combination units of more than three single units.”

 

Rocky Mountain Institute, Home Energy Briefs 2006 – “With vinyl windows, make sure you have a guarantee against sun damage, peeling, warping and discoloration. Vinyl expands and contracts with temperature changes.”

 

Universities

 

University of Massachusetts Building Technologies website 2006 – “Vinyl window frames fade, are unpaintable, becomes brittle and is thermally unstable, especially in dark colors. It expands and contracts more than aluminum or wood, or even the glass it holds. Vinyl frames have the potential for causing increased air leakage due to this differential.”

 

Brown University Website 2006 – “PVC’s resistance to heat is so low even just on an average sunny day, window frames made from material emit a slight odor known to irritate hypersensitive individuals.”

 

Brown University Environmental Studies 1998 – “PVC (vinyl) frames require no maintenance, but raise questions of durability, since they are relatively new on the market and virtually untested.


University of Alaska 2006 – Building in Alaska – “PVC is not an ideal choice. This is particularly so for the colder climates of the far north, where greater temperature differences are a concern. PVC expands (or contracts) four times faster with temperature changes than does either wood or fiberglass. This stresses the external caulk weather seal. During times of extreme cold, the window literally shrinks away from the wood rough opening.”

 

University of Kansas, Energy Conservation Dept. 2006 – “Over time Argon gas leaks out of the space between the panes of glass.”

 

Napier School of Engineering Website 2006 – Life Cycle of Window Materials – “PVC windows have a high coefficient of thermal expansion (two or three times higher than aluminum). PVC is very sensitive toward high temperature and UV radiation, which can break down its molecular bond resulting in embrittlement and discoloration.”


The government, colleges, and even the window industry agree. Why doesn’t the window salesman show you this?

 

Publications

 

Lowes Complete Home Improvement and Repair Guide 2006, pg. 205-206 – “Inexpensive vinyl windows have a tendency to distort when exposed to extreme heat and cold, making them harder to operate and allowing air leakage. Vinyl windows cannot be painted and darker colors may fade over time.”

 

Popular Science Magazine 6/95 – “Vinyl can warp and fade.”

 

Journal of Light Construction 2005 – “Vinyl windows have experienced problems with losing their shape as the horizontal dimension has increased. Vinyl is still years away from a final answer on durability.”

 

Builder Magazine 6/98 – “Windows and doors are the #1 source of homeowner dissatisfaction.”

 

This Old House 2001 – Worrisome Windows – “Vinyl softens at 165 degrees, a temperature easily achieved in the space between blinds and the windows on a sunny day. Vinyl expands and contracts 7 times more than glass. This action can pop seals between frames and glass. Vinyl is simply not suitable on its own as a window material.”

 

Bob Vila’s American Home Fall 1997 – Top 10 Home Improvement Scams – “The hot item these days is thermo pane windows. Invariably, the low priced version is unsuitable for your home.”

 

Reader’s Digest New Do It Yourself Manual pg. 426 – “All vinyl becomes brittle in extreme cold. It expands and softens in heat.”

 

Consumer Reports 10/1993 – “Vinyl sash tracks became distorted during durability tests. Parts of the frames and sash bowed during durability tests. We experienced glass seal failure during durability tests.”

 

Fenestration Magazine Vol. 6 No. 5 – “UV or IR infra red wavelength of sunlight affects PVC vinyl. It affects strength and color retention. Heat build up can cause distortion of PVC framing.”

 

Grolier Encyclopedia 2003 – “PVC vinyl softens at 158 degrees Fahrenheit.”

 

McGraw Hill How to Plan, Contract and Build Your Home pg. 302:– “The main drawback of plastic frames is that they lack strength. They are more likely to break especially during cold weather when it turns brittle.”

 

Carpentry and Constructive Guide 2004, pg. 233:– “Most windows in homes have “B” or “C” rated glass. Higher quality windows show the rating on the glass.”

 

Creative Homeowner 2004, pg. 468 – “Framing made of vinyl generally needs less maintenance, but is not a good insulator.”

 

Koones House About It Guide 2004, pg. 137 – “Vinyl frames require metal reinforcements. They cannot be painted.”

Publications

 

This Old House Complete Remodeling Guide 2004, pg. 230-233 – “Variations in window options can be mind boggling. Start with the frame material. Choose windows that compliment your architecture. High performance windows cost a little more but are worth it. In all vinyl windows, the insulated glass may fail, particularly in large windows because of vinyl’s expansion and contraction with temperature changes.

 

Tauton’s Build Like A Pro, Guide to Windows 2004, pg. 90 & 178 – “Check the vinyl material to see if it bends. Check for metal reinforcements. How long has the manufacturer been in business? Avoid local fabricators. They come and they go. Replacement window manufacturers often sell their products with the promise that the new windows will reduce your heating and cooling bills. It’s rare to find where that’s realistic.”

 

Environmental Building News 6/2001 – “Avoid 100% vinyl frames because of their durability problems. Most of these windows won’t last a decade.”

 

Boston Globe 11/16/95 – “I’ve seen entire buildings full of replacement windows fail from manufacturers who have gone out of business. This happened commonly throughout the 80’s.”

 

Why do track home builders use vinyl? Because it’s so good, or so cheap?

 

Window Renewal Magazine 2004 – “Vinyl windows have negative features. They are susceptible to temperature fluctuations, expanding with heat and cold. The seals in glass are under pressure and can eventually lead to seal failure.”

 

Door and Window Maker Magazine 12/2002:– “Vinyl doesn’t belong in the desert. Vinyl windows have discolored to a lovely “nicotine brown”. They don’t work here.”

 

Door and Window Maker Magazine 12/2002:– “What good is a lifetime warranty if the company is gone in ten years? The number of companies making vinyl windows is on the decline. The warranty is only as good as the paper it’s printed on. There is a laundry list of companies that have come and gone.”

 

Journal of Light Construction 2000 – Working with Vinyl Windows – “Allowing for thermal expansion is the biggest concern when installing vinyl windows. Regarding the quality of vinyl windows, some compounds are better than others. In weathering tests, we have seen some white vinyl that has gone brown, and some light browns that have gone chalky. Such color changes indicate embrittlement, which weakens the structure of the vinyl. Embrittlement is a real problem in hot climates. The sunlight actually breaks down the polymers.”

 

Washington Post 4/9/2005 – “Vinyl frames are not strong. Vinyl frames get soft and warp. They are dimensionally unstable, causing warping, cracks and air leaks.”

 

Before you even think about spending your hard earned money on vinyl windows, make the salesman show you homes where their windows have been installed at least ten years.

Internet Sources

 

Minnesota Green Housing Website 2006:– “Vinyl, especially when colored, tends to turn brittle and discolored over time.”

 

Healthy Building Website 2004 – “Vinyl windows have a higher thermal expansion coefficient. They can become brittle, yellow, and develop cracks over time with exposure to sunlight.”

 

American Institute of Architects Colorado, Sustainable Design Resource Guide 2006:– “Local fabricators are popping up all over Colorado. They purchase vinyl frame material from elsewhere and build windows here. The strong western sun can deteriorate some types of vinyl. Be sure to confirm UV resistance in warranties.”

 

Ask the Builder.com Website 2006 – “Buying vinyl windows is like a trip through a house of mirrors at a county fair. Very close to 160 degrees, vinyl begins to lose some of its rigidity. Stress can cause frames to sag and distort. Windows that face West in the afternoon can take a beating. Almost all the vinyl will eventually begin to yellow.”

 

Window Repair.com Website 2006 – “The next time a window replacement company calls you and claims you could “save lots of money” by buying their windows, they are, in effect, lying. They claim their windows are “maintenance-free”, yet if you restore your old windows, by the time they need maintenance again, those plastic windows will be in a landfill.”

 

Improvenet.com Website 2006 – “I had fixed vinyl windows installed in my home. After the rain came, I seemed to have leaks in the windows. Not around the windows, but the water is coming in on the bottom of the windows where the glass meets the vinyl.”

Internet Sources

 

BBC News Website 2004 – “The main problem with PVC windows is that it deteriorates with the action of ultraviolet light from the sun. It can become brittle after a few years, causing pieces to break off. PVC is often sold as being a long-lasting, energy-saving material. It will last maybe twenty years.”

 

Buildinggreen.com Website 2006 – “Air leakage through vinyl casement windows increased 136%. Unreinforced PVC profiles are subject to distortion.”

 

Healthy Building Website 2006 – “Vinyl windows have a higher thermal expansion coefficient that can lead to water leaks and other maintenance problems. They can become brittle, yellow and develop cracks over time with exposure to sunlight.”

 

House-N-Home Building.com Website 2006:– “Vinyl is the weakest of materials and may require aluminum or steel inserts on large windows. PVC may discolor and become brittle over time.”

 

PlasticTechnology.com Website 2006 – “Failure can mean color and appearance change such as yellowing, fading, color shift. Failure is defined as mechanical integrity and physical performance.”


Improvenet.com Website 2006 – “Wood windows must be regularly painted to preserve them. Vinyl is brittle in extremely cold climate.”

 

Builder News Mag.com Website 2006 – “Vinyl’s Achilles heel is its high external expansion coefficient. Darker colors absorb enough heat to warp the frames and cause failures, something several manufacturers found out the hard way.”

 

BobVila.com Website 2006 – “Vinyl windows often look chunkier than wood because vinyl isn’t strong enough to be made into ultra thin parts. The other problem is that vinyl looks unmistakingly plastic.”

 

Bi-Glass.com Website 2005 – “Vinyl windows move more than twice as much as aluminum, wood, or fiberglass. Vinyl expands seven times farther than glass with each degree. This action can pop seals between the frame and the glass.”

 

Door and Window Business Website 2001 – “UV light can break down plastics. Windows become brittle when exposed to sunlight over long periods of time.”

 

Interactive Resources Website 2005 – “Vinyl windows may exacerbate water intrusion in stucco walls. The expansion coefficient of vinyl is nearly 14 times that of aluminum and wood.”

Internet Sources
 

This Old House Website 2004 – “Vinyl is simply not suitable on its own as a window material.”

 

TREMCO Website 2003:– “Some manufacturers produce low quality windows and offer warranties too good to be true. Because the homeowner is likely to move before the windows fail, they can offer incredible warranties that are non-transferable.

 

Healthgoods.com Website 2006 – “Vinyl frames may expand and warp in high temperatures. In hot climates, colors other than white may fade.”

 

Greenhousing.umn.edu Website 2006 – “Vinyl -clad and PVC frames on the interior will give off gas over time, releasing small amounts of vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen in humans. Vinyl, especially when colored, tends to turn brittle and discolor over time (5 to 10 years in some cases).

 

Fine Home Building Website 2006:– “Vinyl fades, it cannot be painted, it becomes brittle with age, and is thermally unstable.”


BuildingGreen.com Website 2005 – “The Study of Long Term Performance of Operating Windows Subject to Motion Cycling found that air leakage through the vinyl casement windows increased 136% (Significantly more than Fiberglass or wood). Unreinforced PVC profiles are subject to distortion. This is caused by the lack of rigidity and the high coefficient of linear expansion of sash members.”

 

Healthy Building.net Website 2006 – “While vinyl windows do not rot, they are sensitive to both hot and cold temperatures, can become brittle and incur dents.”

 

Sussmens.net Website 2006 – “Vinyl windows don’t look as good as other windows. They get brittle in cold and soften in heat, and they move around a good bit. So you’ll have to caulk around them every couple of years.”

 

Myvoice.com Website 2006:– “Vinyl window frames are not very rigid, and therefore are not well suited for large windows unless reinforced with aluminum components. Vinyl window frames can soften, warp, and twist if heat builds up within the frame.”

 

There are literally hundreds of references on the internet regarding the problems with vinyl. You just have to sift through the thousands of sales pitches from vinyl manufacturers and dealers to find them.

 

When your vinyl windows go bad, most dealers (if they’re still in business) defer the problem to the manufacturer. Replacement windows rank as one of America’s top home improvement scams.

Internet Sources

 

Arizona Builder Zone Website 2006 – “Vinyl frames are not strong or rigid, which limits the weight of the glass that can be used. Vinyl frames can soften, warp, twist, and bow.”

 

Today’s Home & Garden Website 2004 – “Vinyl patio doors often become brittle with age and crack easily.”

 

IQ-Home Website 2006 – “Vinyl expands and contracts with temperature, opening up cracks for air leakage.”

 

Cambridge Historical Commission Website 2006 – “Vinyl windows are unacceptable in historic and neighborhood conservation districts or for landmark properties. Vinyl windows are not made in dark colors because the material could be deformed by excessive heat, such as that generated by exposure to sunlight.”

 

Home & Garden Website 2006 – “Which is better: wood or vinyl? Vinyl has negative features. They are more susceptible to temperature fluctuations, expanding and contracting with changes in heat. The seals are placed under pressure and can eventually lead to seal failure.”

 

Eastrow.com Website 2005 – “What’s wrong with vinyl windows? They shrink in cold weather, and expand in hot weather. It expands twice as much as wood and seven times as much as glass. This can cause the seal between the vinyl framework and glass to fail. The bigger the sash, the sooner it fails. Vinyl windows should not be a viable option.”

 

American Architectural Manufacturers Assoc. Website 2002 – “With the role of vinyl’s environmental record, we expect to see the biggest changes in window technology over the next ten years.”

 

Energy Efficient Building Assoc. Website 2005 – “The inherent problem with vinyl is thermal expansion and contraction.”

 

Internet Sources

 

ASHRAE Website 2005 – Michael McCabe, PhD: “Fiberglass windows are highly resistant to UV radiation which over time can cause PVC (vinyl) to break down and disintegrate.”

 

Good Morning Canada Website 2006 – “Vinyl frames are not strong. Vinyl frames can warp, twist, and bow.”

 

Dulley.com Website 2006 – “Vinyl frames can warp, twist, and bow.”

 

Answers Yahoo.com Website 2006 – “Vinyl is nothing more than a low budget option. Vinyl, like all polymer-based products, degrades when exposed to elements such as sunlight, rain, wind, heat and cold, leaving the vinyl brittle and susceptible to cracking. Not to mention, the windows look really cheap.”

 

Ask the Builder.com Website 2006 – “Many homeowners who installed the first generation of vinyl windows were disappointed. Large windows or windows that faced direct, hot afternoon sunlight were the victims of sag. The vinyl would sag under the weight of large, heavy pieces of glass. They would sag because the vinyl would soften because of heat. The results were not pretty.”

 

Builder Online.com Website 2006 – “The #1 construction defect is window failure: Leaks around still-jamb corners of aluminum windows; fogged dual-pane glass; vinyl windows with poorly designed weeps.”

 

Teaman Architectural Website 2001 – “Solid vinyl windows are the inexpensive last resort. Give them about ten years and the vinyl will become faded and brittle from exposure to sunlight and temperature.”

 

Walls and Ceilings Sourcebook Website 2000 – “The popularity of vinyl windows has created some real challenges with water penetration in the industry.”

 

Environmental Building Sciences Website 1999 – “For builders and architects, our recommendation is to choose non- PVC (vinyl) applications when it is affordable and a clearly superior product exists.”

 

Environmental Building News Website 1999 – “We evaluated all the framing material used in windows and advised to avoid 100% vinyl window frames because of their durability problems. Vinyl windows have only been on the market in the US for 15 to 20 years. Many of these products won’t even last a decade.”

 

Planfield Historic Preservation Website 2006 – “Vinyl has a life expectancy of about 20 years. The plasticizers in vinyl will evaporate over time, making the vinyl brittle and subject to cracking. What costs are imposing on future owners?

 

Sustainable Homes.com Website 2006 – “The lifespan of uPVC is unclear. It is known that low quality formulas degrade over time, breaking up and becoming brittle. Most uPVC will end up as waste.”

 

House Building.com Website 2006 – “Vinyl is the weakest of all framing materials and may require an aluminum or steel insert for large windows. PVC may discolor and become brittle over time.”

The thing you’ll consistently see in all these references… they aren’t trying to sell you windows!

 

This is unbiased, third party information.

 

Contractors, architects, government, universities… they’re all saying vinyl is not a good choice.

 

AEC Building and Construction Website 2006:– “Vinyl becomes brittle at low temperatures and flexible at high temperatures. Over time, changes in temperature can cause window-frame materials to bend and twist leading to seal failure.”

 

Journal of Light Construction Website 2006 – “Vinyl windows have experienced problems with losing their shape as the horizontal dimension has increased. Vinyl is still years away from a final answer on durability.”

 

A Plush Homeowner Website 2006 – “Vinyl windows cannot be painted, inside or out, limiting the ability to change the home’s exterior look or match the interior millwork.”

 

Vectren.com Website 2006 – “Vinyl frames are relatively weak and may expand and warp at high temperatures and crack at extremely low temperatures.”

 

Facilities.net Website 2006 – “Vinyl windows do not have an extensive track record. PVC cannot be painted; window elements are exposed to the environment.”

 

Nations Windows 101 Website 1999 – “PVC (vinyl) expands and contracts and can warp due to heat.”

 

The Home Improvement Institute Website 2001 – “Vinyl continues to decline as the product of choice.”

 

The Brand New House.com Website 2006 – “Vinyl windows made 15 to 20 years ago had problems with yellowing, cracking and warping. Wood can be a nightmare to maintain, requiring repainting every two to five years.”

 

Ask the Builder.com Website 2006 - “Heat from sunlight can cause big problems for vinyl windows. Very close to 190 degrees, vinyl begins to lose its rigidity. Stress can cause frames to sag and distort. If you live in the South or Southwest, windows that face the West can take a beating in the late afternoon. Some vinyl used in windows will change color in sunlight.”

 

NoHarm.org Website 2006 – “While vinyl windows do not rot, they are sensitive to both hot and cold temperatures, can become brittle, and incur dents.”

 

Windows by Unlimited Website 2006:– “Vinyl can be very dense and brittle, thus making the final product susceptible to cracking and the effects of ultraviolet light.”

 

Global Development and Environmental Institute Website 2006 – “Problems with vinyl windows include sensitivity toward high and low temperatures, possible brittleness, and health hazards if exposed to fire. They can expand and contract causing the seal of the window to break. In this case, they cannot be repaired and must be replaced.”

 

Alliance for a Clean Environment ACE Website 2006 - “PVC windows do degrade, are not totally maintenance-free, and worst of all, cannot be repaired when necessary.”

 

Euroline Website 2006 – “Most people who have built a home with inexpensive vinyl windows, know what a mistake they have made because the window frames tend to crack, chalk, and discolor over time, and replacing them is one of the deadliest renovation costs. The reason that most vinyl windows need replacing in a matter of years is due to the materials they are made from. Typical PVC has material such as lead and chalk added. These leach and migrate over time and cause discoloration and cracking that is common in vinyl windows. Many may recall the recall of many vinyl mini blinds.”

Your home is your biggest investment. Be a smart homeowner. Show this report to the window salesman. See what he says. Don’t believe all the sales hype on vinyl windows.

 

Greener Buildings.com Website 2005 - "Thermal stress can reduce durability by causing materials to expand and contract. This can affect long term window performance. Certain frame materials, including vinyl and aluminum, expand and contract at a higher rate than glass, making windows leakier over time. UV light degrades many materials, including most plastics.”

 

Simonton Website 2005 - "The use of expandable foam (insulation) is not recommended (for vinyl windows). Leave a 1/4” gap around the entire window frame to allow for fluctuation and expansion of materials and mortar.”

 

Windsor Windows Website 2006 - "Cellular PVC is a vinyl-based product. Cellular profiles may be subject to thermal expansion and contraction at temperatures of 145 degrees. Darker colors tend to absorb a greater amount of solar heat which can cause the cellular PVC to expand and contract excessively. This can cause warping or distortion.”

 

Taunton.com Website 2006 – Understanding Energy-Efficient Windows - “Vinyl fades, can’t be painted, becomes brittle with age and is thermally unstable. Vinyl frames have a potential for increased air leakage.”

 

GreenAction.com Website 2006 - “Vinyl windows have a higher thermal expansion coefficient that can lead to water leaks and other maintenance problems. They can become brittle, yellow, and develop cracks over time.”

Most vinyl window warranties do not cover installation or labor. The manufacturer blames installation and the dealer blames the manufacturer when something goes wrong.

 

Vinyl by Design Website 2006 - “Vinyl is not currently specified for commercial high rise due to extreme wind loads resistance requirements. Failure to install vinyl windows with appropriate clearance between the frame and rough opening can lead to frame distortion, which in turn, can lead to expensive water damage, broken glass, damage to seal and inoperable windows; in addition, increased heating and cooling costs for air filtration.”

 

Green Resource Center.com Website 2006 - “Vinyl is not very strong and thus requires more frame to hold the glass. Vinyl has a tendency to expand and contract.”

 

GlobalGreen.org Website 2006 – Windows: Understanding the Issues - “Vinyl frames are relatively weak and may expand and warp at high temperatures and crack at extremely low temperatures. Sustained sunlight fades frames other than white over time.”

 

HomeSmart.org Website 2006 – Home Energy Guide - "If you select vinyl windows, ask for a guarantee against sun damage, peeling, warping, or discoloration. Vinyl expands and contracts with temperature changes.”

 

Green Housing Website 2006 - “Vinyl tends to look less presentable over time due to fading and cannot be painted. It may discolor and lose plasticizers over time, fading and becoming brittle.”

 

On The House.com Website 2006 - “Vinyl is nothing more than PVC or plastic. From the minute it is produced, it starts giving off free chlorides (sort of plastic oxidation or deterioration); eventually it becomes brittle and susceptible to cracking.”

 

RandC.com Website 2006 – Ask the Engineer - “Vinyl windows do not withstand structural wear and tear very well. It is not recommended for windows in multi-dwelling buildings.”

 

American Architectural Manufacturers Assoc. Website 2006 - "The long-term failure portends a big challenge for vinyl. Vinyl windows are becoming more of a commodity.”

 

GreenBuilding.org Website 2006 - "Fiberglass window frames are nine times stronger than vinyl.”

 

Door & Window Business Website 2001 - "UV light can break down plastics. Windows become brittle when exposed to sunlight over long periods of time.”

 

ASHRAE Website 2004 - “Vinyl is not a good material for windows because it lacks strength.”

 

Plastic News Website 1999 - "General Motors Corp. found that PVC cracks, warps, and fades too quickly. GM will be the first to eliminate PVC from their automobiles.”

 

Environmental Building News Website 2001 - "Avoid 100% vinyl frames because of their durability problems. Most of these windows won’t last a decade.”

 

Window Review Website 2003 – “Some homeowners are under the impression that one brand of vinyl windows is better and less prone to performance problems than another. But PVC is PVC. Would you feel safe flying in a vinyl airplane?”

 

Interactive Building Resources Website 2002 - "Shrinkage of vinyl caused gaps around the edges of the windows allowing water to come in.”

 

HealthGoods.com Website 2006 - "Because of the nature of the material used, vinyl window frames also have disadvantages. For example, they are not inherently strong or rigid. Vinyl frames can soften, warp, twist, and bow if heat builds up within the frame. Moreover, the color of the window frames may fade over time.”

 

NBC News Online Website 7/2/2004 - "City of New York places a ban on the use of PVC piping in commercial buildings and it has been barred from use in the construction of single family homes.”

 

This Old House Website 2005 – Worrisome Windows - "Consumers are inundated with ads from regional window companies that promise miracles: Maintenance-free windows made of sturdy vinyl that will not rot, pit, rust, or wear out. Such claims have helped make replacement windows a $3 billion industry. Many of those windows will not last as long as the ones they replaced.”

 

Aluminum Extruders Council Website 1997 - "A 60’’ long PVC (vinyl) frame member at 120 degrees will stretch over 1/4’’ from expansion and contraction. Movement between components such as glass and frame over time can lead to distortion and seal failure, air and water leakage.”

 

Fenestration Magazine Website 6/1993 - "What happens to PVC (vinyl) in warmer regions in the US? Will heat turn the framing into soft melted material? Will the windows change color from white to yellow or brown to beige? If it’s hit with an object, will a piece break off? Rigid PVC is brittle and discolors under UV light. Other concerns are wind-loads.”

 

Washington Toxics Coalition Website 2006 – Microsoft completes phase-out of PVC, “the poison plastic”.

 

Consumer Reports 10/2000 - "In durability tests, Crestline vinyl windows suffered the most structurally: bowed stiles, rails, and jambs. Wenco vinyl has the worst fall off in performance. Five windows performed poorly in cold; they leaked at least four times as much as the highest-rated windows. When we dropped the temperature to zero, only the Marvin Ultimate Clad, Andersen Tilt-Wash, Andersen Narrowline, Andersen Casement, Pella Proline, and CertainTeed Bryn Mawr performed extremely well. Twelve of the eight windows tested had parts that warped or loosened during durability tests.”

 

American Institute of Architects Colorado Website 2006 - "A drawback with vinyl windows is the potential for the vinyl to expand and contract with temperature swings and to degrade in the sunlight. The environmental impact of the production of polyvinyl chloride is also a real concern.”

Consumer Reports, American Institute of Architects, US Dept. of Energy…Do you still think vinyl is good?

 

Window Review 1995 - "Pricing of windows from major manufacturers tends to be more connected to quality, whereas with vinyl, price is all over the board. Some homeowners are under the impression that one brand of vinyl windows is better or less prone to performance problems. Would you feel safe flying in a vinyl airplane or deep-sea fishing in a vinyl boat?”

 

So, here’s a question to ponder…

 

If the US Dept. of Energy, Canadian Government, Consumer Reports, Industry Experts, Engineers, Colleges and Universities, even Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse, Architects, Realtors, and thousands of disappointed homeowners, all tell you that vinyl windows can warp, twist, bow, degrade, crack and discolor AND VINYL WINDOW LIFETIME WARRANTIES ARE A MYTH…

 

Who Are You Going to Believe?

The Salesman?

 

Be a smart consumer. There is a better way to get new windows in your home without the risks. Go online and look for proven technologies such as composites. You’ll be amazed at what you find.

 

“There is nothing in the world that some man cannot make a little worse, and sell a little cheaper, and he who considers only price, is this man’s lawful prey.”

John Ruskin