|
Vinyl Window Facts
print version
Complete Illustrated "Vinyl
Window Facts" PDF
"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.”
Top of Page
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.”
Top of Page
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.”
Top of Page
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.
Top of Page
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.”
Top of Page
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.”
Top of Page
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.
Top of Page
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.”
Top of Page
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.”
Top of Page
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.”
Top of Page
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.”
Top of Page
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
Top of Page |
