Color Replacement Windows

Question: It has been quite some time that the windows in my house have to be changed with new replacement windows. These replacement windows ought to be colorful as well as maintenance-free. I was considering vinyl but then the limitation in its exterior colors has been a damper. What are the other options? How do I know which window brand has better overall performance? Will the condensation problem that I face now be solved?

Answer: I have no doubt that your choice of vinyl windows is the best one. Issues of maintenance will be completely eliminated with vinyl windows. you will have a big nuisance off your head. There are many like you who have been disappointed with the limited color option for the exterior in vinyl windows. But then it just turned out that the situation has changed now. You not only can get a replacement vinyl window which provides you with warmth feeling on the inside of your house but also they give you unlimited exterior color options.

On getting heated, vinyl window materials swell and deform. Heat is absorbed and stored as well by dark vinyl colors. Of course, this is good in winter months. But then they cause problems in the hot summer weather. The vinyl frames as well as sashes can sag as the combined effect of the stored heat and the heavy weight of the glass. To avoid this problem, manufacturers usually avoid using dark vinyl colors on their windows.

Two maintenance-free materials were combined by some vinyl window manufacturers. The result is that there are vinyl windows with a vinyl interior and an aluminum exterior. A range of dark and light colors are possible on the aluminum exterior. The fading of the colors is minimal and what is more! The painted aluminum finishes also last longer at 15 years or over. The aluminum frames are best suited for homes located in high wind area. They also have a good resistance capacity to forced entry.

There have also been a number of changes to the interior of vinyl windows as well. The limitation in color to cream or white has given way to stained wood appearance that looks realistic which many manufacturers now offer. Some have the texture of wood. Some manufacturers stain the interior vinyl with a wood grained surface. Custom beveled glass can give your home a fine touch of class.

It takes some efforts for you to determine the performance and quality of the windows. Lately the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) joined hands with the National Wood Window and Door Association (NWWDA) and developed standards which are essentially voluntary specifications for the vinyl manufacturers to follow. The standard has come to be called the AAMA/NWWDA 101/I.S.2-97. The windows which have been certified under this standard are indeed of the highest quality. It is also easy to check whether the windows have obtained AAMA/NWWDA 101/I.S.2-97. A certification label on the frame offers the proof of certification.

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is yet another organization which has been striving to evolve and set standards through an accurate, fair and credible energy rating system for window and door products including vinyl windows. A label has been developed by NFRC similar to those found on appliances. The label consists of a single number. This number indicated the performance of the window in both hot weather and cold weather. The number ranges from 1 to 10 in each category. NFRC presently is evolving standards for testing all types of windows and for all sizes for accurate and fair tests. We may expect these useful labels to become operational in 1998.

Your new window will not necessarily completely solve your condensation problems. Cold and dry air enters your house through the drafty windows that adorn your house. The overall humidity of your house is lowered by this dry air mixing with the humid indoor air. Air infiltration will drastically be reduced when you install new windows in your house. The indoor humidity will rise up. This high humidity could turn to a fog on your windows during the coldest winter days leading to possible condensation. The indoor humidity has to be decreased to avoid condensation.