Windows can be a focal point of your home and can set you apart from other neighbors. In Fort Wayne, not only do you want a good-looking window, but you want one that will last and be durable, too. That’s where we come in.
Perfect Steel Solutions offers window replacement and installation, and our composite windows are the perfect way to make a statement.
What Are Composite Windows?
Composite windows are low maintenance, energy-efficient, attractive, and add value to a house. They’re also known as hybrid windows because they provide the look and benefits of several types of windows rolled into one unit.
Composite windows are made from several different materials combined together. Their construction makes them virtually indestructible.
Why Choose Composite?
They are a popular choice for many reasons. They give the look of natural wood windows with the benefits of fiberglass or vinyl windows.
- Longer Lifespan: Many manufacturers will state the lifespan of composite to be between 60 and 65 years. Others boast a lifespan of up to 85 years or more with very little maintenance.
- Excellent Insulation: The best insulation for your home is timber. With composite windows, you get the best use of timber. They are especially popular in colder areas like Sweden and Canada.
- Energy Efficiency: Composite has an insulating core, which decreases the loss of heat through the window. Because of their exceptionally low air infiltration, they are extremely energy efficient.
- Available in a wide variety of color and styling options: Composite can be designed to match your home. Many homeowners prefer the look of classic wood windows but enjoy the added benefits of composite.
- Strong and Reliable: Composite is less likely to expand, contract, or warp. This makes them more durable than traditional window options.
- Low Maintenance: Composite is not wood, which means there is no need to sand, scrape, or paint them over time. In addition, they are resistant to rotting and chipping, making them extremely low maintenance.
- Environmentally Friendly: Our composite window frame is made with environmentally friendly and recyclable materials.
- Attractive and Flexible Designs: You can order composite of virtually any color with a beautiful wood finish in both classic and modern styles and textures.
Materials Used for Making Composite Replacement Windows
In order to create a window that provides exterior benefits as well as interior design, composite windows are made from a variety of materials.
- Wood Chips and Recycled Plastic: This is the newest composite on the market. By blending wood chips with recycled plastic, the window becomes paintable on both the exterior and interior.
- Fiberglass and Wood: These windows are manufactured by bonding fiberglass exterior to a wood interior. This combination allows the window to expand and contract, adding to the strength and durability. Fiberglass and wood windows come in a variety of colors and shades to match both the interior and exterior of the home.
- Vinyl and Wood Veneer: Veneers on the composite are low maintenance and combine practicality with aesthetics. The wood veneer is attached to vinyl windows which gives you the look of wood, without the additional cost.
- Aluminum Clad: If you want the look of wood windows, with an additional layer of protection, aluminum-clad provides exactly that. Aluminum-clad windows are weatherproof and attractive both inside and outside.
Common Types of Composite Windows
The two most popular styles of windows are single-hung or double-hung. With either option, you can get a single window, twin options, or triple units.
Additional options include double-hung with pictures, operating arch top double-hung, and half-round.
- Single Hung: This is the standard in home windows. It provides a single operable lower sash to open the window and allow for ventilation.
- Double Hung: This gives you the opportunity to open each sash, rather than just the bottom one. Two operating sashes move up and down allowing for ventilation on the top, bottom, or both. This makes cleaning easier and allows for better airflow.
No matter the window style you’re after, Perfect Steel Solutions can provide you with beautiful composite windows, any way you like.
Glazing Options for Composite Replacement Windows
Glazing for composite windows includes multi-pane, gas-filled, Low-E, and energy-efficient windows, each with various anti-sun coatings.
Each manufacturer does their glazing a little bit differently, but they all offer durability in both insulation and the home’s energy efficiency.
Multi-Pane Windows: Double-glazing or triple-glazing the panels seals them hermetically to form a single-glazed unit. This process helps to resist heat flow and lowers the rate at which the window conducts heat and increases the overall energy efficiency.
Gas-Filled Windows: Some manufacturers will pump either argon or krypton gas between the panels of the window. Because these gases have a high resistance to heat flow, they provide more energy-efficient insulation.
Low-E Coating: Low-E stands for Low-Emissivity. This is an invisible metal coating that is applied to the glass to control heat transfer. Typically, a Low-E coating will reduce energy loss by as much as 30 percent to 50 percent.
Energy Efficient Glazing: This glazing is typically more expensive than a non-insulated window. However, replacement windows that meet the industry standard for Energy Star ratings may be eligible for rebates from the Department of Energy.
Comparing Composite Window with other Window Options
Vinyl vs. Composite
Vinyl windows have been the industry standard for decades. They are easier and quicker to manufacture, and typically cost moderately less than windows made from composite material.
On the other hand, you’ll get slightly better insulation from the composite material, which may save on energy costs and offset the initial investment.
Both windows are durable and long-lasting, but composite is slightly more rigid, giving them a longer lifespan against wind and the natural expansion and contraction of windows.
Both vinyl window and composite replacement windows are great options, if your budget allows for composite, they are a higher quality choice.
Fiberglass vs. Composite
Fiberglass and composite are both popular window materials. They are both durable and strong, although fiberglass narrowly outperforms composite because of its ability to expand and contract to avoid warping and cracking.
Both window material is expensive than the vinyl window, but still cheaper than wood. Fiberglass typically has higher energy efficiency ratings than composite, but it largely depends on the make-up of the composite window material.
Aluminum vs. Composite
Aluminum windows will always win in terms of strength and durability. However, most homeowners don’t want the industrial look, and don’t need the overboard strength of aluminum (nor do they want the extra cost).
For 99% of all residential homes on the market, a well-made composite window has more than enough strength and durability and looks significantly better in the neighborhood.
Wood vs. Composite
Authentic wooden windows are often a coveted material by homeowners, but composite may be the better choice here.
While a wood-clad window can offer plenty of durability and strength, composites may outperform them over time and are less expensive than wood.
While wood windows are beautiful, a well-made composite can mimic the look of wood and offer more design flexibility.
Over time, wood windows will lose energy efficiency while composite will offer better efficiency year after year.
Composite Replacement Windows and Installation Cost
Composite windows cost comes in a wide price range and maybe anywhere from $300 to $1000 installed. The cost will be determined by the size and shape of the window, location, manufacturer, materials, and contractor pricing.
FAQs About Composite Windows
A wood composite window is manufactured from a blend of materials designed to achieve the look of wood with the performance of the composite. Typically, they have a PVC exterior with a wood interior.
They have a lifespan of 40 years or more. They tend to last longer than other materials because they can withstand both cold climate conditions or excessive heat without large expansion or contraction.
Yes. Typically, composite costs more than vinyl windows, but they are less expensive than both wood and aluminum options.
Are They Right For You?
Composite windows offer the charm of a classic wood window without the maintenance and fragility. Their unique manufacturing process gives composite the perfect blend of both strength and flexibility.
Although they can be slightly more expensive than other materials, most homeowners agree they are well worth it because of all the benefits they carry with them over decades of use. So, are they right for you? Contact us for free consulting.
