Windows - Vinyl or Wood?

Choosing windows for a new house calls for homeowner homework, say Bob Vruwink and Brian McHenry, co-owners of North States Windows and Doors. Explore the options which include old standbys (wood, vinyl-clad wood, aluminum-clad wood and rigid vinyl) and a pair of aspiring rookies (cellular PVC and fiberglass).

Wood offers incomparable beauty and keeps its good looks if it's maintained properly. Vinyl needs little maintenance. And the newcomers are the trend. "In the next 10 years, you'll see less and less wood and vinyl," Vruwink says.

No wonder. As an insulator, cellular PVC tops rigid vinyl by 200 percent and wood by 60 percent. Fiberglass insulates well, too, Vruwink says, "and is strong, doesn't shrink or expand and is impervious to temperature changes and moisture."

McHenry advises homeowners to research windows' performance and longevity. Windows aren't the place to cut corners. "Down the line, one of the most expensive things to replace is windows," says Vruwink.