Learning About Commercial Windows

Three Reasons To Stick With Wooden Replacement Windows

26 February 2018 by Lucas Cox

These days, if you shop for replacement windows, most of the options you find are either made from vinyl or a wood composite material. While these materials have their merits -- primarily that they are cheap and don't need to be painted as often -- they are not for everyone. For some homeowners, sticking with traditional replacement wood window frames truly is the best choice. Here are three reasons you may want to opt for wood replacement windows.

1. Wood has a traditional look.

Does your home have a very rustic, cabin-like look? Maybe you have a Craftsman home, where almost everything inside and out is made from natural materials. Composite and vinyl windows would look completely out of place with either of these home styles. Yes, composite windows look like wood windows when you're far away, but as soon as you get up close, the difference is clear. Wood windows allow you to preserve the intended look of your home, which makes it more aesthetically pleasing and also increases its value.

2. Wood can be painted to change its look.

You can paint vinyl windows... but it won't go well. The paint usually starts flaking off in a year or two, and you have to buy very specific, expensive paint to even make it stick. Some types of composite can be painted, but those that have color extending all of the way through the material don't always take well to paint. Wooden windows, on the other hand, need to be stained or painted to keep them in good shape. Some see this as a downfall, but if you want the flexibility to change your window color at any time, it's really not! If you want green window frames now but change your mind in two years, all you need to do is buy a few buckets of paint.

3. Wood is all natural.

These days, almost everyone wants to build greener, more sustainable homes. Wood is as natural as it comes. Make sure your window frames come from a company that replants trees as they fell them. Most companies do, since they understand the importance of wood as a renewable resource. When your wooden windows do wear out, they will decompose naturally. The same cannot be said for vinyl windows, or for many composite windows that have plastic worked into the material. Those will take thousands of years to break down in a landfill.

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