Vinyl Windows

Vinyl is one of the most popular materials for windows, and for good reason. There are plenty of reasons to choose vinyl over wood, aluminium, composite, or others. It’s not a matter of opinion, there is hard evidence to support this. In this article, we’ll give you five statistics to show why vinyl is a great material to use for your windows.

Why You Need Vinyl Windows

Cost of Vinyl Windows

One of the main reasons why vinyl windows are so appealing is their cost, which can be much lower than other types of windows. They cost 25% less than wood window frames. In fact, vinyl is the cheapest window material on the market. This is because production costs are much lower due to the ease of processing in comparison to other materials.

Average Life Span

Vinyl can last up to 40 years. Of course, this depends on the use of the windows and the elements they’re exposed to. Windows that endure harsh weather conditions may fall below the average life span, but if they’re properly maintained, they can last for many years. Part of the reason why vinyl last so long is that it requires very little maintenance. It retains its finish for a long time, unlike wood, which will flake, peel and require repainting. To keep your vinyl looking great, all you have to do is wash it now and then. This means that using vinyl can be much more convenient, saving you time and energy on cleaning and maintenance.

Return on Investment

If you’re worried about the initial cost of getting new windows, don’t be. If you choose vinyl, you can guarantee that the money you spend will be worth it. If you install vinyl windows in your home, you could receive a return on your investment of up to 75%. This is much better than other types of window materials.

Replacement Cost

It’s not just the initial installation that’s cheaper. Replacement is cheaper, too. The cost of replacing vinyl windows is much cheaper than other types of windows. On average, a replacement costs around $150 including installation, but fibreglass windows are much more costly, at around $350. Bear in mind that these costs will vary depending on various factors, including window size, type of glass and local labour costs.

Energy Efficiency

If you’re looking for energy efficient windows, vinyl is a great choice. It keeps the heat out in the summer and locks it in during the winter. This is partly due to the ‘low-E coating’ which comes as standard with windows made from vinyl in Canada. The level of low- E depends on the location of the window and how much light and solar heat is expected to pass through it. In a place like Toronto where the weather can vary, this is a much-needed benefit. Using vinyl for your windows can save you around 15% on your energy bills. To save the planet and save money, vinyl could well be the right choice for you.

New Windows for Your Home

The statistics listed above are all great reasons to use vinyl for your windows, but that’s not all. They can also provide noise reduction, are strong, durable and low-maintenance. As well as lasting a long time, they also have a long warranty, too. They’ll usually last around 15 years, but some companies will provide warranties of up to 30 years. If you’re looking for new windows for your property in Toronto, there’s no question that vinyl is a great choice.

When people are viewing a house for sale, first impressions are everything. Sure, the inside matters, but if they don’t like the look of your house from the outside, it can have a real effect on how they perceive the rest of your house. By installing vinyl windows to your house, not only will it look good from the outside, it can add value to your home, too. Here’s how.

1. Like we said, first impressions are everything

Vinyl windows look good, that’s a fact. Not only do they look good, but they do good too, protecting your home from whatever weather Toronto can throw at them. When people look at them, they know that they can rely on them and that they won’t have to be replaced, increasing the chances of you getting your asking price for your home. A small investment now, but you can reap the benefits when you come to selling your home.

2. They’re here to last

When someone is appraising your house, they’re looking at any reason to lower the value, from large issues like structural damage to smaller ones like incomplete rooms. If your house had wooden windows – charming though they may be – they’re automatically thinking whether or not they need to be replaced any time soon, as they generally don’t last as long as vinyl windows. Having vinyl windows means having windows that are here to stay for a while, and so you’re not going to lose value on your house here – quite the opposite in fact, as you can expect higher bids on your property.

3. Vinyl windows save on bills

Given the harsh winters that Toronto is prone to having, it’s important that any homeowner looks to save as much as they can on their heating bills. Vinyl windows can help to do exactly that as they are extremely efficient when it comes to saving energy. This means that should you turn your heating on, they’re more effective when it comes to keeping heat inside. Not only this, but they help to keep your house cool in the summer, so you’re getting the best of both worlds. When it comes to selling your house, these are the kinds of considerations that people will consider, and so having these windows in your house increases the chances of you getting the best possible price for your house.

4. Their guarantees

If you buy them today, there’s a good chance that they will come with a long guarantee – perhaps even lifetime, especially if you choose the best quality windows. The same cannot be said for other window types. If someone’s looking for a house, acquiring a lifetime guarantee is a little sweetener with the deal which could be the difference between getting an offer truer to your home’s value or not.

5. They offer a high level of security

Nobody wants to think about their home get broken into, but it’s important to take precautions. Vinyl windows are some of the safest for your home. Not only do they have strong looks, but their customizable nature means that should you want to add an alarm or other locks, then that’s entirely possible. Safety sells, and people are more likely to pay more for a house that repels would-be criminals.

In Conclusion: Many Advantages Rolled Into One Window Type

Not only will vinyl windows make your house look pretty, but they’ll keep cold and criminals outside and heat inside. They’re a modern, practical solution to city living, and as such they’ll increase the value of your house due to their worry-free, wallet-friendly nature. Completely customizable, the only thing you’ll have to worry about is what shape and size you want, and you can reap the rewards when you come to sell.

Not so many years ago, vinyl windows were only manufactured in a handful of styles and almost all of them featured plain white frames. This meant they were only really suitable for contemporary homes with modern exteriors. However, the replacement windows industry has changed almost beyond recognition in the last couple of decades, with a huge variety of styles and colours now available to homeowners across the world today. No matter what type of property you happen to own or which part of the Greater Toronto Area you live in, we are sure you can find quality replacement windows that are perfect for your needs and within your budget. Below, we discuss just a few of the design possibilities that modern double glazing units have to offer local homeowners who wish to improve the appearance of the exterior of their houses.

How Vinyl Windows Can Transform Your Home

If you would like to get a better idea of what you can achieve with modern windows in terms of exterior design themes, consider the following possibilities.

• Wood-Style Frames – One of the reasons that older replacement windows were unsuitable for traditional properties was the fact that white vinyl frames simply looked incongruous in such settings. However, modern vinyl units with realistic timber colours and grain effects are almost indistinguishable from windows with real wooden frames, making them an excellent choice for owners of handsome period properties in Toronto and the surrounding area.

• Large Picture Windows – Gone are the days when manufacturing limitations meant that vinyl windows were only available in a selection of standard sizes. Today, you can order custom fabricated units in almost any size you desire and large vinyl picture windows are a popular feature of many exterior design themes for local residential properties. If you live in a house that is located in a remote suburb, with panoramic views over the surrounding countryside, this style of window is sure to be a great addition to your home.

• Coloured Frames – Owners of homes with coloured exterior cladding have traditionally opted for windows with wooden frames, owing to the ease with which they can be painted any colour that is desired. However, modern vinyl windows can be manufactured with frames of any conceivable colour, making them an excellent choice for this type of application. Furthermore, because the pigment in each unit is actually part of the frame itself, they never need painting once they have been installed. With just a minimum of maintenance they will look fantastic for many years to come.

• Tilt & Slide Units – If you wish to redesign your home to maximize ventilation and minimize cleaning difficulties, sliding sash units that can be tilted inwards are the perfect solution as far as windows are concerned. Vinyl windows of this nature are a great choice for contemporary properties and are sure to add real value to your home if they are properly fitted by a reputable team of experienced installers. To ensure that your home remains a bug-free zone during warm summer evenings, these units can be equipped with precision-fitted insect screens before they are installed.

While vinyl windows are suitable for many types of properties and exterior design themes, they may not always be the best choice. If, for example, the windows in your home are extremely unusual in both shape and size, you may find that timber-framed units designed specifically for your property are considerably cheaper than their vinyl counterparts. For a professional opinion on what would be the best choice for your home, call and speak to a member of our team today.

Vinyl windows have become so popular that whenever the topic of replacement windows comes up people automatically assume you’re talking about vinyl. That’s both a testament to what vinyl brings to the table and a commentary on how little folks remember about the positive qualities of the alternative materials; notably wood and aluminum. Because no matter how much market share vinyl gobbles up wood and aluminum windows are not yet obsolete and still have things going for them that might make them the right choice for your Toronto home.

Determining if Vinyl Windows are your Best Choice

Like many things that are wildly popular vinyl windows are neither as perfect as their proponents say they are nor as awful as their detractors claim. Fact is they’re perfect for many types of homes and maybe not so perfect for others. Below we’ll take a look at vinyl vs the main alternatives.

WOOD

Wood was the window material of choice for hundreds of years but in the past few decades it’s seen its share of the window market drop precipitously. However, wood still has certain attributes some homeowners find irresistible and they include:

• It’s the genuine article.
• Wood is a great aesthetic fit for older homes
• New wood window frames compare favourably to vinyl in energy efficiency.
• Complete design freedom, including the ability to paint them whatever colour you choose.

Just as wood still has some attributes that make it a smart choice for some homeowners it’s not without its potential downside. Negative aspects of wooden window frames include:

• They rot and crack over time.
• They need a lot of attention.
• They tend to be less secure from break-ins.
• They’re expensive.

ALUMINUM

Aluminum were cutting edge for a while but saw their star fade like wood, with the ascendancy of vinyl. They still have some definite advantages over wood and vinyl though, including:

• They tend to be more durable than wood.
• They can be painted or powder-coated.
• They tend to be stronger than wood or vinyl.
• They’re lighter than wood or vinyl.
• They can be completely recycled.

Those are all good things but you know there have to be some drawbacks or aluminum would be the window material of choice instead of vinyl. Those drawbacks include:

• Aluminum tends to pit and can corrode over time.
• Aluminum windows are, unfortunately, great at conducting heat or cold.
• They are not as good at noise reduction as vinyl are.
• Tend to be more expensive.

VINYL

And finally we come to vinyl, which, because of its extraordinary popularity doesn’t mind waiting to go last. That extraordinary popularity is based on the fact that vinyl replacement windows:

• Won’t fade, pit or rot over time.
• Are completely corrosion resistant.
• Are generally more attractive than aluminum.
• Are far more scratch resistant than aluminum.
• Provide some of the best energy efficiency ratings in the industry.
• Are virtually maintenance free unlike wood or aluminum.
• Are typically less expensive than aluminum or wood.
• Conduct virtually no heat or cold.
• Retain their finish for years.

But as we stated at the outset vinyl windows aren’t perfect. Some of their known vulnerabilities include:

• Thicker frames than aluminum or wood i.e. slightly smaller window panes.
• Typically not a great match for older homes, especially if you seek authenticity.
• You should be careful who you buy them from since the market is flooded with low quality knock offs from overseas.

With all they have going for them it’s pretty easy to see then why vinyl windows have made such inroads into the replacement window market. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of vinyl replacement windows call Toronto Doors and Windows today.

When it comes to home renovations people typically think the kitchen and bathroom, perhaps building out the basement or putting a bedroom in the attic. What doesn’t come up a lot is window enlargement. But enlarging the windows can make a lot of sense from an aesthetic point of view. Bigger windows mean more light and increased natural light has become a staple of much contemporary interior design. The problem is that enlarging the windows on your Toronto home is not a simple task and if done poorly could result in the need for expensive repairs. Below we’ll take you through the process of enlarging existing vinyl windows.

How to Increase the Size of Your Vinyl Windows

First off it should be said that window enlargement is not a DIY project. It requires professionals with serious carpentry skills. That said we’ll take you through the process so you have a better idea of what’s involved in case you’re contemplating having your vinyl windows enlarged.

• Plan: Determine ahead of time exactly how large you want the new opening to be. While you’re at it decide which style of window you want. Different styles of window open differently and require different amounts of space to do so. Simply playing things by ear could lead to the creation of a larger opening than you’ll ultimately need. Blending this extra space into the rest of the wall after the fact will be devilishly difficult to do and will likely leave a visible area around the window as testament to the poor planning.

• Prepare the area: Before the window opening can be enlarged you need to prepare the work area. Trim on both the interior and exterior of the wall will need to be completely removed to expose the rough framing in which the window sits. Care needs to be taken to constrain the work area by not allowing damage to extend outward into adjoining wood or aluminum siding or interior drywall. Once the framing is exposed it needs to be inspected for any damage that may have been caused during the process.

• Enlarge the frame: The carpenter will now mark the outside dimensions of the new window on the existing framework. Using double studs composed of two 2x4s the carpenter will install the expanded frame boundaries. Once the new frame boundaries are in place it’s time to cut away the existing framework along with the old sill plate and header. If the new opening is considerably larger than the old, temporary bracing should be installed under the new top plate to keep it from buckling.

• Install new header and sill: A new header should then be created using two 2x6s. A level point of reference needs to be established and the new header set level to that point of reference. The header is then attached to the double studs of the new frame using framing nails. A new sill is then created again using two 2x4s which are attached to the new framework and leveled. Jack studs are then cut to the appropriate length and used to replace the existing ones above and below the new opening.

• Install the new window: Once the new framework is in place the new, larger vinyl windows can be set into it and the trim replaced.

Larger windows can open up the interior of your home in ways you might never have imagined but enlarging a window is an exacting process that should only be performed by qualified framing carpenters. If you are interested in enlarging your vinyl windows give the pros at Toronto Doors and Windows a call on 647-932-3667.