"Even my neighbor, who's a total wood purist, admitted they looked good from just a few feet away."
That's saying something right there...I've been wrestling with the vinyl vs fiberglass debate myself. Had vinyl for years and they're solid enough, but the wood-look fiberglass samples I've seen lately are impressive. Curious though, how's the fiberglass holding up in terms of fading or weathering after three years? If they're still looking good now, that's pretty reassuring.
Fiberglass definitely holds up better than vinyl when it comes to fading, at least from what I've seen. But honestly, nothing's bulletproof—after 3-4 years even fiberglass can show a little wear if you're in direct sun all day. Still beats repainting wood every summer though...
Interesting points about fiberglass... but is repainting wood really that much of a hassle? I'm genuinely curious because I've heard mixed things. My neighbor swears by his wooden windows—claims they're easy enough to maintain if you stay on top of it. But then again, he's retired and seems to enjoy spending weekends sanding and painting, so maybe that's not the best example, haha.
Also, how noticeable is the fading on fiberglass after a few years? Like, are we talking subtle changes or something you'd spot from across the street? I ask because our house gets blasted with sun all afternoon, and I'm skeptical about how much better fiberglass would actually hold up compared to vinyl. Don't wanna drop extra cash if the difference is minimal, you know?
Anyone here had fiberglass windows for a long stretch and can weigh in?
I've had fiberglass windows on the south side of my house for about 8 years now, and honestly, the fading is pretty minimal—nothing you'd notice unless you're really looking closely. As for wood, yeah, it's manageable...but personally I got tired of repainting after a few rounds.
Yeah, I hear you on the repainting thing. My parents had wood windows growing up, and every summer it felt like there was another coat of paint needed somewhere... got old pretty fast. Interesting about your fiberglass windows though—I haven't tried them myself yet, but minimal fading after 8 years sounds promising. Do you notice much difference in insulation or comfort compared to wood? Always curious how these little details stack up over time.
I've been wondering about fiberglass too, but honestly, I'm still a bit skeptical. Sure, the minimal fading after 8 years sounds great, but what about the seals and insulation over time? Wood frames can be a pain with maintenance (I feel your pain on the repainting—my grandparents' place was exactly like that), but they do insulate pretty well if they're maintained properly.
From what I've read, fiberglass is supposed to expand and contract similarly to glass itself, so theoretically fewer issues with drafts or seal failures. But theory and reality don't always match up... Have you noticed any drafts or condensation issues at all during colder months? Or maybe even differences in noise reduction compared to your old wood windows?
I've got vinyl now—mostly because it fit my budget at the time—but I can't say I'm totally in love. They're okay insulation-wise, but I swear they're starting to look dingy after only 5 years. And I've heard mixed things about their longevity.
Anyway, it's good to hear a real-world take on fiberglass since most of what I've found online seems either overly enthusiastic or suspiciously negative. Maybe next time around I'll give them a closer look.