VS. ALUMINUM | VINYL (PVC) MATERIAL
CHARACTERISTICS | VS. WOOD |
| Requires no painting/finishing inside or out--initially | Requires no painting/finishing inside or out—ever | Must be painted/stained--initially & repainted |
| Color
sprayed on - will scratch, flake & peel. Color can fade/streak - can require scrubbing and/or painting or touch-up | Maintenance-Free | Paint can fade, streak, flake, peel - must be repainted periodically |
| Readily
conducts heat and cold | High resistance to heat loss or gain | High resistance to heat loss or gain |
| Supports condensation, frosting in cold weather | Resists condensation | Resists condensation |
| Waterproof--unaffected by water, except salt water | Waterproof—unaffected by water | Water resistant but vulnerable to water damage |
| Corrodes
in moist, salt-laden air, from pollution and airborne chemicals | Resistant to moist, salt-laden air, pollution, airborne chemicals | Swells, rots, deteriorates in moist, salt-laden air, from pollution and airborne chemicals |
| Impervious
to insects | Impervious to insects | Resistant to insects, subject to insect damage |
| Subject
to abrasion, corrosion that reduces ease of operation--can cause binding and sticking | Smooth surface properties that help
prevent moving parts from “sticking” | Subject to swelling from moisture, paint build-up that can cause binding and sticking |
| Structurally
rigid and stable | Structurally rigid and stable. Many designs with excellent wind load ratings | Structurally rigid and stable. Subject to shrinking, swelling, bowing, warping and cracking |
| Subject
to impact damage, denting & scratching | Strong, durable frames, withstands mechanical stress and strains | Subject to impact damage - denting, splintering |
| Transmits
noise | Multi-chambered
design insulates against noise | Insulates against noise |
| Will not support combustion | Will not support combustion. Will burn only while enveloped in flame | Will support combustion - burns readily |
| Material cost fluctuates
dramatically - supply is good | Material is competitive in cost with other window materials. PVC supply is abundant, price is stable | Prices rising dramatically - supply fluctuates |
| Material
is energy intensive to produce, (8-10%), recyclable | Material is energy efficient to produce, recyclable | Material is energy intensive to produce - not recyclable |
| Scrap
in production is recyclable | Limited scrap in production – recyclable | Milling of trees produces tremendous waste. Scrap not readily recyclable. Cutting of trees depletes forests,
etc. |
| Requires finishing which can contribute to “greenhouse” effect, depletes ozone | Material requires
no finishing | Requires finishing and preservative treating which can contribute to “greenhouse”
effect, depletes ozone |
