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Warning: I built two houses with different window suppliers and the cost difference was huge
My first custom build in Austin used standard vinyl windows from a big box store, which cost about $12k total. The second one, just finished, used a local supplier for fiberglass windows, and they were closer to $22k. The fiberglass ones are way more solid, the install was cleaner, and they seal better against our heat. Has anyone else made a switch like this and felt it was worth the extra money?
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jade_davis6mo ago
My uncle's place in San Antonio has those basic vinyl windows and they've been totally fine for 15 years. That extra ten grand could have gone into better appliances or landscaping that you actually notice every day. A good install matters more than the material for sealing, and vinyl has come a long way. I just don't see the value unless you're in a really extreme climate.
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shane6556mo ago
You're right that install matters a lot, but saying vinyl has come a long way kind of proves the point for better materials. Even good vinyl still expands and contracts more than fiberglass or composite, which can break seals over time. That movement is what causes drafts and energy loss, not just the initial seal. So in a place with big temperature swings, the material itself does make a difference in how long it stays tight.
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irismartinez5mo ago
Used to agree with jade_davis until my own vinyl windows warped last winter.
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