Proudly Canadian Owned and Operated Since 1989!
Proudly Canadian Owned and Operated Since 1989!
Homeowners shopping for replacement windows are sometimes shown dramatic demonstrations designed to make vinyl windows appear weak or likely to fail.
You may hear that vinyl windows inevitably warp, crack when a home settles, fade in the sun, lose their glass seals or damage the building envelope during installation.
A salesperson may apply heat to a small piece of vinyl, pour water over a window sample, bend part of the frame or display one of the least expensive vinyl windows available. The demonstration is then used to suggest that all vinyl windows will eventually warp, crack, leak, fade or lose their seals.
These demonstrations can look convincing, but they leave out the most important fact:
Judging every vinyl window by the cheapest product available is no more accurate than judging the quality of every home, appliance or vehicle by the least expensive version on the market.
The material is only one part of the window. The engineering, frame construction, glass, reinforcement, manufacturing, installation and warranty all play a major role in how a window performs.
One of the most common claims made about vinyl windows is that they will warp when exposed to heat or sunlight.
For over 37 years of installing windows in Metro Vancouver, we have not seen our high quality, well manufactured and professionally installed premium vinyl windows warping due weather exposure. We use strong galvanized steel within our vinyl frame for strength and rigity, as well as a multi chamber design.
Low-quality products can experience performance problems. This is particularly true when a window has thin frame walls, poor internal construction, inadequate reinforcement, low-quality materials and a poor installation.
Premium vinyl windows are designed to withstand the temperatures and conditions they will encounter after installation. Their performance comes from the complete design of the window, including:
A small piece of low-grade vinyl placed under concentrated heat does not accurately represent how a complete premium window performs when installed in a home.
The word “vinyl” describes a broad category of products. It does not tell you the quality of the materials, the strength of the frame or the engineering behind the window.
High-quality vinyl windows are manufactured using carefully formulated uPVC designed for long-term exterior use.
At Long Life Windows & Doors, the windows we install use 100% virgin uPVC. This provides greater consistency in the material and helps maintain the strength, appearance and structural integrity of the frame.
Some entry-level products may use lower-cost formulations, thinner frame walls or less sophisticated internal construction.
That is why it is misleading to make broad statements about all vinyl windows based on a sample from the lowest end of the market.
A high-performance vinyl window is not simply a hollow rectangular frame.
The windows Long Life installs feature multi-chambered profiles. These internal chambers create additional structural strength while also helping reduce the movement of heat, cold and sound through the frame.
Galvanized steel reinforcement is also used in key areas where additional strength is required. Depending on the size and operating style of the window, reinforcement may be included in frames, sashes and meeting rails.
This combination of engineered chambers, strong welded construction and internal reinforcement creates a window that is significantly different from the basic samples often used in sales demonstrations.
When comparing windows, homeowners should ask to see a cross-section of the actual frame they are purchasing.
Look at:
These details provide much more useful information than a demonstration involving an unidentified piece of inexpensive vinyl.
Another claim homeowners may hear is that because a house is made of wood and a window is made of vinyl, normal settling will cause the window to crack.
This is not an accurate explanation of how windows or homes perform.
Any window can be affected by serious structural movement, regardless of whether its frame is made from vinyl, wood, aluminum, fibreglass or another material.
However, normal movement in a home should be accommodated through proper window manufacturing and installation.
A replacement window must be:
A window that has been incorrectly measured or poorly installed may experience operating problems. That is an installation issue, not proof that vinyl windows inherently crack when a home settles.
Long Life has installed premium vinyl windows in thousands of wood-frame homes throughout Metro Vancouver. Cracking caused by normal settling is not something we see as a typical vinyl-window failure.
Homeowners are also sometimes warned that the glass seal in a vinyl window will inevitably fail.
The seal being discussed is normally part of the insulated glass unit. It is the system that seals the two or three panes of glass together.
Insulated glass units are used in nearly every type of modern window, including windows with vinyl, wood, aluminum, fibreglass and composite frames.
A failed glass seal is not a failure unique to vinyl.
What matters is:
At Long Life, we use premium glass packages manufactured for long-term performance. We also provide a comprehensive warranty and have a local service team that handles warranty concerns directly.
Before purchasing any window, ask the company:
If the insulated glass seal fails, how long is it covered, who replaces it, is labour included and how quickly is the service handled?
Those answers are much more important than a general statement suggesting that vinyl windows always lose their seals.
Lower-quality vinyl products may have experienced discolouration, chalking or brittleness after prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Premium modern uPVC is formulated differently.
High-quality window profiles include UV stabilizers and other additives designed to protect the frame from sunlight and changing weather conditions. This allows the vinyl to maintain its strength and appearance for decades.
For homeowners choosing painted windows, the coating system is also important.
A painted vinyl window should use a factory-applied coating specifically designed to bond with uPVC. The colour and coating must also be approved for the window profile so that it performs properly in direct sunlight.
Homeowners should ask:
The quality of the vinyl and coating system matters far more than the simple fact that the frame is made from vinyl.
Premium vinyl is an excellent material for energy-efficient windows because it is naturally resistant to heat transfer.
Unlike highly conductive frame materials, vinyl helps reduce the amount of indoor heat that moves through the window frame during colder weather.
Multi-chambered construction provides additional insulating value by creating separate pockets within the frame.
However, the frame material is only one part of the window’s overall energy performance.
The following components also have a significant effect:
Homeowners should compare the certified whole-window U-value or U-factor of the exact products they are considering.
A claim that one frame material is automatically more efficient than every vinyl window ignores the performance of the complete window system.
Some homeowners are told that using a nailing flange requires installers to cut back the siding, expose the wall and damage the building envelope.
That is not an accurate description of a properly completed installation.
A nailing flange is designed to help secure the window and integrate it with the home’s water-management system.
Depending on the existing construction, an installer may need to carefully cut back siding or trim to properly access the opening and connect the new window to the building envelope.
The important issue is not whether siding is temporarily removed or cut back.
The important issue is whether the installer correctly:
A properly completed full-frame installation should improve the protection around the window, not damage it.
Homeowners should be cautious when a company claims that one installation method is always bad without first inspecting the home’s wall construction, siding and existing windows.
A sales demonstration is designed to create a memorable impression. It is not necessarily designed to provide a fair comparison.
Before accepting the results of a demonstration, ask:
If the salesperson cannot identify the vinyl product or explain how it compares with the window you are considering, the demonstration may not provide meaningful information.
Premium windows should be compared using actual product specifications, testing, warranties and installation standards—not theatrical demonstrations using a product you were never considering purchasing.
When evaluating a vinyl window, look beyond the word “vinyl.”
Ask about the formulation of the frame and whether it is made using virgin uPVC.
A well-designed profile should have internal chambers that add strength and improve thermal performance.
Ask where galvanized steel or other reinforcement is used, particularly in larger windows, doors and meeting rails.
Fusion-welded corners create a strong, permanently joined frame that does not rely on screws to hold the corners together.
Ask about the glass manufacturer, Low-E coatings, spacer system, gas fill and available double- and triple-pane options.
Locks, operators, hinges and balances should be designed for the size and weight of the window.
Ask to see the certified performance ratings for the actual window style and glass package being quoted.
The installers should understand building-envelope protection, flashing, waterproofing, insulation and exterior finishing.
Review how long the frame, glass, hardware, finish and installation are covered. Ask whether both materials and labour are included.
Find out who will provide service after the installation and whether the company has an established local team.
Homeowners can make a more informed comparison by asking each company the same questions:
A reputable window company should be willing to answer these questions clearly and in writing.
Some inexpensive vinyl windows are poorly designed and poorly manufactured.
That does not mean vinyl itself is a poor window material.
A premium vinyl window made from high-quality uPVC, built with multi-chambered profiles, properly reinforced, fitted with premium glass and professionally installed can provide decades of durability, energy efficiency and low-maintenance performance.
At Long Life Windows & Doors, we have been installing premium vinyl windows in Metro Vancouver homes since 1989.
The windows we install are not comparable to the inexpensive samples sometimes used in sales demonstrations. They are locally manufactured, engineered for our climate, internally reinforced where required and installed by experienced, salaried Long Life crews.
When comparing replacement windows, do not compare a carefully selected premium product with the cheapest vinyl sample someone can find.
Compare the actual windows.
Review their construction, certified performance, installation process, warranty and the reputation of the company that will be responsible for them long after the sales presentation is over.
