Why More Homeowners Are Requesting Fiberglass Windows
A decade ago, fiberglass windows weren’t that popular. Not many knew of their existence, and they held a market share well under 2%. However, that all started to change, and by 2013, these products started to grow, reaching 3.2% of the market share. Since then, fiberglass windows have been steadily growing in popularity, and many homeowners are starting to demand them, either integrated into their new home designs, or as replacements for their current windows.
So why are fiberglass windows steadily becoming more popular? Let’s take a look at a few of the top reasons!
Energy Efficiency
One interesting thing about fiberglass is that it has a very high thermal conductivity rating — 800 times higher than aluminum, and higher than many other materials, including common window frame materials like wood and vinyl. On top of that, extruded windows, or pultruded windows, such as those offered by Marvin, can be filled with foam insulation to increase the R-value of the window even further. In fact, foam-filled fiberglass windows have the highest R rating of any type of window frame on the market.
Another interesting thing about fiberglass is that it responds to temperature shifts in much the same way that glass does, which is to say that the window, frame included, expands and contracts evenly as temperatures rise and fall. This makes fiberglass windows far less prone to air leaks than any other window material.
When you combine these factors with modern energy-efficient glass coatings, you can see why homeowners love the energy savings that fiberglass offers.
Fiberglass Windows are Durable
Fiberglass tends to be much more durable than wood, vinyl or wood-clad vinyl windows. What’s more is that fiberglass has the absolute best strength-to-weight ratio. That is, these windows weigh less than other types of windows, while offering increased durability and structural strength.
This means a couple of different things for homeowners: First, they won’t have future replacement or maintenance headaches to worry about — fiberglass windows are expected to last 38% longer than vinyl, which is the next most durable option. Secondly, when maintenance is required, fiberglass can be easily repainted. Wood windows are more difficult to refinish, and vinyl can’t be refinished at all.
There Are a Variety of Options
Most windows, no matter what materials they are made with, are available in a huge range of styles and colors. This is also true with fiberglass windows, and because they are paintable, homeowners can easily change color schemes over the years. Best of all, unlike vinyl, fiberglass windows (and doors) can replicate the look of wood realistically. Just check out Marvin’s Ultrex windows and doors, and you’ll see what we mean!
Fiberglass is the Sustainable Choice
Homeowners are now more environmentally conscious than ever before, which means that they’re looking for smart, sustainable materials. Fiberglass stands out as the green choice over all other materials.
- Because it lasts far longer than any other material, fiberglass produces less waste.
- Fiberglass is a sustainable material because it is made with sand.
- Less energy is used to produce fiberglass windows than wood or vinyl windows, which means that the manufacture of this material produces less pollution and has a smaller carbon footprint.
All of this is in addition to the energy savings over other frame materials that we mentioned above.
If you’re looking for more reasons to choose fiberglass windows, be sure to check out this replacement window guide. It’s easy to see why these windows are gaining in popularity. When it comes to looks, durability, lifespan, efficiency, and the environment, no other material will give you as many benefits as fiberglass.