Exteriors are wood covered with extruded aluminum pvc or fiberglass.
Aluminum clad wood windows vs vinyl.
I wouldn t say that aluminum clad wood windows would never need to be stained again but the exterior cladding with definitely prolong the life of the wood.
In fact the wood grain texture achievable with vinyl windows.
They are clad windows that is with an exterior layer of vinyl or aluminum.
Wood windows are usually wood on the inside typically pine or douglas fir.
Any wood surface will need to be maintained.
Most window companies use aluminum cladding which is actually problematic because aluminum conducts heat or cold.
Find out more in the vinyl vs.
Vinyl clad wood window vinyl exterior wooden interior.
That said vinyl window frames are typically thicker than aluminum frames and offer options of smooth textured or faux wood finishes.
Vinyl windows are made largely of high quality extruded polyvinyl chloride pvc some metal and other types of plastics are used for the sash mechanism.
These frames are wooden inside and clad or wrapped in aluminum or vinyl.
The difference is obvious.
Aluminum clad wood windows vs.
The smooth vinyl windows can be quickly wiped clean with a cloth and do not rot peel or crack.
Cladding materials protect the wood from outdoor elements.
The advantage of these modern clad wood windows is obvious.
Fiberglass is a superior product to vinyl however it is often more expensive.
If you re scanning through the pros and cons thinking that you d like the low maintenance and weather resistant exterior that vinyl offers with the longevity of wood you should consider vinyl clad wood windows.
These products have wood frames wrapped with vinyl.
Vinyl windows are considered a low maintenance material.
Clad frames are enhanced versions of traditional wooden windows.
A composite plastic mix like vinyl cladding is the best cladding because it doesn t conduct heat cold and is maintenance free.
An aluminum clad wood extrusion has very little flexion and far out performs vinyl in its structural integrity.
This creates a stronger and easier to maintain frame that can last 30 years or more.
They aren t susceptible to rotting or warping and are mostly maintenance free.
Vinyl windows require extra structural reinforcement to help strengthen their extrusions and reduce flexion.
Vinyl windows that have a faux wood grain can be harder to maintain because the faux wood grain also collects dirt and debris easily and is harder to wipe clean.
Wood windows that have been clad with vinyl or aluminum on the exterior are significantly lower maintenance than wood windows.