Advantages of Vinyl Frames

The popularity of vinyl is due largely to energy efficiency. Vinyl is an effective thermal insulator and is well recognized as an excellent frame material for energy efficient windows. The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) and the Department of Energy (DOE), have developed rating systems for measuring how energy efficient a window is.

One of the important NFRC tests is the U-Value of the window which measures the window’s resistance to heat flow. The lower the U-Value, the greater the insulating value of the window. Another critical NFRC test measures the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). This measures how well a window blocks heat caused by sunlight. The lower the number, the less of the sun’s solar heat transmits through the window into the home.

Our windows meet or exceed the stringent requirements of Energy Star® for u-value and SHGC.

Advanced Design and Engineering

Heat Build Up
The diagram above demonstrates how the nonconductive nature of vinyl keeps the window profile from distorting even when exposed to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The interior surface temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Vinyl is part of a window “system”, including glass, that is structurally glazed into the frame. This helps to explain why vinyl windows outperform other frame materials even when exposed to high heat environments.

Multi-Cavity Construction
Chambers of insulating air help reduce the transfer of heat into your home while multiple walls of webbing provide superior strength and rigidity.

Energy Efficient with Value

Vinyl windows are widely accepted and account for 68% of the entire residential window market.*

Vinyl, as a building material, has revolutionized the building industry because it offers remarkable versatility. It can be flexible, yet rigid, and produced in a wide variety of colors and styles.

According to the 2014 Cost vs. Value Report by Remodeling Magazine, the value that replacing your old windows with new vinyl replacement windows retains at resale of your home in Florida is 85.8% vs. the national average of 77.7%.
*2012 AAMA/WDMA U.S. Industry Market Studies

Environmentally Sensitive

USE LESS ENERGY AND CREATE LESS WASTE.
Vinyl can be reused and recycled repeatedly throughout its’ long life cycle. Scrap created during our manufacturing process can be recycled into many other vinyl products, reducing the strain on the environment. More than 99% of all manufactured vinyl compound ends up in a finished product, due to recycling. The use of vinyl saves more than 40 million barrels of oil per year compared to other alternatives. (Vinyl Institute)

What Makes Vinyl (PVC) Perform So Well in Coastal and Tropical Climates?

Vinyl windows are made from PVC (Poly-Vinyl-Chloride) compound. Many technological advances have been made to the blended compound to ensure the durability and performance of vinyl windows. The multi-chambered vinyl product frames are designed to trap air, known to provide optimal insulating characteristics against heat transfer year round.

Weathering and Color Retention

Over time colors can change or fade. Custom Windows’ vinyl formulation technology minimizes color change over time, utilizing several key
components such as Titanium Dioxide (TiO²), which is the major component in sunscreen.