When looking for new windows for your home, it’s important to find windows that can fit all of the openings for your house. This can be more complicated than you first think as some window openings need custom vinyl windows to fit them properly.
Why use custom vinyl windows over standardized vinyl windows? What are vinyl windows? How much do they cost? Let’s discuss these windows and why so many Florida homeowners choose them year after year.
About Custom Vinyl Windows
The term “custom vinyl window” can mean different things to different people. Some might classify it as any vinyl window manufactured to fit a non-standard window opening. Others might classify these windows as simply being “made to order” rather than being mass produced.
For the purposes of this post, we’ll define custom vinyl windows as “made to order windows with vinyl components manufactured to the customer’s specifications.” This can mean that the window can have a variety of different design features, such as:
- Impact-resistant glass & frames.
- Multiple layers of glass.
- Added laminate layers.
- Protective films/tints (such as Turtle Glass coatings).
- Energy efficiency modifications (like low-e tints and argon gas fills).
These windows are different from mass produced windows, which are made strictly to fit standardized window openings.
A lot of homeowners might choose to install custom vinyl windows over standard windows simply because they need windows that can fit something other than a standard square or rectangular window opening.
Even having a “standard” window opening doesn’t mean that a standard window will fit correctly—especially if your home was new construction when the window was first installed. Wood-framed homes may occasionally settle after construction, causing the wood frame to shift slightly after the windows have been installed.
In extreme cases, this can cause your existing windows to crack for no apparent reason as the frame around them bends slightly with the settling building frame. And you might notice that any new windows you put in don’t seem to fit quite right when you put them in if they’re a standard size.
Here, a custom window that is specially shaped to account for the warped frame of your home’s window opening (as well as expert installation of extra trim and seals), can make a huge difference in the useful life of your new windows.
How Much Do Custom Vinyl Windows Cost?
The answer depends on what kind of custom vinyl window you order. Custom-made windows will naturally cost a bit more than standardized, mass-produced windows do, but the actual price tag will vary depending on what kinds of features your new windows have.
For example, if you add extra panes of glass, laminate layers, argon gas fills, and other impact resistance and energy efficiency enhancements to your windows, then they’ll naturally cost more than windows without these improvements.
The size of the window is also a major factor in determining the window’s cost. Larger windows will cost more than smaller windows. Also, the manufacturer of the window may affect the cost of your custom vinyl windows. Though, as the old saying goes: “You get what you pay for.”
What Are the Downsides of Custom Vinyl Windows?
The major downsides of installing a custom vinyl window are the cost and the lead time to get the windows manufactured to your specifications. It takes time for a window manufacturer to make a custom window, which adds time to the installation process.
However, when choosing a new vinyl window, it’s important to consider not only the upfront cost of installing the window, but the ongoing cost of having windows that you don’t have to replace after every little storm… Especially in a state like Florida where major hurricanes are a frequent occurrence.
Additionally, adding energy efficiency enhancements like low-e glass coatings can help you reduce your electricity bills each month. Also, installing impact windows can qualify your home in Florida for discounts on your homeowner’s insurance rates. These savings can more than justify the cost of installing custom vinyl windows over standardized windows.
Are Vinyl Windows Better Than Aluminum Windows?
Aluminum windows are a popular and long-lasting (when properly installed and maintained) option for many Florida homeowners. So, we often get asked if aluminum windows are better than vinyl windows.
One of the biggest problems with aluminum windows, however, is their energy efficiency. Vinyl, as a material, has a ‘thermal conductivity’ (a measure of how well it transfers heat) of 0.17 W/m*K while aluminum has a thermal conductivity of 160 W/m*K, according to IRB Fraunhofer.
In other words, aluminum transfers about 941 times as much heat as vinyl materials do. That makes aluminum windows inherently less energy efficient than custom vinyl windows, even when all other factors are the same. There’s a reason why baking sheets are often made of aluminum.
Vinyl windows are the premier choice for energy-conscious homeowners who need windows that can help them reduce their energy bills in Florida’s punishing summer heat.
Need custom vinyl windows installed for your home? Reach out to the best window replacement company in Tampa Bay to request a quote for custom-made windows to fit your home’s needs and your preferences!
