|
VINYL
(PVC)
|
ALUMINUM
|
WOOD
|
| Maintenance-Free
|
Color
sprayed on - will scratch, flake & peel. Color can fade/streak
- can require scrubbing and/or painting or touch-up |
Paint
can fade, streak, flake, peel - must be repainted periodically |
| Requires
no painting/finishing inside or out—ever |
Requires
no painting/finishing inside or out--initially |
Must
be painted/stained--initially & repainted |
| High
resistance to heat loss or gain |
Readily
conducts heat and cold |
High
resistance to heat loss or gain |
| Resists
condensation |
Supports
condensation, frosting in cold weather |
Resists
condensation |
| Waterproof—unaffected
by water |
Waterproof--unaffected
by water, except salt water |
Water
resistant but vulnerable to water damage |
| Resistant
to moist, salt-laden air, pollution, airborne chemicals
|
Corrodes
in moist, salt-laden air, from pollution and airborne chemicals |
Swells,
rots, deteriorates in moist, salt-laden air, from pollution
and airborne chemicals |
| Impervious
to insects |
Impervious
to insects |
Resistant
to insects, subject to insect damage |
| Self-lubricating
properties that help prevent moving parts from "sticking"
|
Subject
to abrasion, corrosion that reduces ease of operation--can cause
binding and sticking |
Subject
to swelling from moisture, paint build-up that can cause binding
and sticking |
| Structurally
rigid and stable. Many designs with superior wind load ratings
|
Structurally
rigid and stable |
Structurally
rigid and stable. Subject to shrinking, swelling, bowing, warping
and cracking |
| Will
not conduct electricity |
Conducts
electricity readily |
All-wood
units will not conduct electricity--certain clad wood products
can |
| Impact
resistant frames, withstands mechanical stress and strains
|
Subject
to impact damage, denting & scratching |
Subject
to impact damage - denting, splintering |
| Insulates
against noise |
Transmits
noise |
Insulates
against noise |
| Will
not support combustion. Will burn only while enveloped in flame
|
Will
not support combustion |
Will
support combustion - burns readily |
| Material
is competitive in cost with other window materials. PVC supply
is abundant, price is stable |
Material
cost fluctuates dramatically - supply is good |
Prices
rising dramatically - supply fluctuates |
| Material
is energy efficient to produce, recyclable |
Material
is energy intensive to produce, (8-10%), recyclable |
Material
is energy intensive to produce - not recyclable |
| Limited
scrap in production - recyclable |
Scrap
in production is recyclable |
Milling
of trees produces tremendous waste. Scrap not readily recyclable.
Cutting of trees depletes forests, etc. |
| Material
requires no finishing |
Requires
finishing which contributes to "greenhouse" effect,
depletes ozone |
Requires
finishing and preservative treating which contributes to "greenhouse"
effect, depletes ozone |
