Choosing Windows : Fiberglass vs Vinyl

Visit www.MattRisinger.com for more Building & Remodeling tips.
Vinyl is probably the most sold window in America, but is it the right choice? In this video I'll compare Vinyl to Fiberglass and tell you which I think is the better choice for your home.
More on the Marvin Integrity Fiberglass windows here: www.IntegrityWindows.com
Best, Matt Risinger
Risinger Homes in Austin TX

[@bob_frazier]

Man, while I'm getting ready to build a new house in Oregon I just LOVE Matt's enthusiasm. This is priceless (to me) because he's so from the heart. Ok, Matt... fiberglass it is.

[@greensquirrel3685]

I sell windows and a high end vinyl window beats a fiberglass window every time, the big no no is freezing weather with fiberglass. Newly build homes settle and fiberglass has no give, but they will gladly splinter and crack for you

[@6milesup]

@@greensquirrel3685 Bullshit. I don't know where you live but vinyl does NOT beat fiberglass in cold climates. If you sell "high end" vinyl windows (an oxymoron within itself), I can see why you hate fiberglass.

[@Grande79]

@@greensquirrel3685 Lol🤪

[@Steph-WFPB]

Very good and educational video, as always! As we are shopping for windows, we found it very difficult to get a good company. We asked a few companies in North Austin area, and none of them are using your technique (Flex wrap) to install the windows. So sad you only work through Architects.

[@jamescalifornia2964]

👌Fiberglass windows with _laminated glass_ ! Very good investment and improvement 😁

[@sa3270]

Yeah I had 2 window salesmen out to my home around 12 years ago and they each only had one kind of window to show me, both vinyl. Both of them had very ugly, thick frames. I am so glad I passed them up. Was considering aluminum thermal break for a while, but after doing more research recently, fiberglass is looking very attractive.

[@PinwheelHomes]

I'm disagreeing with a few points, this comment is coming from a cold climate perspective though (Ontario and Quebec in Canada). 1.) Stability: That's because the profiles are underengineered. Have you ever seen a German vinyl window frame? Very different situation. Fibreglass is very unstable and brittle at low temperatures. This may not affect you in TX, but it certainly does here. This would also lead to paint pealing off during extremely cold temperatures. 2.) Finish: Corners: the examples you showed are terrible. They should look much cleaner. Also a weld will stay true longer than any kind of mechanical connection. Finish: Painted vinyl? I didn't even know it existed, sounds like a silly idea. The ones we sell are finished with a UV foil. 3.) Expansion and contraction: Personally, I have not seen a vinyl window fail of that. Maybe I'm only looking at high end vinyl windows, and I don't even know that low end has a problem with that. Our vinyl windows in our house are 32 years old, and they are nowhere near as well designed as the modern ones. I'd say within the next few years they will have to be changed. Not for any of the reasons mentioned above though (they were manufactured locally, and the tolerances were brutal, also the glazing units are starting to lose their seal. I can change those easily, but I'll upgrade to triple pane windows anyways.) My final thought on expansion and contraction is that it is being used by the fibreglass industry to scare you away from vinyl windows. When a vinyl window is properly designed (i.e.: proper gaskets) it doesn't have any issues with it. 4.) Environmental record: vinyl is being recycled in Europe. You are not allowed to just toss it. It needs to be kept in a closed industrial loop. What about the resins on the fibre glass window? Are they any better than uPVC? 5.) I want to point out again that fibreglass becomes very brittle when it's cold. I think this is not a battle that is going to play itself out anytime soon. Specifically, I'd like to see a break down of the environmental record of fibreglass windows. Cheers, Hans

[@tc1uscg65]

+Pinwheel Builds Interesting you didn't get a reply about your points. Hmmm. That's a red flag from a buyer who is looking for replacement windows. We just got back from a home improvement show. Looked at vinyl first. The seller makes the windows in their Michigan factory to specs meaning they build them to fit your house and they assured us there is no extra cost for this. They have to build them anyway so why charge you extra? Their corners were clean, smooth and right on. No mis-matching if you will. They spoke of vinyl over fiberglass and it's something fiberglass makers don't speak of. GIVE. Yeah, that movement you get in cold/warm climates. Fiberglass splits and will continue to split unless you drill a release hold at the end of the crack. When the wood they are drilled into pulls and pushes, it will crack fiberglass in cold climates. And as far as the corners, from what I seen at the show and most inadvertently admitted was they were Screwed and Glued. Still on the fence but we have all wood windows now, seals are bad in the majority of the south facing windows (lots) so even looked at Andersen renewal windows. It was the seller I'm sure but we marked them off the list and it wasn't price t hat did it.

[@tc1uscg65]

+Pinwheel Builds Oh and by the way. good post. too bad you didn't get a reply. I too live in a cold climate in the lower 48 (Michigan) and have hear the same concerns (about fiberglass)

[@jamslam406]

Your European Vinyl is missing a key component for stability, natural fibers.

[@6milesup]

Is that why snowmobile hoods are made of fiberglass, because they get brittle when its cold out? LOL. Fiberglass is significantly stronger than vinyl. Fiberglass' modulus of elasticity is... wait for it... nearly the same as GLASS. Who would have thunk? I just ordered all fiberglass windows for our new house build. I have 43 vinyl windows in our current house. HATE them. I have replaced over 50% of them due to seal failures. I live in NW Wisconsin so I know a couple of things about cold weather. You see a lot of vinyl windows because they are easy to make and CHEAP.

[@Rhaspun]

@@6milesup Using the example of fiberglass use for the hoods of snowmobile. Very good point. It brings to mind about the fiberglass hoods on big rigs used up in Alaska and elsewhere around the world.

[@Taylorraeconstruction]

Great video. However, in my experience, we can't lump all vinyl windows together. The images you show of vinyl windows are probably the worst pics you could dig up. I have seen quite a wide variety of quality from vinyl window manufacturers and more recently have seen some very impressive products. I do also like Marvin fiberglass windows very much but unbiased reviews would be better.

[@DerrickMoy]

Is there any data that you have on why vinyl would be better? I've seen 23 chambers to be more energy efficient, but all vinyl windows even today still only carry a 30 year lifespan according to a lot of articles. It seems like there's something that window manufacturers aren't including and it's probably the margin on how much they make for vinyl windows vs wood or fiberglass. Also, since the cost is higher for wood and fiberglass it seems all window installation companies/dealers are steering customers to the cheaper option, not necessarily the more eco-friendly or more longer lasting products.

[@edwardluth7740]

He did… He used the cheapest vinyl window he could find to compare it to fiberglass. I have never liked this guy because he thinks the sun shines and sets on him and everything he says and he isn’t fair. I know a couple of vinyl window companies that are excellent and one of them is Okna. And Anderson 400 series windows and they’re more expensive and all have vinyl exteriors and wood interiors and my Mother has many Andersen 400 windows that are 25 years old and they look brand new. She also has a huge sunporch that is nothing but windows and all of them are vinyl and they were replaced in 1997 and they all look good and operate very well Fiberglass are also good windows but this was a rotten comparison and totally unfair.

[@buckshot5896]

He made this video 7 years ago, I’m sure technology is better now

[@graemeroberts2935]

Thanks, Matt! Great information, but I also question the data behind fiberglass having the same coefficient of expansion as glass. We depend on you for a building science perspective that is evidence-based, and includes information for various climates and conditions, so its very important to investigate these issues thoroughly. You have a large base of enthusiastic viewers, including building professionals and homeowners, so it seems possible that you can use them proactively to collect evidence and opinions. Consulting manufacturers and distributors is important and fair, but their input must be carefully evaluated too. I am in awe of your success, and have great respect for your integrity, but I suspect that its time to grow your team around your building science commitment, by adding both scientific and practical building experience and expertise. Forgive my directness, but like many of your enthusiastic viewers I want you to succeed. We need you.

[@heisman9]

What reason do you have to question the data behind the coefficients? A company like Marvin is 115 years old and does scientific research and doesn’t just publish made up bullshit. It stands to reason that fiberglass will respond similarly to glass - it is made almost entirely out of glass - that’s why it’s called fiberglass. You are right about one thing though. They don’t have identical coefficients. Fiberglass actually responds slightly less than glass itself and other than real wood which rots and required maintenance there is nothing else frames are made of that can make that claim. Aluminum expands 3x as much glass. Andersen Fibrex 3.5x as much as glass due to its 60% vinyl composition and vinyl as Matt states is 8x the rate of Ultrex Fiberglass - roughly 7x the rate of the glass.

[@billderinbaja3883]

Matt, have you ever seen Aluplas vinyl windows? Extrusions are made in Germany using Gen III vinyl which is super UV resistant. Every extrusion has a steel tube jacked inside which makes a very stiff section, as stiff as fiberglass. The wood-look Aluplas is very realistic, beautiful. Well worth you time to see.

[@buildshow]

Need to look that up. Thanks

[@CAMacKenzie]

Thank you!

[@BBoyJTime]

Jiky?

[@AF-O6]

Another terrific, educational video! Thank you for posting.

[@buildshow]

Very Welcome!

[@vinylsidingwindows5260]

*Great Video* I don't agree with everything that was said but overall, you did a great job! 👍

[@susansmith5876]

I am in the beginning stages of researching to have replacement windows in my Arizona home what are the things that you disagree about?

[@heisman9]

@@susansmith5876 he clearly sells vinyl so I’m sure he disagrees that vinyl is trash. Putting vinyl on a house in Arizona is a horrible idea. The heat will warp your frames in the first few years.

[@neilborkowicz]

Matt, Great videos, thanks. Could you give a little more relative cost information similar to your response below that fiberglass is +15% more than vinyl. So if vinyl is lowest and fiberglass is +15% - how much more is vinyl clad wood, aluminum clad wood, aluminum, wood?

[@clintsmith96]

What brand did you put in your house? Also wondering how much more the fiberglass widows cost.

[@buildshow]

It's roughly +15% for fiberglass over vinyl

[@ScottyM1959]

Matt do you know if Marvin or Anderson can add certain films for added security prior to making an order of windows (break resistant or ballistic films)

[@buildshow]

+ScottyM1959 yes they can

[@ScottyM1959]

Matt Risinger pricey I would imagine

[@shenoyglobal]

how does fiberglass react to salt on ocean side use?

[@blueboat9581]

Boats are made out of fiberglass so probably not

[@1776redline]

I really do enjoy watching your videos. However, I live in the north and is there someone that does the videos that you do but in my climate?

[@maciejfassa4394]

For reasonable window brand I suggest looking at Dako, cheap, new, good.

[@timothykeith1367]

Are there any carbon fiber window frames?

[@jeffkelly5972]

Would vinyl windows be a bad option for southern Wisconsin ? I need to replace 30 yer old rotted wood windows.

[@garyg5347]

i got Vinyl Simonton Window and they been in my house over 10 year and it looks new. i think he is talking about cheap Vinyl

[@ocdtechtalk]

What about aluminum vs fiberglass vs vinyl

[@dallas5609]

I read somewhere that fiberglass gives out some type of odor that can make you breakout allergies. Anyone ever heard of this?

[@gregoryvschmidt]

Adidallas all products out gas to some degree, but though I’m no chemist, I’d guess vinyl is much more prone than fiberglass

[@educate8164]

Matt, I am in Los Angeles (the Valley where it is very hot, dry heat) and all of the vinyl windows are what you mention - horrible corners. Perhaps the guy from Germany has a better manufacturer but here in LA it's junk. So I'm looking at Fiberglass or aluminum wood clad, but another blogger wrote that wood clad windows - when you look under the aluminum - are actually rotting due to moisture. I've looked at Pella (too expensive), Andersen never shows up for their appointment time and have Milgard estimates (their vinyl is awful looking and their wood clad is more than Pella). Next looking at Lincoln Windows. Have you any experience with them?

[@vdryst]

Hey educate , I realize this is an old comment, but worth a try. What did you end up going with? I am in the LA area too, coastal, which makes things even more interesting. Thanks!

[@twentyfiveyears5010]

@@vdryst Me too (South Bay). At least we don't have to worry about whether fiberglass is brittle in freezing temps! I'm kinda leaning toward fiberglass but if you watch 10 KZbin videos you will go back and forth between vinyl and fiberglass. At my age, if whatever windows I choose fail, it will probably be my kids who have to worry about replacing them ;-)

[@vdryst]

@@twentyfiveyears5010 thanks for answering! Yes, we are on the fence - the fiberglass is $7.5k more than vinyl for the 15 windows we are replacing. We do want to stay with black which is not available in the Vinyl (Millgard) so we are struggling with the decision...is 7.5k worth the black frames. I do agree that in our mild temperatures, cracking due to freeze will not happen, I am more concerned about the impact of sea air, but I suspect vinyl and fiberglass are on par

[@hapahaole76]

@@vdryst We are coastal LA too and looking at a variety of windows...mostly aluminum clad wood, but thinking about maybe Marvin's Elevate line (fiberglass/wood interior). I just met with a window guy yesterday and I think he said that Milgard was coming out with a black (not painted) vinyl window in the next couple of months...something to ask your window guy about. I"m getting a couple Milgard Trinsic vinyl windows for our bathroom.

[@SongbirdSarah]

This guy is fucking passionate about windows man

[@ronniebagwell4191]

Matt I will be building a new home in March im looking for a good insulated window for Mississippi (no wood)

[@JoeLarge]

price comparison?

[@MichaelNatrin]

I'm also wondering why cost wasn't mentioned

[@WallStreetBeggar]

+Joe Large A bit more depending on distributors and dealers it could be a lot more. I've ordered both the casement window in vinyl from Milgard Styleline were around $266+106 for laminated glass each. The Ultraline from Milgard, same spec was $359+106 for laminated glass. It's about a 30-35% difference. The biggest difference is I can get a 3' wide casement in fiberglass, but not in their low end vinyl windows. Although they do make a beefed up version under the Tuscany line or their premium vinyl. However, the cost difference between their premium line of vinyl windows and fiberglass is almost the same. There's more options for fiberglass, but it's like a Porsche, cost adds up quick with options and the base fiberglass looks the same as their low end vinyl, whereas the premium vinyl looks premium.

[@josephbland4587]

Hi Matt... What do you think of Andersen 100 windows for southern eastern NC? or do you have any better affordable recommendations?

[@buildshow]

+c Bland I'd look at those and the Integrity.

[@josephbland4587]

OK THX! I appreciate your responses. The content you're posting is amazing & is so informative.

[@ArthursHD]

As far as I know, most houses in my country use either Vinyl, aluminum or timber framed windows. Have not even heard about fiberglass window frames.

[@Grande79]

No they dont

[@rollingacresfarmstead206]

hmmm 8 years later no problems with latches still as tight as the day installed in mn They dont flex like that either

[@Thatsswell-hr9ev]

You said that they were installed in mn (Minnesota?).There goes the difference right there. He talked about hot temperatures on vinyl frames and Minnesota doesn't have a lot of hot days in a year. He sounds like he is in the South somewhere.

[@jeffbuchler9711]

You keep referring to Marvin Integrity which isn’t a fiberglass window. Marvin does a great job with their fiberglass Infinity window. You also didn’t mention that fiberglass windows are twice the price of vinyl and most people either can not afford them. Finally they are not as energy efficient as vinyl windows. I sold fiberglass windows for 7 years and have been in the industry for 30. 27 of those years I worked for the mfg.

[@impulsepdr2175]

1:10 "fibergrass"

[@ouroldfarmhouse5283]

How about vs wood??? Anderson 400. Would like to see you review them. Love you're Chanel but i also know you make money from ads.

[@buildshow]

+Our Old Farm House I'm a huge wood window fan but they often don't fit people's budgets. This video is intended to help in buying decisions among "affordable" windows. Yes, I do promote brands/products that I like but try to do it in a thoughtful way.

[@sellcell2u]

Not all vinyl windows are created equal. Sound like you did not put in a high quality vinyl window in your home...or your installers aren't that great.I sell over $1,000,000 in vinyl windows every year..and have had them in my home for over 10 years....never had the issues you decribe.

[@H0peAnL0ve]

what state do you live in?

[@6milesup]

So you sell over a million dollars of vinyl windows so you would not recommend fiberglass windows.... That is shocking.

[@angrywhistlingcock5209]

I sell windows too and I avoid painted vinyl windows like the plague because the finishes always fail. Every single f*cking time.

[@phishhead42032]

Everyone the guy is sponsored by Marvin - what do you expect him to say. Fiberglass is stronger than vinyl yes but vinyl is in 90% of homes but for a custom home over a certain value most architects and designers agree vinyl is out. Thats pretty much it. There is no perfect window. If fiberglass was all the rage and they were the absolute best material to manufacturer and make windows out of all companies would produce it. All windows have pros and cons and so does fiberglass

[@Grande79]

What are the cons?

[@fawkurface46]

Noticed how you didn't mention cold climates for fiberglass...could that be because fiberglass is too brittle for the cold and cracks wayyy to easily? Bet ya wish ya had flex then.

[@scah1ll]

Not true, vinyl and composite will crack much easier. This coming from someone that installs all three in the north east.

[@fawkurface46]

Shawn Cahill coming from someone who makes them and tests them... they failed the flex test, the climate change test, and the longevity test. Thus why we don't use em.

[@jamslam406]

We’ve never seen our composite, Renewal by Andersen window crack since its launch in 1995.

[@6milesup]

Bullshit. Fiberglass will outlast and beat a vinyl window in every regard. Vinyl expands and contracts at a rate of 7 times the value of fiberglass. Vinyl has only moderate insulating value, worse than fiberglass and wood. Also, UV rays kill vinyl. Ever take your finger and rub along a vinyl window? Leaves a chalky residue. That is your craptastic vinyl window degrading before your very eyes.

[@blueboat9581]

I ordered infinity by marvin fiberglass windows. Fiberglass can take the heat and cold easily. There's a reason why boats are fiberglass, not plastic or wood anymore

[@llisntcoolj2375]

Them pvc-u (vinyl) windows look like they was manufactured by stevie wonder.

[@johna.ludwig2311]

One thing I don't like is paint.....on anything. If you buy a vinyl widow extruded in your color, there is no paint.

[@blueblobgaming7971]

Marvin is crap had Elevate fiberglass installed less than 80 days cracks,flaking, wood staining through interior finish. Gliders don't slide or lock and double hung are extremely difficult to close seems like the lock is going to break at any time. Its been a whole year now and vendor has yet to come out.

[@tinaclark6209]

Are you saying that fiberglass is worse environmentally than vinyl?

[@skull20003]

Sounds like minor cons

[@blueboat9581]

The only vinyl that's worth anything is virgin vinyl

[@Peterowsky]

Fiberglass has the same expansion and contraction rate of glass? Where the hell did you get that from? Glass strands packed with any of over a dozen polymers have the same expansion and contraction rate as glass? I'm not going to say that is impossible, just VERY unlikely at best. What kind of shit finish is that on the vinyl windows? Did someone use a hot glue gun to put them together instead of actually putting them together and finishing them?

[@fawkurface46]

Peterowsky it's a pvc glue, we have it where I work. It's not used for finishing but obviously general public doesn't know the difference so they can down play it.

[@russjohnsoncayennesvideo1028]

Sounds to me like some sour grapes here. Fiberglass does NOT have the same expansion and contraction as glass. There are several other statements I would question as well. He likes fiberglass. Period

[@Grande79]

It most certainly does. The difference between the two is negligible and fat less than the difference between glass and vinyl.

[@Aforg209]

The 2x price for fiberglass is not worth the upgrade in fiberglass versus a quality vinyl... Vinyl isn't going to be phased out?! What the heck kinda pro-fiberglass propaganda is this?! 🤠

[@angrywhistlingcock5209]

Fiberglass windows look like they have painted duct tape on them..

[@johnwhite2576]

Where are some of these vinyl fanboy comments coming from ?? Of cousre a great German vinyl window coudl be superior to poorly designed installed fiberglass, but ceteris parabis, fiberglass behaves way more like glass re expansion than vinyl, much more resistant to UV.NB these windows are fiberglass REINFORCED polymer, not pure fiberglass. As for brittleness in cold climate, in theory yes, but INLINE after all is a CANADIEN company , one fo the oldest and largest fiberglass window makers in the world. Most of canada is way colder than most the USA.

[@ericanderson8786]

Integrity exterior finishes failed over and over again for me where I installed them here in Maine. They seemed perfect to me at first but I will not build with them again! Plenty of photos to share for anyone interested. They do send a crew with 3 guys and truck and spray equipment up to fix them though after they fail. Great promo add though Matt..ha ha

[@danjimielson]

what part of the window fails, can you link pictures

[@sa3270]

I wonder if Pella's finish holds up better?