Just because you want hurricane windows in Pinellas County, FL for your home doesn’t mean you don’t have decisions to make. In fact, you likely have just as many decisions to make as you do for standard windows. One thing you will have to think about is that there are three main material options for these windows. In order to decide between them, it’s best to look at the pros and cons of each.
Aluminum
This material is highly weather resistant and very strong. It is also light weight and the frames can be smaller, allowing for more glass space and light. The aluminum frames look very nice and give a sleek exterior appeal. They are also low in maintenance and they are even recyclable when you are done with them in the future. The biggest downside to these windows is that they do need to be painted, so that is one maintenance chore to place on the list. Plus, they cost more than other options, which can be a deterrent for some homeowners.
Wood
Wood is a beautiful window material and that’s no different on hurricane windows. It also gives the homeowner a great energy performance and wonderful insulation. It, too, can be recycled after the home is done using it. But wood has its cons as well. It is a high maintenance material that must be painted and maintained well, or it will lose it’s insulating properties. It can also rot and warp over the years in the weather conditions, especially if it is not maintained well.
Vinyl
Vinyl is a strong, readily available material that is low in cost. It doesn’t take much to create vinyl and it doesn’t use resources that are low in the area, like wood can be. Vinyl gives a high level of energy performance and insulation and it doesn’t cost nearly as much as other materials. Recyclability is being researched, but you don’t have to paint vinyl and it lasts a long time without any help from you.
When you are thinking about material for your hurricane window frames, it’s also good to start thinking about the glass options. Laminated glass is two sheets of glass that are bonded together with a plastic film. Insulated laminate gives you another pane of glass that is added to that unit and sealed with an air space between. That helps your home to stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
There are plenty of decisions to make regarding hurricane windows in Pinellas County, FL, but you will likely decide on the frame material and then the glass pack. The professionals at Clearwater Window & Door Inc are here to walk you through the choices you have to make and help you decide what’s best for your home. Let us know what your budget is, and we can help you organize things in a way that you can afford what you need for your home. Let’s start with a free consultation and we can go from there and move ahead together.
