Cincinnati February/March 2024

VINYL-CLAD WOOD
• Base of the window frame is wood with vinyl
wrapped around the exterior
• Wood is an excellent insulator
• Durable, low-maintenance exterior
• Less expensive than full wood or aluminum clad
windows
• Typically allow for painting or staining interiors
ALUMINUM-CLAD WOOD
OR ALUMINUM-CLAD VINYL
• Often the most expensive material
• Energy performance rivals solid wood or vinyl
windows
• Not as low profile as non-clad aluminum windows
• Great in harsh environments
• Not easily dented
• Low maintenance. Paint is baked on to last longer
VistaLuxe WD LINE awnings and geometric direct sets with
pine interior: Courtesy of Kolbe Windows & Doors
COMPOSITE
• Made from a combination of materials, such as
wood, metal, vinyl or plastic
• Energy-efficiency depends on the materials it’s
made of
• New to the industry, expected to be long lasting
• More expensive than vinyl, but less than wood or
aluminum
• Exteriors come in a variety of colors
• Combines the strength of wood with the low maintenance
of vinyl and aluminum
NUMBERS TO KNOW
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends you pay particular
attention to two numbers when purchasing new windows.
The U-Factor measures how well the window insulates. In general,
for windows, it ranges from 0.20 to 1.20. The lower the U-Factor,
the better the window insulates. In our section of the Midwest, the
U-Value should be .32 or lower.
The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) measures how much of
the sun’s heat passes through the window and ranges from 0 to 1.
The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat the window lets in. In our
section of the Midwest, the SHGC should be .40 or higher.
For more information visit:
www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/guide_to_energy_efficient_windows.pdf
Anatomy of an Efficient Window
58 housetrends.com