Pros and Cons of Wood vs Vinyl Windows

Deciding on the right material is one of the biggest choices you need to make before bringing home your new windows. Two of the most popular options we offer (and that homeowners ask for) are vinyl and wood windows. In today’s blog, we’re breaking down the pros and cons of wood vs vinyl windows.

At Choice Home Remodeling, we’re a home improvement company that specializes in window replacement. While installing high-quality vinyl windows is one of our signature solutions, we also have experience working with wood windows as well as a range other products. Choosing between classic wood vs vinyl windows can feel complicated, so we’re exploring your options. However, if you’d rather get started with a conversation, simply reach out to our team to talk things over with a knowledgeable expert!

Wooden window in master bedroom

What to Know When Choosing Wood or Vinyl Windows

Right off the bat, the most important thing to keep in mind is that BOTH of these materials are great – which is why we gladly work with both. While we first recommend our preferred luxury vinyl window brand OKNA to customers, sometimes they prefer the classic look of wood windows – which have their own host of pros and cons. These are the key points to keep in mind when deciding between wood or vinyl windows:

Vinyl Windows

Pros:

Best Price Point – Simply put, vinyl is the best bargain on the market for replacement windows. Whether it is for a casement window or a large picture window, the price simply can’t be beat.
Lifetime Warranty – If you want to know if you can trust a product, see if the manufacturer stands behind it. The OKNA windows we install come with a no-hassle lifetime warranty.
Energy Efficiency – This is a key element to look for when deciding whether you want wood or vinyl windows. Good news: both wood and vinyl windows are both energy-efficient and should be a huge improvement over what you have now.
Ample Style Options – Vinyl window frames come with a wide range of color and style options – including a rustic faux wood option. Check out in-demand black window frames!

Cons:

Can’t be Painted or Stained – Just like with any vinyl product, you can’t paint or stain vinyl windows to give them a new style. However, you do have tons of options from the beginning!

Wood Windows

Real Wooden Look – Thanks to the true wood construction, wood windows can have a gorgeous rustic look. Plus, you have lots of paint and stain options as well!
Slimmer Profile – One of the benefits of wooden windows are that the frame can be somewhat slimmer than the frame of a vinyl window. This is a cosmetic benefit, but it matters to some homeowners.
Nationally-Known Brand Names – Several wood window manufacturers are nationally known, and that reputation can matter to some people as well.

Cons:

More Expensive – This is one of the most important points to keep in mind when comparing wood vs vinyl windows. No matter the brand you choose, wood windows will almost always be more expensive than a quality vinyl window.
May Need Maintenance – Depending on how you finish your wood windows, they may require some re-painting or re-staining over their lifespan.

Ultimately, both of these options can be fantastic. It’s all about finding the right the option that boasts the benefits you care about and that matches your budget. We’re happy to give you quotes for both wood and vinyl windows!

Adding on to Your Window Replacement

While window replacement is one of our best-known services, Choice Home Remodeling is a full-service home improvement company. Homeowners often choose to bundle their window replacement with other exterior upgrades as well. For example, adding a brand new sliding patio door that matches the look of your new windows is a popular add-on. In addition, when working on the window replacement, we’re able to look for leaks or other issues in the siding of your home that we can remedy before it becomes a bigger problem.

Discuss Wood vs Vinyl Windows & Get Quotes

After you’ve weighed the pros and cons of wood vs vinyl windows and have made a decision, we can get you a quote. However, if you’d like to discuss this decision with our experts, our team is more than happy to help. Whether you want to have a phone conversation or an in-person consultation, the Choice Home Remodeling experts will give you all of the information and guidance you need to make a decision.

Reach out to start the conversation today!

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Client Reviews

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Excellent

Choice Windows, Doors & More, Inc.4.8

Choice home remodeling built a sturdy, beautiful, four- season room for me. I am very happy with the results. The team kept me updated during every step of the project. The work crew was professional, polite, helpful, and easy to work with. They arrived on time and cleaned up every single day. I was very impressed that they provided me with a Daily schedule for the project so I would know who would be coming to do the work and at what time.

Response from the owner:Thank your Rosanne for taking the time to leave us a review. Our whole team is thrilled to hear you enjoyed your experience!

Pleased with the product (new sliding door) and the expertise and workmanship. Very friendly. Cleaned up well.

Response from the owner:Thank you Cheryl for the five star review. We are pleased to hear you had a positive experience with our team and hope you enjoy your Okna sliding patio door for years to come.

Awesome!!!

Response from the owner:Thank you Aaron for the five star review!

I recently hired Choice to replace 12 windows and a sliding glass door in my home, and they did excellent work. I want to provide this review for anyone in the Lancaster County area looking for new windows: save yourself some trouble and just hire Choice. The original windows and sliding door in my house were cheap builder grade units that were ~25 years old and all failing in one way or another. I did my due diligence and requested quotes from five different contractors, including a big box home improvement store and a couple of the national window chains. To make a long story short, Choice was the best price, the best product, and the most comprehensive installation work! Everyone who I worked with at Choice, from the sales, finance, and install teams, was extremely friendly and professional. They installed wonderful, PA-made Okna windows and doors, and they installed them properly; no shortcuts taken (unlike some of the other contractors who I received quotes from). The install team were great; they had all the work done in exactly the time they quoted, and they were very mindful of being as clean as they could. They also informed me that some of the existing windows were installed very poorly, with very little insulation and flashing. They installed the new windows correctly, and the difference was immediate and incredible. I could not be happier with the work they did and the products they provide. The new windows and door at my house are such a huge improvement over the old ones. If you're looking for a contractor for your next home improvement project, look no further!

Response from the owner:Thank you, Devon, for the wonderful review! We work hard to provide not only quality products and expert installation, but also an easy and helpful experience from the very first contact. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share about your experience with us!