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What are the advantage and disadvantages of Vinyl clad with wood interior vs. all vinyl windows. My wife thinks all vinyl windows just look cheap because we plan to restore our paint wood work in the house back to stain wood (Oak with cherry finish stain. She like the rich look. And we are not!). I think I jumped the gun by buying all vinyl. I went with Almond color vinyl windows because our house is Lannon stone. Don't know if it will look good inside as well as it does outside.
Good morning Maron - thanks for your question.
Your wife is right; the advantage of a wood interior on a window is that it allows you options for how to finish it. On an all-vinyl window, the color is what it is - you can't paint or stain it.
Wood is also a better insulator and will deform less due to temperature changes than vinyl. The advantage of vinyl windows is using them as replacements; they're easily custom-sized to match the existing opening, and they're less expensive than wood.
If looks are important, than I'd suggest a wood window with an extruded (not rolled) aluminum cladding...that will give you a wood interior and a clean, sharp exterior profile. Aluminum cladding is also available in far more colors than vinyl.
Hope this helps!
Richard Taylor, AIA
www.rtastudio.com
www.rtaplans.com
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Answers by Expert:
Richard Taylor, AIA
Expertise
Ask me about all aspects of house, remodeling. , and room addition design and construction. Ask me about historic homes, renovation, and restoration. Ask me about materials and techniques, and about how you can get the best value for your design and construction dollar. Ask me how you can make your home a very special place. I can't, however, answer specific structural engineering questions in this forum - that's something you'll need on-site observation for.
Experience
I own a full-service residential architectural firm, and have been designing custom homes, remodelings, and room additions across the country since 1983. Check us out at Richard Taylor Architects and RTA Plans. I have written and been published extensively on the subject of residential architecture.
Organizations
American Institute of Architects, City of Dublin Architectural Review Board, Vice Chair of City of Dublin Planning and Zoning Commission, American Planning Association, Board Member Historic Dublin Business Association, Past Editor of SPLASH (a software forum), Past Editor of Open Directory Project, Assistant Scoutmaster, Boy Scouts of America
Publications
Business First of Columbus, Suburban New Publications, About.com, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch Residential Architect
Custom Home Architect
Remodeling Architect
Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Environmental Design (Architecture) Miami University 1983
For more about home design, check out my blog at Sense Of Place and join the conversation on our Facebook Page.
Awards and Honors
2010 Dublin Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year
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