im thinking of replacing windows on my home which are the best, vinyl,aluminum, or wood??? i live in texas?

Answer 1

When comparing windows you have a few things to consider, U-Value, Emissivity, solar gain, durability, maintenance and quality.
There is a rating organization known as the National Fenestration Rating Council that tests and rates all windows sold in the US.
Unlike an R-value, where higher is better the U-value of a window should be as low as possible for energy efficiency. Look to keep the U-Value below .5 and if you are able a .34 is probably the best going. (the window the first answerer described triple glass, double hung, Low E, argon filled with thermal brakes would come in at or near .34 whereas a single paned wood or aluminum window would rate about a 1.00).
The link to their website is below.
As for which is best, vinyl, aluminum or wood there are pros and cons for each frame material and installation is a key factor for performance.

Vinyl:
Pro: Low maintenance, little thermal bridging, lightweight.
Cons: Vinyl degrades faster under direct UV exposure. Can be costly.

Aluminum
Pro: Low maintenance, durable, can be rated for structural load.
Con: Thermal bridging can be an issue if not properly installed.

Wood:
Pro: Durable, Little thermal bridging, Esthetic
Con: High Maintenance, can be pricey

Basically it comes down to your lifestyle. Are you the Bob Villa/ Steve Thomas type who will take due diligence to prime/paint/maintain your windows/doors then wood is a viable option as they, properly kept up will last the life of your building in most cases.
Are you a bit more laid back, install and ignore type then the vinyl/aluminum solution is probably better. If you can insure Low exposure to Ultra violet (Sun) because of extended eaves or shade trees vinyl can give you 10-15 years of service and aluminum about the same. If on the other hand that west Texas sun is going to be baking your windows day in and day out your vinyl windows will probably begin to fail in 7-10 years making aluminum the better choice.
The aluminum frames should be insulated at the time of installation using backer rod or low expansion foam. This will reduce thermal bridging (Yeah I know what’s that... Thermal bridging is conduction that occurs when there is a difference in temperature from one side of a conductive material to the other. This is known as "Delta T". The higher the delta T the faster this conduction occurs.)
The reason to be concerned with bridging is that it is(one of) the mechanism for heat loss and high fuel bills in a home.

Answer 2

Why does everyone say "Go to Lowe's or Home Depot"? Why don't you look in your yellow pages under Windows, and choose a locally owned lumberyard or window dealer? I will guarantee you that they know about windows, and can answer your questions, whereas I have never been to a Lowe's or Home Depot where anyone could answer any question of mine.
Now, to answer your question. I prefer wood windows, because they generally fit and seal better than vinyl, and have better resistance to wind and water intrusion ( they have a higher DP rating - Design Pressure rating ). If you don't want to finish the wood yourself, and are satisfied with white windows on the inside, most wood window manufacturers offer their windows prefinished white on the interior. Nearly all windows have Low-E (low emissivity) coating and Argon gas filling these days. Since you live in Texas, you might ask if they have available another coating for southern latitudes ( Andersen Windows offer their "High Performance Sun II" glass ).

Answer 3

I lived in the Southwest for years. I didn't like the aluminum windows, they always seem to leak air, they're just not tight but, you have problems with the dry air for wood, which I consider the best. It's a dilemma.
Go to Home Depot or Lowes, other large building contractors and see what they recommend for your area. Get someone like Home Depot who would have a good background for replacing the windows if anything goes wrong like air leaks. They also install.

Answer 4

Their is alot more than just vinyl, alum or wood to consider when replacing windows. Of greater importance is r value. Convenience is also a big point too. Double hung is very convenient for hard to reach windows when you need to clean them. I know I hate to get on a ladder with widow cleaning stuff. Personally, I look for triple pane double hung low e value windows. It is also a good thing if the frames of the windows are solid or have voids in them if they are filled in with insulating foam. Make sure they are put in by someone who knows what they are doing. Otherwise the best made windows may be the worst for you if improperly installed. good luck in your search. Contact me if you wish.

Answer 5

Vinyl, more energy efficient than aluminum, and easier to care for than wood.

Answer 6

Never tell anyone your home alone and if u have a phone call the police! and leave your sisters room light on also lock the doors and windows