| Color sprayed on - will scratch, flake & peel. Color can fade/streak - can require scrubbing and/or painting or touch-up |
Maintenance-Free |
Paint can fade, streak, flake, peel - must be repainted periodically |
| Requires no painting/finishing inside or out--initially |
Requires no painting/finishing inside or out—ever |
Must be painted/stained--initially & repainted |
| Readily conducts heat and cold |
High resistance to heat loss or gain |
High resistance to heat loss or gain |
| Supports condensation, frosting in cold weather |
Resists condensation |
Resists condensation |
| Waterproof--unaffected by water, except salt water |
Waterproof—unaffected by water |
Water resistant but vulnerable to water damage |
| Corrodes in moist, salt-laden air, from pollution and airborne chemicals |
Resistant to moist, salt-laden air, pollution, airborne chemicals |
Swells, rots, deteriorates in moist, salt-laden air, from pollution and airborne chemicals |
| Impervious to insects |
Impervious to insects |
Resistant to insects, subject to insect damage |
| Subject to abrasion, corrosion that reduces ease of operation--can cause binding and sticking |
Smooth surface properties that help prevent moving parts from “sticking” |
Subject to swelling from moisture, paint build-up that can cause binding and sticking |
| Structurally rigid and stable |
Structurally rigid and stable. Many designs with excellent wind load ratings |
Structurally rigid and stable. Subject to shrinking, swelling, bowing, warping and cracking |
| Subject to impact damage, denting & scratching |
Strong, durable frames, withstands mechanical stress and strains |
Subject to impact damage - denting, splintering |
| Transmits noise |
Multi-chambered design
insulates against noise |
Insulates against noise |
| Will not support combustion |
Will not support combustion. Will burn only while enveloped in flame |
Will support combustion - burns readily |
| Material cost fluctuates dramatically - supply is good |
Material is competitive in cost with other window materials. PVC supply is abundant, price is stable |
Prices rising dramatically - supply fluctuates |
| Material is energy intensive to produce, (8-10%), recyclable |
Material is energy efficient to produce, recyclable |
Material is energy intensive to produce - not recyclable |
| Scrap in production is recyclable |
Limited scrap in production – recyclable |
Milling of trees produces tremendous waste. Scrap not readily recyclable. Cutting of trees depletes forests, etc. |
| Requires finishing which can contribute to “greenhouse” effect, depletes ozone |
Material requires no finishing |
Requires finishing and preservative treating which can contribute to “greenhouse” effect, depletes ozone |