Material Choices

Consumer Info

Window and Door Framing

The most common framing materials used for windows and patio doors are wood, vinyl, and aluminum. More recent
introductions to the market include fiberglass and a number of composites. Manufacturers also combine materials
commonly, producing vinyl- or aluminum-clad wood products, wood-clad vinyl products and other combinations to
meet a variety of demands for performance and aesthetics.
Vinyl is the most commonly used framing material, because it offers good thermal performance and requires little
maintenance. It can be used to produced very cost-effective products, but vinyl windows can also be provided in a
choice of interior finishes, including woodgrains and colors. Most vinyl products incorporate rigid vinyl with multichamber profiles for strength and insulation. Frame and sash corners in these vinyl windows are generally welded,
creating a joint that is generally more resistant to air and water infiltration than corners that are mechanically fastened
with screws.

Vinyl
cutaway
Photo
courtesy of
Westech
Building
Vinyl window
Photo courtesy of Products
ViWinTech
Wood offers good thermal performance and natural beauty. Many manufacturers offer products in a wide variety of
species. Wood requires maintenance that other materials may not, in that it might needs to be painted or stained
periodically. Most manufacturers of wood products offer a choice of aluminum and/or vinyl cladding on the exterior to
minimize such maintenance requirements. Increasingly, wood window and door manufacturers are incorporating
"engineered" wood components, particularly in non-visible areas, to enhance performance and achieve optimal wood
utilization.

Wood window
Photo courtesy of
Andersen
Windows

Aluminum is stronger than wood or vinyl. For this reason, it is still the dominant choice in architectural and
demanding commercial applications. Its strength also allows framing widths to be minimized, allowing for larger glass
areas in aluminum windows and doors. Aluminum itself is a good thermal conductor; therefore most aluminum
window manufacturers offer "thermal-break" products. In these designs, a structural insulating material is
incorporated between the interior and exterior aluminum.

Aluminum
windowPh
oto
courtesy of
CGI
Windows &
Doors

Fiberglass offers strength comparable to aluminum and insulating properties similar to wood and vinyl. It can be
provided in a variety of finishes and generally can be repainted in the field. Fiberglass framing cannot be bent,
however, which means these types of products are generally not available in round-top, elliptical, and other specialty
models.

Window with fiberglass on the

exterior and wood on the interior
Photo courtesy of Integrity
Windows & Doors

Other Materials are also used by a select number of manufacturers. These include steel, cellular PVC, thermoplastic
alloys, engineered plastics, and wood/plastic composites. These materials can provide enhanced performance and/or
aesthetics. A number of manufacturers, for example, use composite materials to offer a look closer to a wood window
along with the low maintenance features of vinyl.

Composite
window
Photo courtesy of
MI Windows & Doors

Cutaway of a composite
window
Photo courtesy of Amsco

Door Materials
Within the industry, door panels without any framing are referred to as "slabs." Residential entry door slabs are
primarily manufactured in wood, insulated steel, and fiberglass. Vinyl entry doors are also available, as are doors
produced with other composite materials. Sliding glass doors and many hinged glass models are also produced in
vinyl and aluminum. Interior doors are most commonly made of wood. The most common feature a hollow core and a
molded door face or skin.
Wood-Traditional wood doors feature "stile-and-rail" construction. Vertical stiles and horizontal rails are joined
together with solid wood panels (or glass lites) to create a single door panel. Today, stile, rail and panel pieces are
often made up of "engineered" wood. This is done to enhance performance and/or achieve optimal wood utilization.
Manufacturers offer doors in a variety of wood species.

In addition to traditional stile-and-rail construction, a variety of other methods are used to manufacture wood doors.
The most common type of interior door is constructed with molded (or flush) high-density fiberboard skins. These are
offered in a variety of designs (re-creating the look of stile-and-rail construction). Another option for interior
applications is MDF (medium density fiberboard) doors. These doors use solid pieces of engineered wood that is
routed to create patterns.

Wood stileand-rail
door Photo
courtesy of
Kolbe & Kolbe
Millwork Co.,
Inc.

Cutaway of
engineered wood
door section
Photo courtesy of
Huber Engineered
Wood
Interior door with fiberboard skin
Photo courtesy of Craftmaster
Manufacturing
Steel-Most entry or exterior doors sold today are steel. A steel door slab features an interior and exterior steel skin on
both sides of a core made up of an insulating foam surrounded by a wood perimeter to provide energy efficiency.
Steel door slabs are produced in a variety of solid panel styles (again, recreating the look of stile-and-rail
construction). Steel door slabs often have a section cut out and replaced with a door lite (or a decorative glass panel).
Steel doors are available in stainable versions to offer a woodgrain look.

Insulated steel entry door

Photo courtesy of Masonite
International

Cutaway of steel door

section
Photo courtesy of
Huber Engineered
Wood

Fiberglass-It has been around for many years, but fiberglass had recently seen a tremendous increase in popularity
in the exterior door market. Constructed similarly to steel doors, the fiberglass composite skin in place of steel, these
types of doors are also designed to provide good energy efficiency and low maintenance. They are now offered in a
growing number of stainable/paintable woodgrain and paintable smooth panel options. One advantage of fiberglass is
said to be higher resistance to dings and dents.

Fiberglass entry doorPhoto courtesy of Plastpro

Glass, of course, is the most common material used in windows and doors. Today, in addition to ordinary clear glass,
most manufacturers offer a variety of high-performance and decorative options. Check out our Energy
Efficiency page to see links to a number of detailed sites providing information on low-emissivity (low-E) and solarcontrol glass, how these products work, and selecting the right options for you. Check out our Safety/Security page
to learn more about window and glass options that provide impact-resistance for enhanced protection from
hurricanes, as well as greater resistance to break-ins and other threats.

Recent introductions to the market are low-maintenance and self-cleaning glasses. Glass manufacturers have
recently introduced new coatings that can limit dirt build-up on the exterior and reduce the need for cleaning windows
on the outside.

Low maintainance versus ordinary glass

Photo courtesy of Gorell Windows & Doors

Window Styles
Door Styles
Specialty Window Shapes
Material Choices
Safety and Security
Energy Efficiency
Finding a Quality Product
Maintenance, Repair and Replacement
Industry-Related Organizations