Best Composite Windows
Check out our selections for the best composite windows from several popular manufacturers and window makers, including Okna, Great Lakes Windows and more. Composite window frames are made from an amalgam of materials that often include vinyl and wood. Because these are typically proprietary formulas, the exact makeup is intentionally unknown.
The basic idea is that these materials are fused together during the manufacturing process to create a stronger window frame than either of the materials separately. For instance, Fibrex (the composite material used to create Renewal By Andersen and the Andersen 100 series windows) is said to be 12x as strong over vinyl alone. Whether or not this is true when compared to some of the best vinyl windows remains to be seen as far as I am concerned.
Okna Starmark
The Okna Starmark or 900 Series is the composite window from Okna - its a bulky frame, but does off clean sightlines. It comes in four exterior color options and either a white or wood laminate interior, which does a good job of mimicking the texture and look of real wood. The Starmark also offers some very nice hardware options and can be ordered as a double hung, slider, casement or bay/bow option. The double hung gets a .25 U-value, .28 SHGC, .05 AI and .50 VT. The Starmark is at the top of the list when it comes to quality composites.
Okna Window Prices
Great Lakes EcoSmart Windows
The Great Lakes EcoSmart window is a high efficiency composite frame that is somewhat oddly not listed on their website. It has a 1 piece welded sloped sill that contractors really like, an I Core non metallic spacer, high end aluminum die cast hardware, as well as very good weatherstripping, seals and glazing. The window achieves impressive numbers .26 U-value and .06 AI. The upgraded ecoMaxKR glass will lower the U-factor down to .15, very impressive.
Great Lakes Windows Cost
Renewal By Andersen
Renewal By Andersen windows use a composite frame, made from Fibrex, which is a mix of vinyl and wood (sawdust) that is combined or bonded together to create a strong and durable frame. All of the installation is handled by the individual franchise, either through an owner installer or via a trained team(s) of installers.
On the plus side, Renewal By Andersen (often referred to simply as RBA) makes quite a nice looking window that is completely customizable and can be ordered in lots of grid, glass, hardware and components options and upgrades. On the downside, the windows tend to be very expensive, rivalling the cost of some of the more expensive wood clad windows on the market. The other downside is the rather mediocre performance numbers of the RBA line (see the ratings section below for additional details.)
Related Topic: Vinyl Windows vs Aluminum Windows
Best Aluminum Windows