Frame materials
Frame materials: vinyl, wood, fiberglass, aluminum
The frame decides how long the window lasts and how much you pay. Four materials cover almost every replacement in the city.
Vinyl
The default choice for a reason. It never needs painting, it insulates well, and it delivers the lowest installed price. Modern vinyl is nothing like the flimsy stock from the 1990s; look for fully welded frames and multi-chamber profiles. Roughly 8 out of 10 replacement quotes in the GTA are vinyl.
Wood
Looks beautiful and insulates naturally, and wood window replacement still makes sense for heritage-style homes where character matters. The trade is maintenance. Wood needs paint or stain on a schedule, and near the lake it needs vigilance against rot. Many homeowners split the difference with wood interiors clad in aluminum or vinyl outside.
Fiberglass
The premium pick. It expands and contracts at nearly the same rate as glass, so seals stay tight through 40 degree temperature swings. It costs 20 to 40 percent more than vinyl and typically lasts longer.
Aluminum
Strong and slim but conducts cold, which means condensation and frost in a Canadian winter unless the frame has a thermal break. It survives mostly in commercial work and some modern designs.
We walk you through samples of each, not just the one line we happen to carry most. We represent multiple window manufacturers and will tell you when the cheaper line is genuinely good enough.
















