Vinyl is not healthy. UPC is not healthy. Wood will get moldy in DMV. Here’s a good off-gassing guide for fiberglass.

Marvin’s Ultrex was not tolerated by one very sensitive person though some less sensitive have done well with it.

Marvin has two different kinds of fiberglass, one has an acrylic component and one has a polyurethane component. You may find them to be different – with the polyurethane one being better tolerated for some.

Pella fiberglass is tolerated by some sensitive folks.

Kolbe has their own fiberglass called Glastra which is mixed with another polymer (plastic).

Zenith fiberglass by Alpen is pictured above. I couldn’t pick up any offgassing myself.

Fibrex is a PVC and wood composite made by Anderson which some sensitive folks have reported being too high in offgassing for them.

Tyrol is a fiberglass-reinforced uPVC with EPS foam in the interior by Alpen (pictured). I couldn’t pick up any offgassing.

https://www.mychemicalfreehouse.net/2023/09/least-toxic-window-frames-aluminum-wood-fiberglass-or-vinyl.html

Ok, so vinyl fence is known for mold but it magically won’t affect the windows made of the same. Yeah, that tracks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The trouble with Marvin is a lot of plastic bits

Depends on the line.

Huh? They have one fiberglass line. The rest is open frame mixed materials.

That’s just not the case at all any longer. I know Enerlux uses Cardinal glass. It’s fantastic.

Anonymous wrote:Another thing you need to think about is the glass. I purchased a home with low e glass windows and I despise them. The home is dark and has a greenish tint. I would buy clear glass in a minute if I had the money.

Technologies change

Anonymous wrote:The trouble with Marvin is a lot of plastic bits

Depends on the line.

Who are these people blathering about mold? My vinyl windows still look pristine 13 years after they were installed.

Another thing you need to think about is the glass. I purchased a home with low e glass windows and I despise them. The home is dark and has a greenish tint. I would buy clear glass in a minute if I had the money.

Get vinyl if you like mold.

Pella fiberglass seems ok

Get simonton mid but get the best glass possible

Look at these companies upstream. We did Enerlux. Love it.

Anonymous wrote:https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5744342/horrible-smell-from-marvin-integrity-windows-installed-1-month-ago

But these are not true fiberglass windows. It’s a cheaper composite or a mix of wood and open frame fiberglass. Go with the proper fiberglass, better composition and closed frame.

Here are some good brands.
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/question/help-with-windows-choice

Details on the production:
https://www.performancecomposites.com/about-composites-technical-info/122-designing-with-fiberglass.html

Funny, I think that houzz post is what made me go down the rabbit hole of fiberglass and offgassing.

It sounds like I either need to find true fiberglass, or just go with vinyl.

Try:
Kolbe (Wisconsin), Duxton (Canada), Inline (Canada), Zola (East Coast), Alpen (Colorado), and EnerLux (Nebraska).

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5744342/horrible-smell-from-marvin-integrity-windows-installed-1-month-ago

But these are not true fiberglass windows. It’s a cheaper composite or a mix of wood and open frame fiberglass. Go with the proper fiberglass, better composition and closed frame.

Here are some good brands.
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/question/help-with-windows-choice

Details on the production:
https://www.performancecomposites.com/about-composites-technical-info/122-designing-with-fiberglass.html

I have seen moldy vinyl & wood windows all over DC. I’ve never seen moldy fiberglass