A Comparison and Review of Andersen's Fibrex Material

When researching window types people often run into Andersen's Fibrex Windows. That's no surprise as Andersen's is one of the largest and most trusted window manufacturers in the United States. Windows in Andersen's 100 Series are made of Fibrex composite material.

In this blog post, we'll answer three of the most common questions about Fibrex windows: What exactly is Fibrex® material? How does it compare to other window materials out there such as vinyl? How much do Fibrex windows cost?

What is Fibrex?

Andersen fibrex window material

Andersen's 100 series windows are made of Fibrex composite material. Fibrex is an environmentally friendly material made from a combination of wood and vinyl scraps. Andersen explains that the process to making Fibrex begins by taking wood scraps and sawdust (from wood windows and any of the clear pine facing interiors) and combining it with vinyl scraps to get a new material. The new material acts like vinyl but is twice as strong.

So what are some other benefits of Fibrex?

2x as strong as vinyl
Doesn't expand or contract
Color is blended during production making it last longer
Rot, decay, and fungal growth resistant
Won't flake, blister, peel, pit or corrode

The Green Commitment

Andersen blends 40% wood fiber by weight, mostly reclaimed from Andersen manufacturing processes, with 60% thermoplastic polymer by weight, some of which is also reclaimed. Pre-consumer Fibrex material is also reclaimable. Additionally, Fibrex material blocks thermal transfer nearly 700 times better than aluminum to help reduce heating and cooling bills. VOC emissions are reduced because no wood preservative treatments or painting is required. You can enjoy your Fibrex windows with the peace of mind that much of its material is reclaimed, fewer VOC emissions are used, and more energy is being conserved.

Fibrex Vs Vinyl - How do they compare?

As we mentioned before, Fibrex is a composite material made from vinyl and wood scraps. The point of creating a composite window is to get the best of each material: vinyl is low maintenance and very energy efficient, wood is beautiful and durable. Therefore, you can expect highly durable and very beautiful windows from a Fibrex window compared to a typical vinyl window. Don't get us wrong, vinyl windows can still be durable and beautiful, but they may not last as long as a Fibrex window. Likewise, without the properties of vinyl, wood windows are still subject to rotting and fungal growth. Bottom line? Composite windows are probably the future window material go to, simply because they provide more pros than cons. But wait, does this composite mixture mean my costs are double the price? No.

The Cost of Fibrex Windows

You may find some vinyl windows for less than the cost of Fibrex windows, however, Fibrex windows are also priced at an entry-level value. Additionally, the value in Fibrex is long-term as they'll last longer than a standard vinyl window and you'll save more money in regards to energy efficiency costs.

For more information or questions, feel free to browse our webpages on Andersen's Fibrex windows, or give us a call at 817-860-9767 and we can help answer any questions you might have. We offer free, in-home estimates which can be scheduled by phone or with our contact form. Brennan Windows is BBB A+ Rated home exterior remodeling company that has been servicing North Texas for over 30 years. We are here to help you.