Exploring Bronze Vinyl Windows for Texas Homes

Vinyl is a top alternative for wood and aluminum window materials. Why? Well some of the primary reasons are because vinyl windows offer the most value—they are both budget-friendly and energy-efficient. Over the last 10-20 years or so we’ve seen homeowners exploring additional color options for their vinyl windows. Two of the most popular color options for vinyl windows are black and bronze. Fortunately for homeowners, these colors are more widely available in vinyl window options than they’ve ever been in the past. 

So, if you are one of those homeowners who are exploring bronze vinyl windows for your next project you have landed in the right place. Let’s take a quick look at what makes bronze vinyl windows appealing to so many homeowners.

An Introduction to Vinyl Windows

Let’s start with the basics—vinyl windows. The first vinyl windows were designed in the early 50s in Germany but didn't gain popularity in the States until several decades later. Vinyl window pioneers in the United States invested significant time and effort into building trust in the “plastic” product as well as into multiple iterations to improve the quality of vinyl windows (TruGlaze). 

Vinyl is made of durable plastic polymers commonly referred to as PVC, short for polyvinyl chloride. The vinyl is mainly used to make the frame and sashes of the window with other parts made from other materials such as foam, aluminum, or glass (glass, of course, makes up the biggest part of your window) based on how you choose to customize your vinyl windows. Color options continue to increase for vinyl windows but you’ll still find limitations with some vendors depending on the manufacturer’s capabilities. 

Bronze vinyl windows are increasingly popular and made possible because of the demand and advancements in technology. There are three primary methods for enhancing vinyl windows with color: co-extrusion, lamination, and coating, the option used for your window will vary by manufacturer. To make the best decision for your home and wallet consider cost and whether color fading is covered by the warranty (remember, even lifetime warranties have limitations).

Bronze Vinyl Windows Considerations

Now, let’s get back to bronze vinyl windows. The availability of bronze in windows is still relatively new considering that just a few years ago home improvement content trailblazers like us were writing about how challenging it was for homeowners to find high-quality and affordable options. The best alternative even 10 years ago was a wood-clad window because of the color flexibility of cladding options. Unfortunately, the cost of cladded wood windows put those out of reach for many homeowners resulting in purchases of vinyl windows in your classic white or other light color extrusions like almond or sandstone.

Fortunately, things have changed and options have increased nationwide. Now what are some of the things homeowners consider before choosing bronze vinyl windows? Let’s get into it.

1: Aesthetic Compatibility

Bronze windows have a rich color that works well with both traditional and modern styles. Here in Texas, depending on where you live, you’ll find many houses with brick or stucco exterior. The biggest challenge for color is often on the brick exterior homes.

Take a look at the color of the brick and mortar as well as the rest of the home’s exterior including siding and trim before making your decision. Bronze windows beautifully complement homes with earth tones. 

Take a look at this beautiful example below. Our client upgraded from a light tan window to a rich bronze that really made the window stand out as an architectural feature of the house.

2: Durability and Color Longevity

Bronze vinyl windows are durable. Vinyl is a durable material, so durable in fact that vinyl windows are an excellent option for most climates across the U.S. Note that the PVC in vinyl is the same material used when designing long-lasting PVC water pipes.

But the vinyl material isn’t what homeowners are typically hesitant about when considering windows, most homeowners like you might be concerned about the dark color of the window, heat absorption, and whether that will affect the window’s performance. As long as your windows are factory finished there should be no need to worry about the performance and durability of your bronze vinyl windows. 

Window manufacturers use finishing techniques that provide improved heat resistance and UV protection. Definitely keep this in mind if you’ve been considering painting your own windows instead of purchasing new replacement windows with a pre-finished exterior. Regular paint won’t do the job for windows, consider whether your windows have a warranty and the type of paint you use before making a decision. 

3: Energy Efficiency

Did you notice all the houses with black exteriors that were trendy a couple of years ago? They seemed to be popping up all over the place. According to an interview published by KERA, the cooling bills for houses with dark exteriors (think houses painted black) are about 2% higher than the bills for houses with light-colored exteriors.

You might be tempted to assume a similar effect with window frames but what matters most is your windows overall performance ratings, whether they meet or exceed local energy standards and how they compare to ENERGY STAR standards. With the right window build, you’ll be able to meet those standards with bronze vinyl windows in Texas.

The part of your window that will have the biggest impact on performance ratings is the glass package. Your sales consultant should be able to customize your window glass package as needed to make sure the window is as energy efficient as possible.

4: Maintenance

Bronze vinyl windows are low-maintenance and are easy to keep looking good since you don’t have to worry about rust, paint chipping, or wood rot on vinyl. All you need to do is the occasional smudge-free vinyl window cleaning. The vinyl surface is quite smooth and you only need a water-based cleaning solution to wipe out any dirt. 

5: Customization options

The limitations on bronze vinyl windows with regard to styles will depend on the manufacturer, the color of the window should not be a limiting factor unless the bronze color is only available on certain product lines that carry limited window styles. As for the color of the bronze, you’ll want to make sure to look at sample colors (paint chips) to make sure you know what to expect when your windows arrive. Bronze for some manufacturers may look like a dark brown and for others it may be nearly black. 

6: Cost

Depending on the manufacturer and retailer, bronze may be considered a custom color and come at a premium compared to standard colors like white or tan. The cost difference is typically attributed to the additional processes needed to achieve the bronze exterior compared to white or tan windows which can be extruded in those colors.

You may also have additional costs to consider if the window will be bronze on the exterior and another color or laminate on the interior. The best way to learn what your options are and what it will cost is to schedule a consultation with a window installation company near you (if you’re in Texas, that’s us!—Brennan Enterprises).

Final thoughts

So, do bronze vinyl windows make sense for your Texas home? If you’re still unsure make sure to contact a window company that offers free, no-pressure consultations to get an estimate. 

Many window companies, unfortunately, will try to pressure you into a sale instead of answering your questions. There are several window manufacturers that can offer a solution for your bronze vinyl window search. 

Our trusted team offers full-service residential window and exterior door replacement services, if you’d like to get your project or search started with Brennan Enterprises, request your estimate today and we’ll work with you to identify the best options for your home.

_Sources:

• _{"History of uPVC Vinyl Windows." TruGlaze, https://truglaze.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/History-of-uPVC-Vinyl-Windows.pdf.} 
• _{“The Evolution of Colored Windows and Doors.” MI Windows and Doors, https://miwindows.com/blog/the-evolution-of-colored-windows-and-doors.}
• _{"Black Houses Are So Hot Right Now. But Are They Hotter?" KERA News, 16 Dec. 2022, https://www.keranews.org/energy-environment/2022-12-16/black-houses-are-so-hot-right-now-but-are-they-hotter.}