Vinyl Replacement Window Colors

One of the best ways to give your home lots of curb appeal is through beautiful windows. It’s not all about the shape and size, either. Color has a lot to do with it, as do window frames that hold their color rather than fading.

If you’re interested in upgrading your windows, today’s vinyl products offer a variety of colors—including more than basic neutral tones. Most modern vinyl windows also feature no-fade formulas that will protect the color for years to come. Below, you’ll learn more about available colors, painting vinyl windows, and more.

Vinyl Replacement Window Colors

Vinyl window colors won’t give you the hundreds of options that are available with paint or on aluminum, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be at a lack of shades to try. Some window companies offer single color windows while others offer dual color windows. Having a dual color window just means your window is one color on the inside and a different color on the outside. Exact shade ranges will vary by manufacturer, but you can expect to find solid neutral colors like white, almond, bronze, and black windows. Some window manufacturers also offer laminate finishes to mimic the look of wood grains.

Where exterior window colors are concerned, there will be more options available—though again, these will differ by manufacturer. Exterior vinyl window color options are always solid colors, with neutrals and jewel tones the most common. Shades of white, off-white, tan and brown are the most common. Some manufacturers—Pella is one example—also carry green, red, blue and black, too. Our vinyl window partner, NT Window, and others also offer color matching painted vinyl options.

Do Vinyl Windows Come in Dual Colors?

Vinyl windows do come in dual colors, though perhaps not in the way you might imagine—and they are less common than vinyl windows in solid colors. What you won’t find is two-tone windows that feature two colors on the interior of the window or two colors on the exterior.

However, some manufacturers do produce vinyl windows in which the interior color is different from the exterior color. This is most common in lighter colors like white, off-white and tan, namely because dark colors can be challenging when used on the exterior of the window frame. Dark colors absorb more heat, which can cause some vinyl frames to warp↗. Even so, it is possible to find vinyl windows featuring a variety of colors, like white interior shades and tan or brown exterior shades.

Can You Change a Vinyl Window’s Color?

Yes! You can change a vinyl window’s frame color with paint. In fact, this option is less expensive than replacing your windows, but it does come with quite a few risks.

To start, paint doesn’t adhere well to vinyl, which means you’ll have some prep work ahead of you. Frames will need to be thoroughly cleaned and sanded. If the windows are under warranty, this can void the warranty which means you’ll be responsible for repair or replacement costs. Your homeowner’s association, if you have one, will need to approve your chosen colors—and if colors fall outside of the usual range, the approval process can be difficult.

There are difficulties with the paint itself, too. You’ll want to either hire a professional for this job, or make sure that you can do a tidy job yourself, otherwise, you could end up with a sloppy paint job that devalues your home and leads to the need to repaint or purchase replacement windows after all. Dark colors can cause vinyl windows to warp since they absorb heat—but there are some paint brands out there, like Sherwin-Williams VinylSafe, that are designed to give you dark colors while warding off weather damage.

Be careful about your paint and primer selections, too. Before buying paint, research brands and lines of paint to see if they are usable on vinyl. Some paints contain chemicals that soften and degrade vinyl, which will end up destroying the window frames.

Do Color Vinyl Windows Cost More than White?

Often, yes—colored windows will cost more than white ones. Basic colors like white↗ or beige are among the easiest to produce and the most in-demand, so they’re typically less expensive than jewel tones or other specialty colors that have more limited uses. Black vinyl windows are also expensive, costing between 10% to 16% more than basic color choices.

Will Colored Vinyl Windows Fade?

This is one of the beauties of modern vinyl windows. Yesteryear’s vinyl windows sometimes faded↗, and white windows could yellow with age. However, most of today’s vinyl windows contain pigment mixed into the vinyl, which means the color lasts longer. Remember that quality is always a factor. At the lower end of the price spectrum, windows made with cheaper manufacturing processes might not have the color staying power that today’s mid-range or high-end vinyl windows feature.

Unlike aluminum windows, vinyl doesn’t chalk, either. Chalking occurs when a white film builds up on aluminum windows after time exposed to the elements, and because it changes the surface color of painted aluminum, it makes the window look like it is fading.

Vinyl windows are a great choice if you want to make an upgrade. If you’re not satisfied with your current color palette, it is also possible to save money by painting vinyl windows—but there are risks involved that could make replacing the windows the better alternative despite the cost. Today’s vinyl windows are available in more colors than ever before, which allows you to create beautiful interior and exterior color palettes.