Vinyl Window
A window with frames made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC/uPVC), the most common residential window material in Canada due to its low cost, energy efficiency, and minimal maintenance.
Vinyl windows dominate the Canadian residential market, accounting for approximately 70% of new window installations. They offer good thermal performance without thermal breaks (PVC is inherently a poor conductor), require no painting, and resist moisture and insects.
Quality varies significantly between manufacturers. Key differentiators include wall thickness of the extrusions (thicker is stronger), welded vs. mechanical corner joints (welded is stronger and more weather-tight), number of chambers in the profile, and reinforcement in larger sizes (steel or composite inserts).