Where Do Vinyl Windows Come From?

If you wondered where vinyl windows come from, the world synthesizes 40 million tons of polyvinyl chloride PVC annually. It’s become hard to imagine life without it. That’s given its many uses in the food, construction, packaging, and bank card industries, to mention just a few.

However, the synthetic material did not exist prior to 1872, when a curious German scientist Eugene Baumann tried an experiment. He made a mixture of vinyl chloride, and stored it in a jar away from sunlight for four weeks. Perhaps he forgot about it. However to us the main point is the mixture had become solid when he returned.

Fair Enough, But Where Do Vinyl Windows Come From

Polyvinyl was largely a scientific curiosity until the Second World War ended. The German economy was in tatters after the Allies bombed its factories, and there was a scarcity of building materials. Necessity, they say is the mother of invention. Architects started using PVC for framing windows, instead of scarce wood, aluminum, or steel.

However, that does not fully answer where modern vinyl window designs come from. That’s because the first vinyl windows in Germany were unimaginative, clunky, and dare we say hideous by modern standards. But then to be fair when you are draining the swamp, you don’t have time to single out handsome crocodiles.

It Took North American Genius to Imagine Modern Vinyl Windows

In the late 1950’s a U.S. vinyl manufacturer hit on the idea of producing vinyl window frames on a large scale. This made sense as the nation’s economy surged, and with it the demand for affordable housing. However, they discovered most Americans still preferred traditional wood and aluminum frames.

Fast forwards three decades later, and Americans were entering a synthetic material revolution, and were much less likely to turn their noses up and ask where did those vinyl windows come from? Their hearts warmed to their low maintenance, long life and stunning good looks. When they discovered they could make PVC look like wood, many became converts for life.

Where to Go for Bespoke Vinyl Windows To Your Own Design

SilverLine Exterior Solutions can make up vinyl windows to almost any rectangular design. We can blend what you already have for your extension, or replicate something you have seen elsewhere to achieve your dreams.

We do sliders, pushouts, picture and bespoke windows with superior finishes and quality moving parts. Call us on 604-942-0488, or send us an email inquiry if you are interested in upgrading your windows, doors and / or siding, and with it the value of your home.

Related Topics

Various Types of Vinyl Windows to Consider

Vinyl and Aluminum Windows – A Comparison

Preview Image: Polyvinyl Chloride Window Detail