Q. I need advice on whether to buy vinyl replacement windows for my home. I am finding mixed information on the Web. I know that vinyl windows can be very energy efficient, but I am concerned about dioxin and other toxins linked to vinyl. I just got an estimate today, and the non-vinyl windows (fiberglass) are nearly twice as expensive as the vinyl ones. Can you help me decide?

A. We had vinyl put in when we replaced our old aluminum windows. For the first few years they were fine but after six years or so they started to look bad and some splits developed. Our lifetime warranty is useless because the company is out of business. As a result I am looking for an alternative to vinyl to replace these with.

Q. We are installing new (paintable vinyl) exterior shutters on windows. We have two windows that have narrow space on each side -- too narrow for 7" shutter (the smallest we've found so far). We have about 5" to work with. Can we get something to "frame" these windows - vinyl strips? - that can be painted to match the new shutters, so these windows won't look naked?

A. Go to a place that sells Vinyl Siding.They should have different size vinyl clad boards that are used on porches and or garage doors.Don't go to Home Depot or Lowes.Look up Vinyl Siding in your yellow pages.

Q. What is the price range for vinyl casement windows? We are buying a modern home that has only a few casement windows and we are looking for the cheapest way to replace them. Most of the other windows in the home are floor to ceiling and do not open. We will rarely, if ever, open these so we are looking for the best price. A friend is going to replace them for us so we just need the windows without the installation costs. Thanks!!

A. Depends on the brand name of course. I have seen the vinyl double-hung advertised around here for $150 each installed.

Q. I like vinyl replacement windows versus wood replacement -tried of painting, staining, maintainence of wood. Is there a difference in perceived value when I go to sell the home to a new prospective buyer -whether its vinyl or wood? Thank you for your response.

A. You know the old saying VINYL IS FINAL, go with the vinyl they are avaible in any colour, no matinence, a big selling point

Q. Are they much more expensive including installation than vinyl windows? We are seriously considering top of the line vinyl replacement windows from Paradigm. We've got a total of 13 windows, some standard size double hung and some small sliders. We were quoted 10k including labor. Seems like a good deal to us but we are concerned about the toxicity of vinyl in our home. So we're now thinking maybe wood windows instead, but are concerned we can't afford it. Any help would be appreciated!

A. Almost all new homes for the last 20 years have been built using vinyl windows as have apartment complexes, office buildings etc. I have never heard of nor experienced any toxic anything from them. They are merely easier to clean and care for and require no maintenance unlike wood. I would never go back to wood. We just built another new home 2 years ago and like our last we have Anderson Vinyls throughout.

Q. Also the previous owner replaced 4 of the old windows with vinyl replacement and 3 of them have cracked because they weren't installed correctly. The estimated cost to replace all the windows is around $17,000. Would it really be worth it? The current windows are in good shape, though they could use some minor repairs to chains and need a few stops to be replaced. Is it worth the time and effort to fix repair/remove the paint, or not worth the hassle and buy new vinyl windows. My other issue is the way the vinyl windows will look on the exterior since they can't be painted, and the victorian trim. Efficiency isn't a problem with them. My heating and electric bills are actually quite cheap compared to some people, and my home with the 42 windows that it has is actually warmer in the winter months than a friends home that is a row and has new windows.

A. I don't think it would be worth the $17,000. That's a lot of money and the house would look so beautiful if you simply restored the old windows.

Q. My landlord is installing new windows, inside and out. They are vinyl, and my blinds were hung on wood window frames. How does one hang window blinds on vinyl window frames?

A. It is highly likely that the screws will pull out of the vinyl. Keep in mind that the length of the screw was sunk into the wood. In all but the very best vinyl windows, the extruded vinyl in the frame is very thin. The screw really has very little to hold onto. If you raise and lower your blinds with any frequency at all, I all but guarantee that they will quickly pull out. Good luck with your blind problem.

Q. What can I do to keep wasps/yellow jackets from entering my house through my vinyl replacement windows? I have even found them between the outside screen and the window when the window is closed, so how are they getting in?? The screens aren't torn either. For the price that we paid for them, I don't expect to have these things coming inside!! Help!

A. Whoever installed the windows into the house did not finish the task with brick molding(or J strip) around the windows. Installers fault.