DEAR TIM: My house desperately needs new replacement windows. They must be maintenance free and colorful. I like vinyl but am disappointed in the limited exterior colors of vinyl windows. Is there an alternative? How do you compare different window brands for overall performance? Will the new windows solve my current condensation problem? Patty D., Grosse Point, MI

DEAR PATTY: Your choice of vinyl windows is excellent. If you purchase a high quality vinyl window, maintenance headaches will be a thing of the past. You are not the first person to be displeased with the limited exterior color variety of vinyl. However, this is your lucky day! You can purchase a replacement window that will offer you the warm feel of vinyl on the inside of your home and unlimited exterior color possibilities.

When vinyl window materials get hot, they can expand and deform. Dark vinyl colors absorb and store the most heat. This quality is good during winter months but high vinyl temperatures in the summer months can cause problems. The stored heat can cause the vinyl frames and sashes to sag under the weight of heavy glass. Because of these potential problems, manufacturers tend to shy away from using dark vinyl colors.

Certain vinyl window companies decided to blend two maintenance free materials together. You can purchase a vinyl window that has an aluminum exterior and a vinyl interior. The aluminum exterior is available in a variety of light and dark colors. Custom colors are also available. Painted aluminum finishes can last 15 years or more with minimal color fade. The aluminum frames are an excellent choice if you live in a high wind area or desire a window that resists forced entry.

The interior of vinyl windows has changed as well. You are not limited to merely a white or cream color. Many manufacturers offer a realistic stained wood appearance. Some actually have the texture of wood while others allow you to custom stain the interior vinyl wood grained surface. While window shopping, ask about custom beveled glass. It can add a handsome touch to your home.

Judging quality and performance will require some effort on your part. Recently two independent associations (American Architectural Manufacturers Association - AAMA and the National Wood Window and Door Association NWWDA)) joined together to produce voluntary specifications for vinyl window manufacturers. They developed a standard called the AAMA/NWWDA 101/I.S.2-97. If you purchase a window that is certified to have passed this standard, you are getting a quality window. Windows that meet the AAMA/NWWDA 101/I.S.2-97 standard often have a certification label on the frame.

Another organization is working hard to establish a fair, accurate and credible energy performance rating system for vinyl windows and other window and door products. It is the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). They have developed a label that is similar to the ones we have seen for years on appliances. These new labels will have a single number that will tell you how well the window performs in both cold and hot weather. You will see a number from 1 to 10 in each category. Poor performing windows will have a rating at or near one. The NFRC is currently working out the details to make sure that all types and sizes of windows are tested fairly and accurately. If all goes well, you will begin to see these helpful labels in 1998.

Your condensation problems may not totally disappear with your new windows. Your existing, drafty windows allow dry, cold air to enter your house. This dry air mixes with the humid indoor air and lowers the overall humidity in your house. When your new windows are installed the air infiltration will be significantly reduced. Your indoor humidity will soar. On the coldest winter days this extra humidity just might cause a fog on your new windows. To stop the condensation, simply lower your indoor humidity.