We had aluminum single pane, thermally crappy windows.

We’re in a fire zone so we chose to go with metal clad wood windows. (Double pane, low E, etc.) We tried to get the fire/heat ratings for the vinyl windows and couldn’t get any response from any of the manufacturers. Our concern is that vinyl melts in high temps (like a wildfire)- and the window could fall out, and then your house burns down.

Every window contractor we talked to said they’d be able to do metal clad wood windows, but when the quote was delivered it was vinyl windows being quoted. We gave up on window contractors.

We ordered the metal clad wood windows from Sierra Pacific. We’ve been very happy with them. My husband installed them.