Wood Window Boxes

Wood Window Boxes have many benefits.  The first benefit to a wooden window box is it's look of authenticity and affordability.  Wooden window boxes are usually the cheapest and you have decent options in painting them or staining them for a natural look.  However, wood window boxes run into problems of longevity.  The average wooden window box will last 2-3 years before it begins to show signs of rot or even begins to fall apart.  This is unfortunate and primarily due to the water and insects that are bound to come into eventual contact with the flower box.  One advantage to wooden window boxes is that they can be installed atop wooden window box brackets for a unique look.  This makes them easy to install and relatively safer than some of the hooks and bracket systems on todays market.

Vinyl Window Boxes

Vinyl window boxes attempt to focus on some of the negatives of wood with some limited success.  The main reason to consider vinyl window boxes is that they will never rot and they are 100% moisture and insect resistant.  This solves some of the problems of wood, however, vinyl window boxes have some of their own limitations.  Most vinyl window boxes, such as the windsor window box, are made from hollow double walled material.  This results in the window flower boxes being subject to warping and cracking over a 3-5 year period.  This also makes them less sturdy for longer sizes that need to support more weight.  Installing a vinyl window box requires clips, which can be convenient for small sizes under 36" but quite dangerous at sizes above that.  Another drawback to vinyl is that they will not hold paint and you may be limited to just white or black.  Lastly, vinyl window boxes tend to have a shine to them that does not capture the look of wood.  You will be able to tell that they are made from plastic.

Fiberglass Window Boxes

Fiberglass window boxes solve many of the problems that accompany the vinyl window boxes.  Fiberglass window boxes will not crack over time and they are definitely more durable.  Additionally, they can usually be painted.  Like vinyl, they too are rot and moisture free.  A fiberglass window box can definitely last a lifetime.  There are a few drawback to fiberglass window boxes, however.  The first drawback is price.  These window boxes tend to be the most expensive on the market.  The other main drawback is safe installation.  Because of the material used, these boxes will have to be clipped to a window.  It is not recommended to use these types of window boxes for large sizes or on second floor windows where falling and safety are a concern.

Composite Window Boxes

Composite window boxes are made from recylced plastics and or recycled wood or saw dust.  They are generally more resistant to rotting.  Some composite window boxes cannot be painted and generally the prices range from affordable to extremely expensive depending on the material.  Wood based composites will break down over time, but generally last longer than normal wooden window boxes. 

PVC Window Boxes

PVC window boxes have been called the new standard in window boxes by some, because they tend to concentrate on all the limitations of window boxes.  They are made from specialized forms of PVC such as Versatex or AZEK that are a little bit different than the PVC your pipes are made from.  PVC window boxes are completely moisture, insect, and rot free.  They will not warp, crack, or splinter and they can be painted to look like wood.  They have built in environmental protection, UV protection, and paint binding agents.  The matted finish allows them to look like wood, but not have any of the hassles.  In the past, they have been extremely expensive, however, more recently prices have come down and made them some of the more affordable window boxes.  PVC window boxes are also the safest window boxes to install.  They are the only window boxes that can be safely lag bolted with no worries about rotting, cracking, or shifting over time.