I saw a post way down the list and thought I'd bring it to the top. Why white windows? The answer is simply the biggest manufacture of windows is Andersen. Andersen clads their products with vinyl.

With 99% of vinyl window manufactures, color is achieved by mixing it in the material during molding. This is true of all vinyl windows and of the cladding on Andersen, which to my knowledge is the only company using vinyl clad over wood.

Any color causes vinyl to absorb heat from the sun. Obviously, darker colors absorb more. In addition to heat, there is UV absorbtion, which in time can cause any material to break down and the color to fade.

With a choice between white and a few muted, beige, tan or territone colors, white is generally more desired. Anything darker and fading is almost garanteed. With aluminum clad windows, colors choices are far greater and darker. Aluminum does not react the same way to heat as vinyl. Also, the aluminum is painted, not solid color. polyflurimors (sp?) in the paint reflect the UV and the color resists fading.

To my knowledge, there is only one vinyl window company that offers painted vinyl. It is a Canadien Company called Solaris. It is definitely a high end window and isn't cheap. However, it doesn't look like a typical vinyl window either. The sashes are thicker than many wood clad windows and the casements come with an amazing DP 70 rating and every product meets or exceed the tax credit, 30/30 rating.

If you live where water and high wind is a problem, vinyl can be the best choice but if you want color and a window that actually looks like wood, this Canadien product is a good bet. Just be prepared to pay as much as a good quality aluminum clad window.