replacing aluminum windows with vinyl

Yep, there's those two ways to do it and it looks like there's two differing opinions (sort of) on the methods. Budget will only allow so high a quality window and so far what I've seen (not that much yet) has the molding profile built in that I mentioned above. If I add trim tight against that profile and just enough to cover the flange, I end up with a 2x2 or so. That just sounds like it would look wrong. I could go to a 2x4 but that might start to look pretty bulky. The corners are trimmed with 2x6 so it might be ok...

I think I have to look at more windows to get clearer on my options and of course I'm going out of town for a week starting Fri.

Thanks,
John

I would cut the siding in place far enough to get the old flange out and as wide you would like the new trim to be. I think the Atrium is good window in it's price range for me.It really depends on how much you can buy it for compared to another window. i would no use the Atrium or any other vinyl window with a brickmold/J built in. I don't think it would look proper to have casing butting up to another brickmold casing.