What About Window Sills?
Here at US Home Windows, we spend a lot of time talking about Home Replacement Windows. We’ve just started this blog a little over a month ago, and we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of all of the latest home replacement window technology.
However, there’s one little topic that homeowners always ask about that’s a little bit different, and that’s replacement window sills. Think about it. You’ve just installed some fantastic gorgeous home replacement windows. They might be fiberglass. They might be vinyl. But one thing’s for certain — unless you’ve taken action, they’ll be sitting on your old, wooden window sill.
Window sills bear the worst of the weather’s fury. It’s not at all uncommon to see sloped, pitted sills, testament to late-season hail storms and driving rains. They’re not attractive by any stretch of the imagination.
To add insult to injury, the exterior wooden sills deteriorate. They crack and split, creating air penetration points where cold, damp air can work its way in, reducing your home’s energy efficiency.
What can a home owner do about unsightly, leaky window sills? What are the options in replacement window sills? Is it ever too late to fix window sills?
If you’re currently considering home replacement windows, have your home replacement window specialist take a look at the sills. Most contractors will do an assessment and give you an objective report on your window sills condition. Some sills may need to be replaced, while others can be repaired.
Once the sills are in good condition, you can have them covered in vinyl. This vinyl will match the frames of your home replacement windows, making for a seamless, finished look that is both appealing to the eye and energy efficient.
Replacement vinyl window sills require the same maintenance as replacement vinyl windows: none! You never have to worry about painting replacement vinyl window sills, and they clean easily.
The other option is to cover your window sills with aluminum. However, this option is slightly more expensive and requires special equipment. If you have a contractor skilled in aluminum work, this may be the choice for you — but bear in mind that aluminum is not maintenance free. It will require periodic painting.
Ideally, you should plan to replace your window sills at the same time you are replacing your windows. It is important to remember that if you are replacing original construction windows with modern home replacement windows, you will ‘lose’ some of your window sill due to the increased thickness of the replacement window frame. Home replacement windows are often up to an inch and a half thicker than original construction windows.
On older homes, this is often not a problem, as the homes were built with larger, more substantial sills. Newer construction tends to feature narrower sills. Keep this in mind, and if the newly narrowed sill is an aesthetic issue, you may wish to speak with a contractor about augmenting your existing sills before they are clad in vinyl or aluminum.
Comparing Vinyl Replacement Windows: What's Right For You
“A window is a window is a window, right?” Sophie Jorges looked up from her computer and shook her head. “That’s what I thought when I started researching home replacement windows. Nothing could be further from the truth!”
Comparing vinyl replacement windows can seem tricky. After all, Sophie’s a talented insurance executive, used to wading through dense statistics. But when faced with pages of U-ratings and Low E descriptions, not to mention all of the style and size options, she gave up in despair. “What I need is a place to objectively compare vinyl replacement windows — that doesn’t require me to get an engineering degree!”
Luckily, websites that do objectively compare vinyl replacement windows do exist. Consider the following:
The National Fenestration Rating Council www.nfrc.org
Energy Star www.energystar.gov (You’ll want to click on Home Improvement)
The Efficient Windows Collaborative www.efficientwindows.org
You may also want to consider traditional consumer protection sites, such as:
Consumer Reports www.consumerreports.org
Each of these resources will help you get started comparing vinyl replacement windows. Manufacturers contribute to and help support some of these sites, yet all appear to be remarkably free from bias. Take your time to read through the sites and look over the statistics provided. Not all home replacement windows work equally well in all environments, so you’ll want to consider the data presented in the light of how it would apply in your own home.
This can be tricky. That’s why the next step in comparing vinyl replacement windows may require getting you off of the web and talking to your friends and neighbors, not to mention local home replacement window dealers.
Begin your journey by talking to people you know well and trust. Ask them how their vinyl home replacement windows have performed. Are they pleased with their choice? Would they, having lived with the windows for a while, still choose this particular brand of home replacement windows? If they’ve had problems, what are those problems?
Some of what you hear will mirror what you’ve read online, while other things may be wildly different. This is to be expected. You’ll want to weigh the information you’ve gathered carefully, and then, having done your research, talk with a local home replacement window dealer.
Most home replacement window specialists pride themselves in doing a good job for their customers. They spend a great deal of time learning about the products on the marketplace, changing window technologies, and what products work best in their region. Ask them for recommendations. It is true that window replacement specialists are in business to make money — but they won’t stay in business by making poor recommendations! They have to know what products perform well and stand up to local conditions. Compare what they tell you with what your research and personal interviews have yielded, and you’ll be well prepared to make the right decision regarding your vinyl home replacement windows.
To complete the circle, you should be prepared to share your home replacement window experience. Other homeowners will be in the same spot you’re in now. Your objective opinion can help someone else make the right decision and start enjoying the increased comfort home replacement windows can deliver today!
Evaluating Vinyl Replacement Windows
When considering home replacement windows, evaluating vinyl replacement windows is a necessity. Vinyl replacement windows are often the best choice for the homeowner, as they perform well under a variety of environmental conditions, require little if any maintenance, are affordable and attractive. Let’s look at each factor in turn.
Evaluating vinyl replacement windows for the weather. Vinyl replacement windows are proven performers under a number of conditions. Homeowners in the frigid North have reported high levels of satisfaction with their vinyl replacement windows, as they excel at keeping cold air outside and valuable heat indoors. In the more sultry regions of the country, vinyl replacement windows are lauded for their ability to keep cool air in! The vinyl frames stand up well to moisture, heat, and wind. No matter what Mother Earth throws at vinyl replacement windows, they come through it with flying colors.
Evaluating vinyl replacement windows for maintenance. If you’re old enough, you might remember what a chore keeping up single-pane wooden windows was. Every year, chipped and flaking paint had to be painstakingly scraped away. The glass had to be carefully taped. Frames would be repainted — often while the homeowner teetered on a ladder dozens of feet above the ground. Then, after the paint had dried, all that tape had to be removed. Vinyl replacement windows never have to be painted! That’s one unpleasant chore eliminated.
While we’re talking about chores, let’s evaluate vinyl replacement windows at wash time. We all like sparkling clean windows! However, cleaning old-fashioned windows was a laborious, cumbersome job, requiring hauling all of your cleaning supplies outdoors — and let’s not forget that ladder! Modern vinyl replacement windows can be cleaned from within the comfort of your home. You never have to climb up a ladder to enjoy a clear view.
Evaluating vinyl replacement windows’ affordability. This is an easy task. Vinyl replacement windows are very reasonably priced, especially when you compare them to custom wood frame windows. As an added bonus, the energy savings you’ll enjoy with your vinyl replacement windows will offset some, if not all, of their cost! Add to that the tax savings and incentives the government offers to homeowners who install energy efficient home replacement windows, and you’ll discover that vinyl replacement windows are incredibly affordable.
Finally, let’s evaluate vinyl replacement windows’ attractiveness. This is one circumstance where the sky is truly the limit. Vinyl replacement windows are available in a wide variety of styles. You can select vinyl replacement windows to match any style home — from classic Colonials to sleek contemporaries. There are vinyl replacement windows that work will with historic homes. In fact, vinyl replacement windows can improve the appearance of your home, especially if you’re replacing leaky, old, unsightly aluminum frame windows.
Evaluating vinyl replacement windows requires looking at a number of factors. When you carefully consider the durability, ease of maintenance and cleaning, affordability and attractiveness of today’s vinyl replacement windows, the choice is clear. You won’t find a better deal for your money than vinyl replacement windows!
Replacement Home Windows Improve Home's Appearance
“You can see that the previous owners were trying to do a good thing,” said Eric Hayes. He’s standing in front of his home, a classic Colonial with some unfortunate appearance issues. “They replaced the original windows with these aluminum replacement windows — and you can see it’s just ruined the look of the house.”
He’s right. Faced with what were undoubtedly drafty single-pane windows, the previous owners opted to replace them with what was then cutting edge technology: aluminum framed replacement windows. Sadly, though, these windows have failed to deliver as promised.
“They leak terribly,” Hayes said. “All around the frame, and right through the glass. You can stand right next to the window and feel how cold it is outside.”
“I’ve got to admit,” Hayes continued. “I’m kind of hesitant about getting new replacement windows. How do I know that I won’t be in the same situation five years from now that I’m in today?”
That’s a good question. Here’s the answer:
Today’s home replacement windows are better built than ever before — and they’ve proven that they can stand the test of time. Tested in conditions from the frigid winds of Alaska to the hot, humid Florida sun, home replacement windows from manufacturers like Pella, Harvey and Anderson has performed admirably.
Replacement window technology has evolved considerably since the days of flimsy aluminum. Insulated glass, low e coatings, gas filled insulating chambers between layers of glass, and patented frame technology have transformed a simple window into an energy-saving machine!
Up to 60% of a home’s heat loss can occur through the windows, especially if they’re old-fashioned leaky single-pane windows. This heat loss can be eliminated or minimized by installing home replacement windows. Additionally, modern home replacement windows are designed to cut out air leaks around the frame — a hidden yet pervasive problem with earlier replacement windows that contributed to chilly drafts.
Maintenance of home replacement windows is simple. Vinyl replacement windows never need painting. A simple washing is all they need to stay looking sharp. Fiberglass windows can be painted, if you like, and are also available in a wide range of finishes.
Another advantage today’s home replacement windows have over their predecessors is the wide range of styles and options available. True customization wasn’t an option for homeowners a few decades ago, but today home replacement windows are available in any size, style, and shape you can imagine! No longer does your home have to adapt to fit your windows — your windows will fit your home.
“That’s what sold me,” Hayes said. “Everyone wants to be proud of their home. Knowing that I could make my home more attractive, simply by replacing the windows, made it a no-brainer for me.” He continued, “Even though I don’t have a historic home, I could see where home replacement windows could now be an option for those who do. You can’t tell that these windows aren’t original to the home — until you realize that all the drafts are gone!”
What Are Low E Windows?
If you’ve been considering home replacement windows, especially if energy efficiency is important to you, you’ve run across the term Low E Windows. Let’s take a moment and discuss what Low E Windows are and why you might want to consider installing Low E Windows in your home.
Low E Windows are treated with incredibly thin, virtually invisible coatings to stop heat flowing through the glass. These coatings are made of metal or metallic oxides.
Heat is often lost when warmth captured by one pane of glass is transferred to a nearby, cooler pane of glass — and often, from there to the outdoors. The situation can also work in reverse, when hot air warms an exterior pane and passes it along to a cooler, interior pane. This process is known as radiant heat transfer.
Low E Windows eliminate radiant heat transfer. The thin layer of metal or metallic oxide coating is sandwiched between panes of glass. The transfer of heat is stopped. Warm air stays on one side of the window, cool air on the other.
All of this happens invisibly. The coatings used in Low E Windows cannot be seen by the unaided eye under normal viewing conditions. This means that you’ll be able to enjoy your view and let the sunshine in while saving energy. Light can pass freely through the Low E Window.
Low E Windows are available in different ‘strengths’, allowing either low, medium, or high amount of solar gain. Solar gain refers to the change in temperature that can be attributed to the sun’s energy passing through your home replacement windows.
What type of Low E Windows would be right for you? It largely depends upon your climate. Just as different regions of the world call for different building style, varying environmental conditions necessitate different Low E Windows.
If you live in a cold region, one that requires you to heat your home for the majority of the year, chances are that you will be best served by High Solar Gain Low E Windows. These windows help you retain most of your home’s heat while allowing you to enjoy the warming effect of the sun’s rays.
If you live in a more temperate region your needs may be different. Consider a home that needs heating for some of the year and cooling for the remainder. This home is in a unique position: it could benefit from High, Medium, or Low Solar Gain Low E Windows. Seasonal fluctuations in temperature and heating and cooling requirements mean that the benefits of Low E Windows will vary throughout the year.
If you’re in the warmer parts of our country, where there’s seldom, if ever, a need to heat your home but cooling the house is a constant challenge, Low Solar Gain Low E Windows are the way to go. Keeping solar gain to a minimum helps keep the interior temperature low — and reduces stress on your home’s cooling system.
When considering Low E Windows, take some time to educate yourself. Talk with your window replacement specialist and ask for their recommendations. Do your research. You’ll be glad you did!
Replacement Storm Windows: Are They Right For You?
As an unexpected late spring storm batters the East Coast, many homeowners are looking outside and wondering, “Do we need replacement storm windows?”
Replacement storm windows are installed over the first window. Some of the main benefits of replacement storm windows are added insulation and energy efficiency, often at a fraction of the cost of installing new replacement home windows. If you want to conserve energy and stay warmer while the snows fall, replacement storm windows may be for you.
Replacement storm windows have evolved. Many years ago, storm windows were cheap, flimsy squares, ugly and utilitarian. They kept your home fractionally warmer — but they were ugly as all get out!
Today’s custom replacement storm windows marry the best of window technology with stylistic advances. You can have all of the benefits of replacement storm windows with none of the drawbacks.
Replacement storm windows can help minimize air loss. Your warm air stays inside where you want it, while the frigid winter winds — or spring winds, as the case may be! — stay outdoors where they belong. Eliminating drafts will make your home more comfortable, especially for your youngest family members who are closer to the floor and older relatives, who are more sensitive to cold. You’ll be more comfortable, knowing they’re more comfortable!
Additionally, some replacement storm windows offer sound insulation. While no replacement window system can completely soundproof your house, quality replacement storm windows can help minimize or eliminate some of the ambient outdoor noise: a huge advantage to homeowners who live on a busy street, have noisy neighbors, or have other ‘background noise’ they’d like to live without.
Replacement storm windows may be the option of choice if you live in a historic home or a home that’s subject to strict homeowner’s association or locality rules that prohibit renovation. Because custom replacement storm windows are specially fitted to your home, you can add layers of insulation without altering your home’s appearance. Replacement storm windows feature narrow frames for this very reason. They serve as an almost-invisible layer of warmth.
Many replacement storm windows feature screens. This might not seem important while the winter winds are blowing, but once the snows melt away, it’s nice to open the windows and catch the scent of lilac and other spring flowers on the breeze. Enjoying cooling breezes is more than an aesthetic experience: it can also positively impact your energy bills, by reducing the amount of time you run your home’s cooling system.
For the ultimate in added insulation and sound-proofing, not to mention improving your home’s value, you’ll want to consider replacement windows. However, if you want some of the benefits while keeping to a budget, replacement storm windows may be the option for you. Maintaining a historic appearance, eliminating drafts, and potentially minimizing offensive ambient noise are all good reasons to consider replacement storm windows.
Add to that the many reasons Mother Nature provides: the whipping winter winds, filled with ice and snow; the spring rainstorms and autumnal gales. One bad storm is often enough to make homeowners long for some added protection from the elements. Replacement storm windows may be the answer!
Energy Efficient Windows: Save Money & The Planet
You can’t turn on the news, pick up a paper or surf the web today without hearing about rising energy costs. From the price of gas for your car to the transportation costs manufacturers are starting to pass along to consumers, everything’s getting more expensive. The energy needed to heat and cool your home is no exception!
Energy efficient windows are one way you can conserve energy. Today’s modern replacement windows help keep warm air in and cold air out in the winter, and reverse the situation when the summer sun is blazing overhead. Energy efficient windows eliminate heat loss through the glass and drafty frames of yesterday’s windows — which could let over half of a homes’ heat leak outdoors.
The best energy efficient windows carry the Energy Star label. The Energy Star label certifies that a window is energy efficient. Additionally, if you want to compare energy efficient windows, look for the NFRC label. This allows you to compare energy efficient windows to each other to find the type that best fits your needs and desire to save energy.
Other factors that contribute to energy efficient windows are the type of glass used, gas-filled windows, and improved spacers. Low-E coating glass allows light to pass through your windows but not heat, resulting in substantial energy savings. Many home replacement window manufacturers now fill the narrow gap between window panes with insulating gas such as argon. This offers an invisible layer of warmth: increasing your energy efficiency without affecting the enjoyment of your view. Manufacturers have also started insulating the frame spacers between layers of glass, eliminating a former heat loss point.
Replacing your existing windows with energy efficient windows can have an unexpected impact on other home repairs. Installing energy efficient windows today can allow you to buy smaller-capacity heating and cooling systems when it is time to repair or upgrade your existing system. Smaller capacity systems consume less fuel, operate more efficiently, and lessen your family’s impact upon the environment. As energy resources become scarcer, prices will rise. The less you use, the more you’ll save.
Energy costs are high, and chances are that they’ll only get higher with the coming years. Installing energy efficient windows will allow you to make the most of your energy dollars by retaining heat. You won’t be paying for warm air that’s leaking out into the great outdoors — the biggest waste of money you can imagine. Energy efficient windows allows your heating system to have a break. It won’t need to work as often or as hard: this saves fuel. It also reduces wear and tear on your home heating system, which can save a considerable amount of money over the life of your home.
Free up valuable financial resources to do the things you really enjoy. Reduce energy use and fuel efficiency to positively impact the Earth. Installing energy efficient windows can have multiple benefits, for the homeowner and the planet!
Finding Home Improvement Contractors to Install Replacement Windows
Congratulations! You’ve taken the first step to improving the comfort, quality and beauty of your home by choosing to replace your existing windows. You may have even selected the style and type of home replacement windows you want to use. Now it’s time for the next step: figuring out how to get those great replacement windows installed in your home.
Unless you are a skilled and experienced renovator, chances are you’ll want to find a professional to handle home replacement window installation. A skilled professional home improvement contractor can handle the job far more quickly and efficiently than any amateur can — and they have the experience to avoid making costly mistakes!
For maximum energy efficiency, it is imperative that your home replacement windows be installed correctly. The best home replacement windows in the world can’t do their job properly if they’re not put in your house the right way!
How do you find a home improvement contractor who can install your home replacement windows? You could just flip open the phone book and pick a name at random — but we don’t recommend this method! You don’t know who you’re going to get that way. Do you really want to trust your home — which is, for many people, their most valuable asset! — to a home improvement contractor you’ve never heard of?
Instead, ask for recommendations. The dealer you bought your windows from may keep a list of skilled installation professionals on hand: they work closely with the construction community and can often steer you toward people they know can provide you with top notch service. Additionally, ask family and friends who have had replacement windows installed who they had to do the installation. Questions to ask include if they’re pleased with the installation and if they’d hire the company again to do work for them.
When you’ve compiled a list of home improvement contractors, it’s time to do a little comparison shopping. It’s important to remember that you don’t necessarily want the cheapest contractor to handle your home replacement window installation — you’ll be living with these windows a long, long time!
Instead, you’ll be focusing your search on three criteria. You want to know if the home improvement contractor:
- Can do the job
- Has a reputation of doing quality work
- Is experienced with this type of installation
Questions to ask your prospective home improvement contractor include:
Can you do the job?
This is more than the physical lifting and installation process. Ask your contractor if he is licensed to do business in your state and if he has the required insurances. Does he have time in his schedule to handle your job?
What is your reputation?
It’s okay to ask contractors for references and referrals. Get names and numbers, at least three. Call and ask the customers if they’re satisfied with the job the home improvement contractor did for them. Also: do a quick internet search on the contractor and check with the better business bureau for your region. If there are any complaints about this contractor out that, that’s where they’ll show up first.
Have you done this type of installation before?
Everybody’s got to do something for the first time — but let them practice on somebody else’s house! You want an experienced pro to handle your replacement window installation.
Fiberglass vs. Vinyl Windows: Which is Right for You?
While considering home replacement windows, one question is sure to crop up. There’s a perpetual debate between fiberglass and vinyl windows. Which one is right for you?
Let’s start with the basics. If you’re replacing old, leaky windows, either choice is sure to be an improvement. There’s no arguing the fact that modern home replacement windows will help eliminate heat loss and help improve overall energy efficiency.
Top line manufacturers offer the homeowner a number of choices. Anderson Windows and Marvin Windows offer fiberglass options, while Champion Windows and Harvey Windows offer vinyl. Pella Windows handle both fiberglass and vinyl windows. All of these are extremely high quality home replacement windows. How can a homeowner choose what’s right for them?
Price is an important consideration. If you’re choosing between vinyl replacement windows and fiberglass replacement windows, you’ll often find that vinyl replacement windows are the more affordable option. The savings might not appear to be great at first: a high quality vinyl replacement window is often close in price to a fiberglass replacement window — however, when you consider that savings multiplied by the number of windows you’re replacing, the savings can be substantial.
Another issue is maintenance. Both fiberglass and vinyl replacement windows are low maintenance: clean up is easy. Vinyl replacement windows never require painting. They’re designed so that the color goes all the way through: the inevitable ding or scratch won’t show. Fiberglass windows can be painted, if you so desire. If you change your home’s look frequently, this may be an advantage.
The look of your home is well worth considering. Chances are that you’ll find styles that please you on either side of the Fiberglass vs. Vinyl debate. Options range from the traditional to the fantastic. It’s well worth your time to find exactly the style you’re looking for, and then find out what materials are available.
Increasing numbers of homeowners are concerned about environmental issues. Who comes out ahead in the Fiberglass vs. Vinyl Windows battle when it comes to Mother Earth? Vinyl replacement windows and fiberglass replacement windows both significantly contribute to a home’s energy efficiency, a big plus as this allows the home owners to expend less energy heating and cooling their home. After environmentalists raised concerns about dioxin levels related to vinyl siding and windows, the vinyl industry underwent voluntary reforms. As a result, dioxin emissions from vinyl windows and siding have been reduced by over 70% — sure to make anyone who loves the planet smile!
Finally, there’s the issue of installation to consider. Finding a reputable building contractor or replacement window specialist to install your new windows may be the single most critical step you can take to ensure your success. Consider what replacement window dealers are local to you, and what your installation options are. You want to have the best people possible working on your home: even the best windows won’t serve you well if they’re not installed properly!
Home Window Replacement Results in Comforts & Savings
It used to be that if you stood in Marilee’s Martha’s Vineyard kitchen, you could feel the salt breezes literally wrapping round you.
“It was horrible,” Marilee said. “The whole room was chilly and drafty. When it was cold outside, it was cold in here, unless I ran the heater non-stop. With rising fuel costs, that got expensive! That’s why I started looking into Home Window Replacement.”
Home Window Replacement can save homeowners a tremendous amount of money. Few people realize that up to half of the heat put out by the average home heating system can be lost to the great outdoors due to air loss from leaky windows. These windows were designed and created when energy was cheap — no one considered the economic impact of loosing all of one’s heat out the windows. Poorly fitted sills and sashes, loose glass — even cracked panes! — all let the heat out and the cold in, unlike modern replacement windows.
In fact, if you compare replacement windows with the windows you already have in your home, you might notice several important differences:
Replacement windows feature tight seals at the most vulnerable air leakage points: glass to frame, frame to frame, and frame to sill. Older windows often have leaks in all of these areas.
Home replacement windows offer energy efficiency with specially treated glass and insulated frames, helping retain valuable heat in winter and cool air when the summer sun is blazing.
Reduce noise pollution with home window replacement: modern units help reduce outdoor sounds. While it’s impossible to create a sound-proof environment simply by replacing the windows, home window replacement can help make your home into a quieter, most restful environment.
Many home owners, especially those with allergies, report better interior air quality with after home window replacement. Smooth surfaces are easier to clean, making removing air borne pollutants a breeze. At the same time, the tight and complete seal home replacement windows offer help keep pollen, animal dander, dust and other common allergens outside where they belong.
“I put in the windows hoping to reduce drafts,” Marilee said, “and was pleasantly surprised to discover that my kitchen became quieter and cozier as a result.” She smiled. “I view it as an added bonus!”
There are other bonuses to home window replacement. Many homeowners seek out windows to update the look of their home. Nothing ages a home faster than old single-pane windows: home window replacement can bring your home up to date. This is particularly important if you want to increase the value of your home for eventual resale — or if you’re very conscious of what neighbors and passersby think of your residence.
“I love them!” Marilee said. “Initially, I was worried about home window replacement, as it looked like a big expense. But now I see the savings on my heating bill — and I enjoy my quieter, cozier kitchen! It’s clear to me that home window replacement was worth every penny!”