The Top Three Reasons You Don't Want Home Replacement Windows

Long time readers of this blog are familiar with the many positive reasons why you might want to consider home replacement windows. Vinyl home replacement windows and fiberglass home replacement windows offer substantial benefits to home owners. Energy efficiency, improved comfort and home security and strong frame construction appeal to many — but not to all!

Here are some reasons people choose to forgo home replacement windows:

1. Spending money is fun!

What could be more enjoyable than working endless hours to make money — and then spend it, as fast as humanly possible, heating and cooling your home? Sure, you could use that cash to fund family vacations or eliminate debt — but watching up to 40% of the money you spend on energy leak through flimsy, single pane windows is so much more fun. Home replacement windows help conserve energy, keeping warm air inside during the cold winter months and retaining cool air during sweltering summer days. As a result, you spend less money on energy costs — and where’s the fun in that?

2. You’re going to own your home forever and ever and ever.

Even though Americans are on the move more than ever before, selling at least two homes in the course of their lifetime, you’re going to buck the trend. If you’re not going to sell your home, there’s no reason to do the upgrades that will appeal to buyers. Just because prospective buyers value the energy efficiency, quality construction, easy maintenance and attractive appearance of home replacement windows is no reason to consider home replacement windows. You’ll never want to sell your house — and even if you do, you certainly don’t want to realize top dollar for it.

3. Your home features unique, one of a kind stained glass or other antique windows.

While home replacement windows come in a dizzying array of styles designed to complement any exterior, there are a few windows that can’t be replaced. Art glass windows or other custom pieces add distinct character to a home. Rather than replacing these windows, you’ll want to explore high tech replacement storm windows and perhaps window refurbishing.

There you have it: the top three reasons you might want to pass on home replacement windows. Obviously, the top two reasons are a little tongue-in-cheek: we all want to save our money — or at least spend it on things more enjoyable than heating the great outdoors. Even if we think we have the home we’ll be in forever, it’s always prudent to keep the ranch in tip top condition if you suddenly have to sell. Home replacement windows can allow you to not only save money but add to the value of your home.

Your home replacement window specialist will have information on the best ways to enhance the energy efficiency of your unique, one of a kind art glass windows. Replacement storm windows can allow you to have the best of both worlds.

The Best Home Replacement Windows

Marlene thought home replacement window shopping was going to be a quick errand. She stopped by the home replacement window shop while en route to another appointment, thinking that she could simply place an order and go on.

Instead, she found herself answering a bunch of questions from the local home replacement window dealer.

“What’s the weather like at your home? Are you right on the water?” Some of the questions seemed a little more on the personal side. “Is maintenance an issue? How are you cleaning your second story windows now?”

Marlene is not a patient woman, and these questions were taking time. “Just send the best ones,” she said, waving her hand.

Her home replacement window specialist smiled. “It’s not that easy,” he said.

“Sure it is,” Marlene replied. “The best is the best.”

That’s not necessarily so. Home replacement windows are actually a very individualized product. What’s best for one family may be far from ideal for another.

That’s why home replacement window specialists ask so many questions. They’re not trying to pry into your personal life nor be nosy. Asking questions is not an effort by a lonely window dealer to fill an empty afternoon — honest!

Instead, the answers to some common questions can help the home replacement window specialist determine what window is, in fact, best for your home. Not all home replacement windows work equally well in all applications. Here’s the reasoning behind some of the more common questions a home replacement window specialist might ask:

What’s the weather like at your place?

This isn’t just small talk. Variations in environmental conditions can make a huge difference in home replacement window selection. A home that faces the whipping winds and salty spray of the Atlantic Ocean experiences markedly different conditions than a home located in a sheltered side street.

Your home replacement window specialist has the knowledge to help you select the best home replacement windows for your home — but they first need to know what they’re up against!

How concerned are you about window maintenance?

Believe it or not, there are some people who love washing windows. Perching precariously on a fourteen foot later with some paper towels and a spray bottle is their idea of heaven. They also love the annual or semi-annual painting of window frames.

On the off chance that you’re not one of these people, your home replacement specialist can recommend home replacement windows that make maintenance infinitely easier. Tilt in windows for cleaning eliminate the need to perch on a ladder. Vinyl home replacement windows never need painting, crossing one chore off of your to-do list — forever!

What type of windows do you have now?

There are a number of reasons that you’ll be asked this question. First, there’s the issue of a stylistic match. Most homeowners want windows that are similar in appearance to what they already have in place, or to upgrade from that point.

Secondly, knowing what type of windows you currently have tells the home replacement window specialist the scale of the job they’re looking at. If you tell them you’ve got the windows that came with the house when it was built three years ago, they know they’re looking at low-quality, flimsy original construction windows that feature narrower sills. On the other hand, if you’re taking the windows that have been in your 1850’s colonial home since your grandparents were children, there’s a good chance that there may be wear and exposure damage that requires repair.

Five Questions You Should Ask When Buying Home Replacement Windows

Is this type of window appropriate for my living environment?

You live with windows a long time. You want to make sure you’re choosing the right home replacement windows. Are the windows durable and well constructed? Will they stand up to the wear and tear that is to be expected in your living environment? Do you live in a region — for example, the oceanfront area, with lots of salt spray and humidity — that is particularly tough on homes? How will your home replacement windows stand up to these conditions?

What type of maintenance will these windows require?

Every type of home replacement windows requires some sort of care. First and foremost, you’ll want to think about how easy the home replacement windows are to clean. Cleaning is the most common window maintenance task. Tilt in windows make cleaning a snap. Smooth vinyl exteriors used on vinyl replacement windows simply need to be hosed off occasionally, while trendier rougher surfaced vinyl home replacement window exteriors need more intensive cleaning. Vinyl home replacement windows never require painting. Fiberglass home replacement windows do require occasional painting, especially if the original finish is damaged.

What type of energy saving features do these windows offer?

From triple pane glass to low E coatings, insulating gas pockets to sturdy frame construction, today’s home replacement windows offer a number of features that help homeowners save money. You’ll want to discover what features a window offers and what that will mean to your home. Remember that your realized savings will depend in part on what you’re replacing: if you’re replacing original, single pane leaky windows, you’ll obviously have more room for improvement and subsequent savings than if you’re replacing windows that were installed in the early days of the home replacement window industry, which offer some, if not optimal, efficiency.

Tell me about your company.

I cheated a little bit with this one, for it’s really several questions at once. However, home replacement windows are a substantial investment. You want to be sure that you’re working with professionals who will help you get the most for your money.

Ask your prospective replacement window company how long they’ve been in business. Do they have local contractors they work with? Can you have some names and contact information of satisfied customers? Any reputable dealer will be happy to answer these questions — they too know that the home replacement window industry has been plagued with its share of fly by night companies. Sensible consumers do their research first.

What type of guarantee do these windows come with?

Guarantees and warranties vary wildly from company to company. Request an actual copy of the warranty before you purchase and read it over carefully. Do you understand the terms and conditions? Look out for exclusions — these are items that your warranty does not cover. Does the warranty spell out the procedure to be followed if repairs are needed? If you have any questions or don’t understand the warranty, make sure to ask!

Home Replacement Window Warranties

There’s nothing certain in this world, the saying goes, except death and taxes. That may be true — but it’s not very comforting when considering installing home replacement windows. If you’re shelling out hundreds, even thousands of dollars upgrading your home windows, you want to know you made a wise, protected investment.

Home replacement window manufacturers such as Alside, Pella, Marvin, Champion, Harvey and others offer a dizzying array of warranties to ease the customer’s mind. Here’s some common terms you might encounter:

Glass: Refers to the glass used in the construction of your window and any applicable coatings. The most commonly reported problem with home replacement windows is seal failure, resulting in foggy glass. Glass warranties are essential, and it is recommended that you go with a warranty that offers at least 20 year’s worth of protection.

Non-Glass Components: The sash, hardware, trim and other portions of your home replacement window that aren’t made of glass. These are critical window features and should be protected.

Finishes: Very rarely, you’ll see warranties that extend to the exterior coatings and finishes on your windows. If you have this type of warranty, check to see if painting your windows voids the warranty!

Transferability: This term relates to whether the warranty applies only when you, as the purchasers of the home replacement windows, owns the home in which they are installed, or if the warranty stays with the windows, no matter who owns the home. Fully transferable warranties are a big plus if you plan to sell your home.

Labor and Installation: Labor and installation warranties cover the work done by the crew installing your home replacement windows. Unless a certified representative of the manufacturer installed the unit, few warranties will cover the cost of intallation. Check carefully.

Exclusions: These are things NOT covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Common exclusions include high humidity and salt spray — so if you have an ocean side home, you’ll want to check the fine print carefully. Exclusions can apply to glass, finishes, and hardware.

In addition to manufacturer’s warranties, home replacement window installation professionals

warranty their work. These are often limited warranties, so you’ll want to go over the terms of

the warranty with your replacement window specialist and make sure you understand exactly

what is covered and who you contact should a problem arise.

Home replacement window warranties become especially critical if you opt to select vinyl or fiberglass home replacement windows from a discount home center yourself rather than through a replacement window and door specialist. In those instances, many contractors will only offer you a warranty upon their installation — they didn’t pick nor provide the materials, and hence don’t want to be held responsible for any flaws in the windows. The dollars you save buying windows on sale at Home Depot will be wasted if you select a window that has a faulty glass seal or other hard to detect but critical flaw. Make sure your windows carry substantial warranties if you opt for this route.

Vinyl Home Replacement windows Help You Stay Cool in the Summer

Don’t believe the calendar — summer is here! Soaring temperatures make reaching for the air conditioner tempting — but high energy costs make that comfort costly. Don’t sweat it! Vinyl home replacement windows can help you stay as cool as a cucumber — without making your wallet work overtime.

To understand how vinyl home replacement windows help you stay cool in the summer, let’s take a look at how air conditioners work. There are many different types of air conditioners, but most work on the same basic principal. Air conditioners are similar to a refrigeration unit — but instead of blowing cold air into an insulated box that holds your food and beverages, air conditioners send cold air into your living area.

The more air-tight your living area is, the better. Cool air created by your air conditioning unit will stay indoors with you, creating a comfortable living space.

Windows play an integral role in your living area’s integrity. Builders sometimes talk about the building envelope: the shell that surrounds the space you live in — the walls, the floor, the roof, and the windows.

Windows and doors are the two most vulnerable points in most building envelopes. Older, leaky windows can allow as much as 40% of your heated or cooled air to escape to the great outdoors. It’s just like running your refrigerator with the door open! You may be able to create some level of cool comfort within your home — but your air conditioner will have to work really hard to do it.

Replacing your leaky windows with vinyl home replacement windows, such as those manufactured by Alside, Pella, Andersen, Harvey and others, improves your building envelope. Vulnerable points where cool air can escape to the great outdoors are eliminated. Vinyl home replacement windows with features like triple pane glass, insulating gasses, and special coatings, help strengthen the building envelope. A greater amount of cooled air will be retained within your home.

When more cool air remains in your living space, you’ll reach your target temperature — the one where you feel comfortable — sooner. This allows your air conditioning unit to work for less time, saving energy. Additionally, maintaining that cool temperature is much easier when your vinyl home replacement windows prevent air loss. This means your air conditioner will need to run less often.

Running your air conditioner for shorter and less frequent intervals has an immediate impact on your energy bill. Less consumption equals less cost. However, there are long term savings to consider as well. Decreasing the duration and frequency of use of your air conditioning unit can extend the practical usable life of your air conditioning unit. Air conditioners are not cheap, so this is a huge added plus.

Vinyl home replacement windows help increase a home’s energy efficiency. By playing an integral role in the building’s envelope, vinyl home replacement windows ensure that cold air stays indoors, keeping you cool and comfortable while saving money. That way, when the monthly utility bill arrives, you won’t have to sweat it!

Vinyl Home Replacement Windows Come With Tax Benefits

Vinyl home replacement windows come with many benefits: energy efficiency, improved appearance, and impact resistance. Yet there was one benefit that came as a surprise to homeowner Meghann Crarey.

“I’d gotten the Alside windows last fall, and I was very pleased with them,” she explained. “They look great, the installers did a fantastic job, and I’ve already seen the difference in my heating bill. But honestly, I didn’t really think about the Alside windows much after they were put in.”

That was true, at least, until tax season rolled around. That’s when Crarey’s replacement home window purchase became a topic of conversation once again.

“Our accountant was going over the paperwork with us, and she asked us about any home improvements. I couldn’t really think of any, but then my husband said, “We did have the Alside windows put in.” She smiled. “Was I glad he mentioned that!”

Having home replacement windows installed can qualify a homeowner for a substantial tax credit. Home replacement windows are considered an eligible building envelope component — a factor that can contribute to a home’s overall energy efficiency and hence attractive to the government. Because the government wants to encourage energy efficiency, substantial tax credits are offered to homeowners who install home replacement windows and doors.

As of this writing, federal tax credits for home replacement window installation max out at $200. Individual states have their own tax credit programs, some of which are very favorable to home replacement window installation.

There are certain criteria to keep in mind when buying home replacement windows. Your purchase of home replacement windows must occur during the tax year in which you claim the credit. You can only offset the cost of the actual windows with the credit — labor, installation, and delivery charges are not eligible. You’ll need an invoice from your replacement window dealer detailing the cost of the window.

Replacement doors are often also eligible for these tax credits, and must meet similar criteria.

“It’s not a ton of money,” Crarey admitted, “but it certainly helped our tax situation. I wonder how many other homeowners would consider home replacement windows if they knew there were tax benefits.”

The best way to determine if you’d be eligible for tax credits due to home replacement window installation is to speak directly with your tax advisor. They’ll have a far better grasp of your financial situation than we can offer you here in this blog.

Tax considerations can certainly accelerate the payback time associated with new home replacement windows. “We got $200 back,” Crarey said. “That’s almost the cost of one window, in and of itself — it was like we bought these eight windows, but with the tax break, we got one for free.” Couple that tax benefit with the savings due to energy efficiency, and “Opting for home replacement windows is a no-brainer,” Crarey said. “They really do pay for themselves! What could be better than that?”

Triple Pane Glass: The Power of Three

Triple pane glass windows are a very popular option. If you’re shopping for home replacement windows, you’re sure to be presented with a selection of triple pane glass windows — but you might not understand exactly what triple pane glass windows are nor what benefits they offer the homeowner.

So let’s take a look at triple pane glass windows and why you may want to consider them for your home.

What are triple pane glass windows?

Triple pane glass windows feature (as you might imagine) three panes of glass set within the frame. There is an exterior pane, that contacts the outside air, an interior pane that faces toward your living space, and a central pane that divides the two.

Pockets of air are trapped between these panes, creating an insulating barrier. For maximum efficiency, ordinary air is often replaced with inert insulating gasses, helping keep cold air outside and warm air in, or vice versa as desired.

Low e coatings are often, almost always, applied to the glass is triple pane glass windows, further enhancing their energy efficiency by eliminating solar gain.

What are the benefits of triple pane glass windows?

Triple pane glass windows offer homeowners many benefits. The primary benefit, however, is far and away their enhanced energy efficiency. Triple pane glass windows are among the most energy efficient models on the market today. Due to the extra pane of glass, insulating gasses, and special coatings, triple pane glass windows excel at conserving energy.

As much as 40% of a home’s energy can be lost through old, leaky, single pane windows. Any upgrade is obviously beneficial, but upgrading to the best possible option will save you the maximum amount of money on your heating and cooling bill.

Triple pane glass windows excel at saving energy. They’re also a heavy-duty sturdy option for the homeowner who values quality as well as beauty.

Can I install triple pane glass windows myself?

While the skill set required to install triple pane glass windows is nearly identical to the skill set required to install any other type of home replacement windows, there is a crucial difference. Triple pane glass windows are very heavy. Physically moving windows around your home and maneuvering them into place can be challenging, which is why triple pane glass window manufacturers, such as Alside, Pella, and Andersen often recommend professional installation of their product.

To recap, triple glass pane windows feature three panes of glass, often with pockets of insulating gasses and low e coatings to enhance energy efficiency. Triple glass pane windows can enhance a home’s overall energy efficiency and help retain valuable heating and cooling dollars.

Glass and window technology is constantly improving. Triple glass pane windows offer homeowners literally three times the benefit by combining three panels of high-tech, specially treated glass. This does result in a heavier, often more expensive window — but when the energy savings and improved home efficiency are considered, the cost is well worth it.

Installing Home Replacement Windows: A Do It Yourself Job?

Home replacement windows offer homeowners many benefits. From energy efficiency to an improved appearance, sound buffering to impact resistance, UV protection and more, there’s a ever-expanding list of benefits affiliated with home replacement windows. However, these benefits come with a price: replacement windows can set a homeowner back a pretty penny.

One way homeowners can save money on home replacement window installation is to do the installation themselves. Labor costs make up a great deal of any home window replacement project, which makes many homeowners wonder: Do I really need a pro?

The answer depends on large part on you. Some homeowners can install home replacement windows themselves, while others are far better off leaving the job to the pros. Here’s how to determine if you should go it alone or contact a contractor:

Assess Your Skills

Ask yourself honestly, how handy are you? If you’ve never built anything outside of high school shop class — and that was fifteen years ago! — then you might want think twice about installing your home replacement windows. To realize the maximum benefit from your home replacement windows — the energy efficiency, the improved appearance, and more — they need to be installed properly. If you’ve done enough home improvement projects that you feel confident in your skills, then you may be able to ensure that your home replacement windows are installed properly. But if you have the least question or the slightest doubt about your skill level, professional assistance would be a good idea

Consider The Weight

Home replacement windows — especially larger, custom home replacement windows — are very heavy. Do you have the ability to move these home replacement windows, which can weigh upwards of one hundred pounds? Can you lift them up into place for installation?

If you have a group of strong people who can assist you install the home replacement windows, then you may be able to do home replacement window installation yourself. However, if you’re on your own or know that moving heavy windows would present a serious challenge, calling on the pros is the best bet.

Talk about Time

Anytime you do something new, it takes a little while to learn what you’re doing. That’s human nature. Installing a home replacement window, especially the first one, can take some time. Professionals, who install vinyl replacement windows and fiberglass replacement windows hundreds of times each year, can do so quickly and efficiently. They’ve eliminated the learning curve through practice. If you want to minimize the amount of time your household is disrupted by having the home replacement windows installed, you’ll want to go with a pro.

There are other factors to consider, of course, but skills, weight and time are the three most critical components to take into account when deciding to install your home replacement windows yourself or call in a professional home replacement window installer. The money saved when shouldering the labor yourself will not seem so great if you damage a window during installation or do a poor job fitting the window in place. Make sure that you’re equipped to do the job if you decide to go it alone.

Vinyl Windows: The Inside Scoop

Vinyl windows are nothing new — first introduced by BF Goodrich in 1959, they’ve been part of the American home renovation scene for nearly fifty years. Yet for all that longevity, many people don’t know very much about vinyl windows — not what they’re made of, nor what advantages they offer the homeowner.

What is vinyl?

In the simplest possible terms, vinyl is a mixture of petroleum and salt. It comes into existence as a powder, which is used to create a resin. This resin can be extruded — this is how most home replacement windows are created — or molded, or bent into shape used a process called thermoforming.

What is the history of vinyl windows?

They say every cloud has a silver lining. Vinyl windows were born out of the horrors of war. In Post-WW II Germany, there was a tremendous need to rebuild a devastated country — and an equally tremendous shortage of building materials. Rather than using scarce wood or metal to frame windows, Germans began manufacturing vinyl windows.

The trend crossed the pond in 1959, coupling the German innovation with the American taste for streamlined style. The industry hit the ground running and has never looked back.

What are the advantages of vinyl windows?

Vinyl windows originated to counter a shortage in traditional building materials. However, they turned out to be more than a stopgap measure. Vinyl windows offer a number of benefits that make them the window of choice for many homeowners.

Vinyl windows save energy. By eliminating air leakage, vinyl windows keep warm air inside during the winter and cooled air inside during the summer. This obviously has a positive effect on energy costs: if you’re not losing 40% of your heat to the great outdoors, you’ll save a lot of money.

Vinyl windows are earth-friendly! Rather than cutting down trees to produce wood framed windows or mining aluminum from deep below the earth’s surface, vinyl windows can be produced from recycled materials. Vinyl can be recycled and reprocessed repeatedly, and scrap from production is routinely worked back into new material. Industry estimates tell us that as much as 99% of all vinyl manufactured eventually makes its way into a finished product. There is little to no waste — an imperative consideration to those who want to take it easy on the earth.

Vinyl windows have a proud tradition. Born out of necessity, they’ve evolved constantly as manufacturers continually strive to improve energy efficiency and eliminate production waste. This makes them a truly attractive choice for the green, environmentally-conscious homeowner.

It isn’t just environmentalists who opt for vinyl. Homeowners who want to improve the market value of their home often choose vinyl home replacement windows, as do those who want to save money on heating costs.

People may not know the history of vinyl. They may not understand what chemicals go into the frame’s makeup nor the processes that vinyl must go through before it emerges as a shiny new window frame. None of that matters! They can still enjoy vinyl window’s many benefits!

New Home Windows: The Dirty Little Secret Contractors Don't Want You To Know About

“My home isn’t even three years old,” said Sophia. “How in the world can I need replacement windows already?” A glance at the electric bill in her hand, which had climbed astronomically during this winter’s particularly frigid cold snap, provided the answer: the original windows that came with the house weren’t doing her any favors.

The windows in Sophia’s home — and the sliding door that leads to her patio — were standard ‘builder’s’ models. These original windows and doors are designed for two reasons and two reasons only: they’re inexpensive and they’re easy to install. When builders are concentrating on moving rapidly for maximum profitability, the homebuyer pays — in more ways than one.

Quickly and cheaply constructed, original construction windows seldom feature the workmanship that home replacement windows offer. Also missing: the energy efficiency that could have saved Sophia hundreds, perhaps thousands of dollars over the cold winter months.

Home replacement windows, with either vinyl replacement windows or fiberglass replacement windows, is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to upgrade your home. Not only are you replacing less-than-ideal original construction windows with better built home replacement windows, you’ll get the added benefit of energy efficiency and enhance your home’s value.

Windows and doors are one area where renovators can never cut corners. Home buyers, particularly those who know of the cheap, low quality windows often used in original construction, are quick to take note of home replacement windows. Having home replacement windows installed increases a home’s value, makes it easier to ‘sell’ and eliminates one point of sales resistance — particularly important in today’s competitive housing market.

It may be frustrating to sink the money into home replacement windows into a relatively new home, but it makes strong economic sense. Much of a home’s energy is lost through windows and doors. Some industry experts estimate that as much as 40 percent — that’s nearly half! — of your home’s heat can escape into the great outdoors through leaky windows. This can be old-fashioned single paned windows in an older home — or the cheap and flimsy original construction windows found in all too many modern homes. Either way, it’s an expense you shouldn’t have to bear. Keep that energy inside with you where it belongs by installing home replacement windows.

If Sophia installed home replacement windows today, and enjoyed even a fraction of the expected savings from the resulting energy conservation high tech home replacement windows featuring insulated glass, low E coatings, and other energy saving features offer, they will pay for themselves long before she’s ready to pull up stakes and buy another home. Feature in the added value the home replacement windows present when she puts her home on the market, and it became an easy choice for Sophia.

“I never expected to have to replace my windows so soon,” she said. Then she held up the electric bill. “But I never expected to shell out this much money for heat, either. I’d rather spend my money improving my home than heating the great outdoors!”