Home Replacement Windows Features

Windows frame the world, giving us a way to look out at the world surrounding our cozy homes. They allow light in, and add an air of elegance and ease to almost any space. But that’s not all replacement windows do. Advances in glass technology and replacement window construction have resulted in a product that offers a wide range of benefits. These benefits include:

Thermal Glass

Glass, in and of itself, is a very poor insulator. That’s why older, single pane windows are so efficient: heat energy can leak directly through the glass to the great outdoors! However, thermal glass is thicker and specially constructed with enhanced insulating capabilities.

Impact Resistance

A poorly thrown baseball, a rock sent flying off the nearby roadway by a speeding car, branches ripped from the trees by a seasonal storm: all of these can be a nightmare for the homeowner. Shattered windows and razor sharp slivers of glass can be a thing of the past, though, with impact resistant windows. Enhanced construction standards and evolving window technology have produced windows that can stand up to near-hurricane force winds and the battering that comes from random debris.

Sound Buffering
We all love our neighbors, of course, and live in the best neighborhoods on the planet. But that doesn’t mean that we want to hear every little thing that goes on outside. Vinyl home replacement windows can incorporate sound buffering technology, which can deaden or eliminate the majority of noise you hear.

Low e Coatings

Invisible metallic coatings applied to window glass, low e coatings allow homeowners to take control of their home heating and cooling situation by addressing solar gain. Solar gain is the heat loss or gain generated by the difference in temperatures outdoors and in your living space. In a heating dominated environment, such as the Northeast, homeowners will want windows that allow for a high degree of solar gain.

Self Cleaning Windows

New on the home replacement window scene, self cleaning windows use a chemical reaction to maintain a sparkling appearance. Combining a special coating, the sun’s UV rays, and rainwater, the task of washing exterior windows can be virtually eliminated.

Other home replacement windows feature tilt in technology, which makes cleaning windows a snap. The days of ladders, buckets and wadded paper towels are long behind us!

Fire Resistant Glass

The main thing to consider when thinking about replacement windows and fire is safety: you want home replacement windows that open and close easily, allowing rapid exit from the home should that be necessary. Replacement french doors, replacement patio doors, and replacement sliding doors can all make it easier for loved ones to exit the home in case of a fire emergency.

However, there are instances where fire resistant glass might be a good idea: in a door that separates a garage from the living area, for example. Talk with your local replacement window specialist regarding building codes and requirements for these special applications to make sure your family gets the protection it needs.

Locating Reputable Window Companies

Deciding that your windows need replacing is the first step. The next thing homeowners have to face is how to locate a reputable replacement window company. The relationship you have with your replacement window specialist is critical: you need to be able to trust this person and their professional judgement. You’re entrusting thousands of dollars and the safety and security of your home to a relative stranger. Of course you want to find the best replacement windows — and the best replacement window company!

Unfortunately, this can be difficult. After all, how do you know who the best replacement window dealer in Ipswich is? Who handles Alside Sheffield Windows in Gloucester? Who can you trust in Somerville?

The process to find the best window specialist in Massachusetts is the same as it is anywhere else. Here’s what you need to do to find the best, most trustworthy, replacement window dealer in your area.

Ask For Referrals

When talking with friends, family members, and neighbors, especially those who have a home you admire and wish to emulate, ask them who did their windows. Go beyond the name: ask them if they were pleased with the dealer, the installation team, and the performance of the windows since they’ve been installed. This is often your best source of information.

Go Online

A web presence is an essential part of doing business today — and is an easy way to separate the serious window replacement professionals from the fly by night companies who aren’t willing to expend the time, effort, or energy to put up a website! Read the company’s website — but go a step further. Visit local social networking and home improvement communities and ask about the company you’re considering: this can be a great source of unfiltered first-hand experience.

It’s important to remember that no one pleases everyone all the time. If a company’s been in business for a while, they’re going to have a disgruntled customer or two — and unhappy people always make more noise than happy ones! Assess claims carefully, but keep your eyes open.

Check the Better Business Bureau

Every state has a Better Business Bureau. You might feel a little paranoid, but take the time to check the status of the window replacement specialist you’re considering. If a company has had numerous complaints filed against them, that can be a real red flag that you don’t want to entrust your money to these folks.

Do An Interview

Before you commit to any replacement window specialist, take the time to talk to the people you’ll be dealing with. It’s easy to make all the decisions ahead of time — more than one homeowner comes in knowing exactly what windows they want, from what manufacturer, in what style. However, there’s a real human element to consider. You’ll want to assess the professionals you’ll be dealing with. Do you feel comfortable with them? Do you trust them? Do they have a track record for reliability?

Due diligence is part of any major purchase, and make no mistake: home replacement windows are a major purchase. Take the time to do your research, and your efforts will be rewarded!

The Best Vinyl Windows: There Is A Difference

“I can go buy a vinyl window for $150 at the home improvement store,” Meredith said. “Why in the world should I pay three times that from you?”

It’s not an uncommon question. Why is there such a substantial price difference between vinyl windows? Are the vinyl home replacement windows you get from an authorized replacement window specialist really that much better? What about the windows being sold by the new company that’s advertising all over the neighborhood? Their prices are even lower!

The old saying is true: you get what you pay for. This is especially true when it comes to vinyl home replacement windows. Vinyl windows are available at a number of price points — and with a corresponding level of quality.

Nine times out of ten, the windows that are offered at rock-bottom prices, whether from a home improvement center or aggressive telemarketer, are low quality basic units, designed to appeal to the price-driven shopper. These windows are cheap, because they’re cheaply made: quality is not the paramount issue. The vinyl used may contain used or recycled plastics, unlike the vinyl in high quality vinyl home replacement windows. Seals are often problematical, and hardware issues are common.

Many of the energy-saving features that come standard on high quality vinyl replacement windows are not available on these basic windows. This includes insulating gasses, low e coatings, UV protection, and even impacts resistance. All of these features may add to the price of the higher quality vinyl replacement window, but they also substantially improve the quality of life for the homeowner. Opting for windows that don’t have these features in order to save some money will cost in comfort, ease of use, and cold hard cash when the heating bill comes due.

That’s completely setting aside the entire issue of installation. When you purchase your home replacement windows from an authorized replacement window specialist, you have the comfort and peace of mind of knowing your windows will be installed by a manufacturer-approved installation team. If you buy your home replacement windows from a home improvement store, you’re on your own — or making do with whatever subcontractors turned in the lowest bid to the local store manager. Do you really want to leave your home in the hands of the lowest bidder? The situation gets worse if you deal with an traveling replacement window company that breezes into an area, sets up shop for a handful of months, and then leaves town. The work done by these outfits is often of low quality, and there’s no one left to address problems with after the fact.

Don’t be penny wise and pound-foolish. It may seem possible to save money by opting for low cost basic windows, but in the long run, high quality vinyl replacement windows deliver more value for the dollar. From the quality of the window to installation and energy efficiency, there are a number of reasons why high quality vinyl windows cost more — and why they’re worth every penny!

Vinyl Replacement Windows Increase Curb Appeal

If you’ve been trying to sell your home, you know how tough it is out there. A flooded marketplace makes selling any property difficult: homeowners need any and every edge possible to make their homes appealing.

Vinyl replacement windows can provide that edge. Home buyers shop with their eyes first and foremost: a home with an attractive and welcoming exterior is far more attractive — and will sell faster, for a higher price — than a home with either a neutral façade or one needing obvious work.

Windows can set the tone for a home. Prominent, elegant windows make a home appear inviting: when viewed from the interior, high quality vinyl replacement windows framing an attractive view can be nothing but an asset.

On the other hand, low quality or inferior original construction windows are like an ugly blemish on an otherwise attractive person’s face. They distract the eye, diminishing the enjoyment of the whole. This has obvious negative ramifications upon any potential sale.

What should you know about vinyl replacement windows if you’re attempting to sell your home? Here are some things to consider:

Looks Matter

Aesthetic considerations are paramount: buyers want windows that look good. Top window manufacturers, such as Alside, Pella, Champion, and Harvey excel at this: their product lines, from Alside’s Sheffield Windows to Harvey’s Signature series are attractive. A wide range of style options means that every homeowner can find the perfect look, from classic to contemporary.

Quality Counts

The quality of your replacement windows must be in keeping with the home you’re attempting to sell. This has been a problem for owners of newer, larger luxury homes. Builders of these homes often use inferior quality original construction windows: flimsy and weak, with substandard construction quality, especially when considered with the home as a whole. A high quality home should feature high quality windows. This is why many homeowners looking to sell find themselves needing to upgrade to modern vinyl home replacement windows, fiberglass home replacement windows, or wood home replacement windows.

Check the Nuts and Bolts

Potential homebuyers are contemplating one of the biggest purchases they’ll ever make. They’re going to check everything. This includes the operation of your windows. Vinyl home replacement windows will open and close easily, with smoothly operating hardware to ensure that you can keep your windows opened to the desired degree without fear of the unit slamming shut and shattering the glass. Tilt-in features make cleaning and maintenance easy, a definite plus for any buyer. Color-coordinated hardware, available on most vinyl replacement windows, makes for a streamlined, attractive appearance.

Easy Sells

The vast majority of people want to own a home — but they don’t want the headaches that come with being a homeowner. The easy care and maintenance of vinyl home replacement windows can be a strong selling point: vinyl never needs painting, and the durable material has shown to stand up to the toughest of conditions. Tilt-in styles make keeping windows clean and attractive a snap. Make sure to have your realtor point these advantages out to would be buyers.

Vinyl Home Replacement Windows & Security

How safe are your windows? Increasingly, security concerns are becoming very important to America’s homeowners. Crime rates are rising in some areas, with home intrusions reaching an all-time home. The integrity of your home — and the safety of your family — may rest in part on your windows.

Not surprisingly, windows are often the preferred entry point for home invaders. Older, flimsy windows make a robber’s job easy: what could take less effort than prying a thin aluminum frame open — or simply opening a window with a faulty or non-existent lock system?

Vinyl home replacement windows can help keep your family safe. The sturdy, strong frame of vinyl home replacement windows can incorporate state of the art locking technology, making forcing windows more difficult. Time and time again, it has been proven that robbers value speed: if an entry point turns out to be too difficult, they’ll abandon that route and move along. Frustrate their efforts with vinyl home replacement windows featuring strong locking mechanisms and sturdy, secure frames.

Advances in home replacement window technology have also made breaking and entering more difficult. It’s not at all difficult to smash through a thin, single pane of glass to gain entry to a home. However, vinyl home replacement windows often feature multiple panes of glass, making unwanted intrusion more difficult to accomplish.

Shatterproof and impact resistant glass, standard in some home replacement windows, can frustrate a burglar who wants to bust his way into your family’s space. Additionally, laminated glass windows feature security panels that will prevent intrusion.

In less visible or high crime areas, you may wish to consider wired windows. These windows contain a visible mesh that does not break, no matter how the glass is impacted. Because the mesh is visible, most would-be intruders don’t even bother wasting their time: they know that breaking the window will accomplish nothing. Wired windows are often used in basement applications, or in cases where a set of windows faces an alley or high traffic area.

It’s important to remember the safety advantages that vinyl home replacement windows offer, even if you live in a low-crime area. There are two primary points to consider: fire and accidents.

For the ultimate in fire protection, a homeowner should have multiple egress points from their home. This means that there should be many ways to leave a home in case of fire. This can be problematic in a home with older windows that do not open or do not open wide enough to allow a person to escape in case of fire. Vinyl home replacement windows feature easy opening hardware, and will allow multiple points of egress from the home. The same is true for french and patio doors, making exiting a home in case of emergency even easier.

The high quality construction and thicker glass used in vinyl home replacement windows minimizes the chances of accident. Children aren’t always as careful as they might be, and even an adult can stumble into a window. Thin, single pane glass can shatter: durable double or triple pane glass vinyl replacement windows can stand up to the impact and keep your family members safely inside.

Home Replacement Windows: Do It Right, Do It Once

Home replacement windows can be a homeowner’s dream come true, offering an improved appearance, enhanced energy efficiency, and renewed enjoyment of one’s living space.

Or, if you have an experience like Cassandra Holmes, home replacement windows can be a nightmare.

“I should have known better.” Holmes, a single mother with three small children, succumbed to the high-pressure tactics of a telemarketer pushing ‘bargain’ home replacement windows. “I said yes to get that lady off the phone more than anything.”

“This guy shows up the next day. He’s driving a truck, no sign on it or anything, and bangs on my door. ‘I’m here to measure your windows’, he says.” Holmes shook her head. “I never knew he was coming or anything. One kid’s sick, and I’ve got to leave in ten minutes to pick up the other one from soccer practice. I tell him it’s not a good time, and he gives me attitude. He told me he’d come back — but that I’d be charged for two visits.”

That extra charge was only one of many unpleasant surprises Holmes encountered. Rude, messy workmen tromping through her house, destroying her flowerbeds, and frightening the children were only half of the story: the windows themselves were the other half.

“This one doesn’t open,” Holmes said, attempting in vain to turn the handle on a casement window. “And this other one doesn’t close all the way.” The bathroom window has a small crack in it — testament to the workman’s careful style — and when Holmes asked about it, she was told “It’s the manufacturer’s problem. You’ve got to call them.”

“So I called the manufacturer.” Holmes smiled. “And I called them, and called them, and called them some more.” Despite repeated calls, Holmes never talked to a live human being. Then, to add insult to injury, the number she’d been given no longer worked. “It was like this company just vanished off the face of the earth!”

Vanished, mind you, with several thousand dollars worth of Holmes’ money. “The windows aren’t the right size, and they don’t work right. My house is draftier than ever before — I just spent more money on fuel oil than I ever did before! Sure, prices are going up, but my fuel company told me I’ve used more fuel — and that’s because with these new windows it’s impossible to keep the house warm!”

There are several valuable lessons to be learned from Holmes’ experience. “Never give in to a telemarketer!” she said. “If you want replacement windows, you should approach the window dealer, not the other way around.” Additionally, sticking with a reputable manufacturer with an established reputation, such as Pella, Alside, Harvey, Anderson, or Champion is recommended. “These guys all have their own dealers, and they have teams of trained installers who respect your house, your things, and your time,” Holmes added. “And they do the job right, so your windows open and close and don’t leak cold air!”

“For the money you spend, you might as well have it done right,” Holmes concluded. “I wish I had: now I’ve got to redo all these windows again. It’s not a job you want to do twice. Do it right the first time!”

Replacement Windows Enhance Educational Environment

We admit it: here at USHomeWindows.com we might pay a little more attention to the news when the stories are about replacement windows. A recent piece in the Scituate Mariner caught our eye, as it talked about how replacement windows, recently installed at Wampatuck Elementary, have enhanced the learning experience for all the town’s children.

To quote:

While the installation of new windows might seem like a by-the-numbers maintenance issue, Donovan said at Wampatuck it was anything but. The old windows, she said, were original to the school’s opening in 1957. She said after 50 years, they were in dire need of replacement.

“There was some wear and tear, but that’s natural as buildings age,’ she said. “Our old windows used to leak; they didn’t keep in the heat very well, and they were very difficult to open. We have students with allergies and other health issues, so we had to get that issue taken care of.”

Donovan said the installation of the new windows adds more than cosmetic value to the school, but serves as an improvement of the quality of life within the school community. She said given the school’s commitment to providing top-notch education to its students, it was important to create a school environment to support that goal.

“The building didn’t match the quality of education found in the building,” Donovan said. “There was something of a disconnect there.”

Donovan points out a critical point: there must be a relationship between the quality of life enjoyed within a structure and the quality of that structure. It applies, clearly, to schools and other educational facilities. What about your home?

More and more people are embracing the concept of lifelong learning. How do the windows in your home reflect that choice? It is difficult to learn in a cold, drafty environment. It is difficult to devote resources to your education when nearly half of the money you devote to heating is being lost through leaky, inefficient windows. One certainly can’t concentrate when struggling with allergy attacks, made all the worse by the number of irritants making their way into your home through the windows.

Home replacement windows can fix all of these problems. High quality vinyl home replacement windows and fiberglass home replacement windows can eliminate cold drafts by reducing air penetration. Double or triple pane glass, fitted with insulated chambers, helps keep you warm and comfortable.

Additionally, keeping warm air in means you have to spend less money on heating your home. That frees up your financial resources for other uses — say attending a seminar or picking up a book on your favorite topic. Lifelong learning opportunities that may have seemed out of reach due to the cost now become attainable.

Finally, home replacement windows can improve the look of a home. You wouldn’t want to study in a shoddy school — why would you want to live and learn in less than attractive surroundings? Create a unified front, where the appearance of your home reflects what you really value!

Awning Windows Offer Many Benefits

Home replacement windows are available in many styles. You can select double-hung windows, casement windows, sliding glass doors, patio doors and custom shapes. Another option, and one that’s rapidly gaining in popularity is the awning window.

Awning windows are available as vinyl home replacement windows, fiberglass home replacement windows, aluminum home replacement windows and wood home replacement windows.

Awning windows open outward from the bottom. They have hinges along the top of the window, and generally open with a crank handle. The slanted fashion in which awning windows can be opened means you can enjoy having your windows open even when it’s raining, without worrying about getting wet. The operating mechanism is designed to hold the window in position at any number of points, so you can open your awning window just a crack or fully open. This allows the homeowners to enjoy a wide variety of ventilation options.

Alside Awning windows feature maximized glass areas and streamline frames: meaning you have a clear, unimpeded view of the outdoors. This eliminates the cluttered look that older casement windows often had.

If you like the traditional look of divided light windows, Alside Awning Windows feature optional standard, contour, or brass grids, placed between the glass for easy cleaning. These awning windows featuring grids can be used to unify the relationship between windows that feature double hung, casement or other window styles but require awning windows in basement or other areas.

Alside Awning Windows feature color coordinated hardware to ensure a clean, streamlined look within your home. Interior finishes are available in light oak, dark oak and cherry woodgrain. Exterior finishes are available in white or beige, blending with the majority of replacement windows available on the market today. An optional American Brown exterior finish is also available.

Awning windows close very tightly. This tight seal reduces air penetration: less cold air is coming in from outside, and more importantly, less warmed air from indoors escape and is wasted. This increases a home’s energy efficiency, especially when this tight seal is coupled with multi-chambered sash and mainframe and insulated gas units such as are featured in Alside Awning windows.

Security experts often advise awning and casement windows as the best option in areas where crime is an issue. Securely locking frames, such as those demonstrated by Alside Awning Window’s multi-point locking system, make it difficult for a would-be ‘intruder’ to force entry. Some companies offer additional security screens to be fitted to awning windows, adding another layer of safety to your family.

Awning windows offer homeowners an easy way to ventilate and bring fresh air into their home when they want to — while also featuring tight sealing frames that prevent unwanted air penetration. Flexible design options and an attention to detail make awning windows an attractive aesthetic option. Enhanced window technology offers the ultimate in energy efficiency. Awning windows may be the option of choice in some areas where security is a concern. This is an impressive list of benefits associated with replacement awning windows.

Discount Replacement Windows and Doors: What's The Real Cost?

“I told my Dad how much my home replacement windows were going to cost, and he almost had a heart attack!” Renee is a first time homeowner, having purchased a small two story starter home a little over a year ago. “He told me I could go to Home Depot and pick up windows that were just as good for half the price.” Her next question is one that is shared by many homeowners: “Is that true?”

Well, there’s no arguing that top window manufacturers such as Marvin, Pella, and Champion do offer replacement windows to be sold through home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s. Renee’s dad was right on that point.

It’s the next line that’s a little more problematical. Are the discounted windows and doors sold in home improvement stores just as good as those offered by authorized window dealers?

The short answer is no. One primary reason is customization. When you go to the home improvement store to select windows, you have a limited range of sizes to choose from. This is fine, if the window you’re replacing is the same size as the replacement window sizes available.

However, each house is unique. They don’t all have identical windows. There can be subtle and important variations between windows that look the same — variations that can make it difficult for one size fits all windows to be properly installed.

By contrast, an authorized window dealer will individually measure each and every one of your existing windows. Those measurements, which take into account odd sizes, size variations, and other individual factors, will be transmitted to the manufacturer, who creates exactly the right size window you need to fit your home. That’s a degree of customization you just can’t get off the shelf.

 Additionally, there is a substantial quality difference between the windows available in home improvement stores and those that one gets from an authorized replacement window dealer. Home replacement windows from an authorized window dealer tend to feature stronger construction, with higher attention to detail and craftsmanship than those shipped to home improvement stores.

Importantly, the onus of discovering any faults in workmanship shifts to the consumer in the home improvement store. If there’s a fault in the seal or a problem in the construction, an authorized window dealer will detect it, or the installation crew will. When you’re blindly picking windows off a shelf, you’ve got only your own eyes on your side — and chances are you don’t know what to look for.

 Finally, installation can be problematically. Large home improvement stores subcontract all of their installation duties to local contractors — and have absolutely no problem walking away from the relationship should their subcontractors do a less than stellar job installing your replacement windows.

 On the other hand, replacement window dealers know that their reputation rises and falls based on the performance of their home replacement windows. Proper installation is integral to performance, and hence authorized replacement window dealers make sure to have well trained professionals handling their installation.

 Is there a price difference between the two options? Absolutely. But this is one time when the old adage proves true: you really get what you pay for.

Health Benefits of Replacement Windows: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Home replacement windows can have many health benefits, particularly for people with allergies or environmental sensitivities. Today we’re going to take a look at the role home replacement windows can have in the lives of people who have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS).

People who have MCS, which is also known as environmental illness, report having adverse reactions to a number of substances present in everyday life. Triggering substances can include perfumes, plastics, carpeting, gases, paints, resins, synthetic fabrics, beauty products, household cleaners, bug sprays and weed killers as well as foods, molds, pollens and dust.

This is obviously problematical. How can replacement windows help?
As we discussed earlier, home replacement windows can help maintain an environment in which the homeowner can control the quality of air. Preventing air intrusion from the outdoors — which modern home replacement windows accomplish with double or triple pane glass technology, pockets of insulating, inert gasses, and high quality construction — significantly cuts down on the number of allergens that come into the living area and cause the homeowner distress.

If home replacement windows can exclude these irritants, then it follows that they could do the same for other triggering substances. This could be of marked importance if home replacement windows are installed in place of older, leaky single pane windows. These windows are particularly prone to air intrusion — and when every cold draft carries substances that can make you deathly ill, that’s no small problem.

In fact, experts estimate that up to 40% of a home’s heat can leak out into the outdoors through leaky, inefficient windows. That makes one wonder: if so much energy is going out, what’s coming in?

Sufferers from MCS know all too well. A farmer down the road sprays their field with pesticides or a neighbor paints there house: everyday events that can spell disaster for the individual with environmental sickness.

People who are considering replacement windows to improve the quality of their interior air and strengthen the building envelope should do their research. Because MCS is a highly individualized condition, not everyone reacts to the same substances the same way. Spend some time with sample windows from the manufacturer you’re considering to ensure that there’s nothing in the window construction to trigger symptoms.
Vinyl replacement windows have worked very well for some families where MCS is an issue, and they are often the most affordable option for full window replacement. Fiberglass replacement windows can also work well, as can vinyl-clad wood and aluminum replacement windows. Wood replacement windows which require regular painting and upkeep can be problematic, although some MCS patients have tolerated them well. Knowledge of one’s individual condition and reaction to triggering substances is essential. Close work with one’s physician or medical advisor to create the optimum living environment for oneself is recommended.

Controlling and minimizing exposure to irritating elements can be difficult for MCS sufferers — many triggering substances are to be found almost everywhere you go. However, home replacement windows can play a role in creating at least one space where individuals can breathe the air more comfortably.