Replacement Windows, Storm Windows, and You

It’s that time of year again: fall leaves are crimson and gold, temperatures are dropping, and home owners around the region are getting their storm windows out.

Storm windows are multi-layered glass windows applied over a home’s existing windows to protect an extra layer of protection during inclement weather. Storm windows are a necessity if you live in an area that has severe storms and hurricanes — every layer of protection between you and the worst weather is a good idea!

But what is the relationship between replacement windows and storm windows? Can one replace the other? Do replacement windows require storm windows? Can you use storm windows with replacement windows? Do you need replacement windows at all, or can storm windows do the job?

These are all great questions, and speak to the common confusion surrounding replacement windows and storm windows.

Let’s look at the last question first: can storm windows do the job of replacement windows?

The short answer is “No.” Storm windows in and of themselves cannot match the energy efficiency offered by vinyl home replacement windows, fiberglass home replacement windows, or wood home replacement windows. While some storm windows feature double pane glass, few offer the triple pane glass and insulating gas pockets available in the best home replacement windows. Storm windows do not stand a chance of meeting modern home replacement window’s energy efficiency, style, or quality of construction.

That being said, if your budget doesn’t currently allow for full window replacement, a high quality storm window can increase your home’s energy efficiency. When installed over a single pane, leaky window, a quality storm window can reduce air penetration, increase the retention of warm interior air, and repel a certain amount of moisture. All of this will increase the comfort and livability of your home, helping to eliminate chilly drafts.

The many benefits of storm windows is why top quality window manufacturers like Harvey and Champion pride themselves on their storm windows. These are well-built high quality storm windows, the pinnacle of modern window technology. If you’re only familiar with the flimsy storm windows of yesteryear, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the quality construction and structural integrity of modern storm windows.

Many times, replacement window dealers will tell you that after having full window replacement done, storm windows are no longer required. It’s also true that installing storm windows after having replacement windows installed can be problematic: wider window frames may no longer fit your existing storms.

However, modern storm windows can accommodate modern replacement windows. You’ll want to select storm windows with impact resistant glass — these windows can stand up to high water pressure and the extreme stresses that occur during weather events. Pay attention to the frames and sashes — while the majority of any storm window is of course the glass, you want quality frames and sashes to provide additional protection and stop leaks. Experts recommend matching framing materials to your existing or replacement windows– if you’ve got vinyl home replacement windows, you’ll want vinyl framed storm windows.

Because Home Matters

99% of the time, we here at US Home Improvement use this blog to write about vinyl home replacement windows, fiberglass home replacement windows, and wood home replacement windows.  That’s not surprising — replacement windows and doors is a large part of what we do.

 However, today we’re going to do something a little different.  We’re going to take a moment to talk about the hundreds of thousands of people in Southern California who woke up this morning in need of replacement homes.  The worst wildfires in recent memory have caused untold devestation on the West Coast.  It may be clear across the country from where we are, but our hearts can’t help but go out to the families who have lost so very much.

Home is more than a building.  It’s more than the roof overhead and the paint on the walls.  Home is not the plumbing fixtures carefully selected or even the replacement windows.

 Home is where we’re from.  It’s who we are — the space wehre we share coffee with our sweetheart in the morning and where the kids watch Sesame Street in the afternoon.  It’s where we laugh and love; fuss and fight, and above all, live: forging an enduring chain of memories from the first kiss to the final, teary farewell.

Losing that — losing home — is more than anyone should have to bear.  It is our hope that the chain of memory gives some comfort to those who lost the physical structure where the memories were made.  We applaud the courage of those familes who have lost so much, and wish them continuing strenght in the days and weeks to come.

Additionally, our thoughts are with the heroic fire crews who are putting their lives on the line to preserve as many homes as humanly possible.

Home means so much.  That’s one of the guiding principles here at US Home Improvement.  We know how much home means, and how critically important it is to each and every one of us. 

Replacement Patio Doors

People have two opinions about patio doors: they either love them, big fans of the wide-open airy feel and access to the outdoors that patio doors offer; or they hate them, having struggled and tugged with heavy, slow moving glass panels!

Why does this happen?

Older patio doors, especially sliding glass doors, are plagued with problems. Aluminum frame doors move on rollers — or they’re supposed to! More often than not, these rollers get damaged, crushed, bent out of shape, or clogged up with the debris an active family can track in and out of the house. At that point, opening the sliding glass door becomes an exercise in brute strength. Considering the tugging, twisting, and sheer work that’s necessary to open the door, most people don’t bother — and the patio door becomes nothing more than an oversized window.

That’s no good! The whole point of having a sliding glass or patio door is that these options are doors as well as windows: functionality is an important part of the package.

What can be done?

What can be done about patio doors that won’t open? How about sliding glass doors that won’t slide?

Repair is sometimes an option, but more often than not, replacing the damaged door is the best way to ensure you have a patio door you’re happy with. Replacement doors offer beauty, functionality, and enhanced energy efficiency.

What are the options?

Replacement doors are available, from top manufacturers like Alside, Pella, Harvey, Champion and Marvin. Replacement doors are available in a number of styles: patio doors, French doors, and sliding glass doors. Homeowners can also select sliding patio doors, an increasingly popular option. Here’s a little detail about each option:

Sliding Glass Doors: Modern sliding glass doors feature enhanced energy efficiency and improved mechanisms. You’ll have worry-free enjoyment of your window for years upon years.

French doors: Double doors that open from side hinges, French doors are a beautiful, elegant alternative to sliding glass doors. They are also an energy efficient option, and can change the appearance of your home.

Patio doors: Similar in nature to French doors, patio doors feature one door that opens while the other stays closed. This enhances the energy efficiency further, while still creating an elegant and inviting appearance.

Sliding patio doors: An increasing popular hybrid, sliding patio doors offer the traditional appearance of a patio door with the functionality of a sliding glass door.

What About Installation?

Of all the home improvement jobs a do-it-yourselfer might want to tackle, installing replacement sliding glass doors, patio doors, French doors, or sliding patio doors is probably not high on that list. There are a number of reasons for this, most of which are related to the actual physics of the job:

Replacement sliding glass doors, patio doors, and so on are extremely heavy. They’re cumbersome and difficult to maneuver. Getting them to your home from the window store and into position is a large job in and of itself. That’s before you take into account removing and disposing of your old door, which also weighs several hundred pounds.

Additionally, it is critical that sliding glass doors, patio doors, and French doors be properly installed to ensure their functionality. If the door is not level or plumb, it will not operate properly.

For these reasons, manufacturers recommend and most homeowners opt to have their replacement doors installed by authorized, professional installation teams.

Are Replacement Windows A Good Investment?

If you’re going to remodel your home, we’re often told, concentrate on the kitchen and the bathroom. These are the two rooms buyers look at most often, and if you have an attractive kitchen and bath you’re far more likely to realize a higher price for your home.

But what happens if you don’t want to sell your home? What happens if you, like many homeowners, decide that you’d like to spend the rest of your life in your home, enjoying the comfort of your surroundings?

In that case, the new kitchen or bathroom you’ve installed to upgrade are enjoyable, but they’re also an expense that’s never going to be recouped. Replacement windows, on the other hand, can actively save you money.

If you want to enjoy your home for the long-term — yet still have a valuable upgrade to point to should life circumstances change and you unexpectedly have to sell — you’ll want to consider vinyl home replacement windows, fiberglass home replacement windows, or wood home replacement windows.

There are a number of reasons that you should consider replacement windows. Replacement windows are a highly visible home improvement that can be seen from the street, appreciated by neighbors and passersby as much as your own family. The same can’t be said about that new sink or vanity.

Replacement windows — vinyl windows, fiberglass windows, and wood windows — are highly energy efficient. Double or triple-pane glass technology, coupled with rigid, insulated frames, inert gas pockets to buffer cold air, and low e coatings to combat solar gain, help you retain valuable heating and cooling energy. This results in substantial savings for the homeowner — reductions of hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in one heating season have been reported when leaky, single pane windows were upgraded to modern vinyl replacement windows.

It must be reported that the same financial savings have not been reported by even the most lavish kitchen upgrade nor bathroom makeover.

The increased comfort that replacement windows offer will be appreciated by you and your family over the decades you spend in your home. Vinyl home replacement windows are particularly durable. Their performance stands up to the test of time well: the ability to keep cold air and moisture outside does not fade as the years go by. This means you’ll have a draft-free, comfortable home.

If anyone in your home suffers from allergies, home replacement windows can help alleviate their symptoms. That one factor alone can help transform home replacement windows into one of the most attractive renovations you can make: by excluding pollen, dust and other irritants from your living space, allergy suffers can breathe easy.

The considerations a homeowner takes into account when they’re planning to stay in their home for a number of years are different than those held by someone who’s looking to sell their residence at the end of the season. However, certain factors: curb appeal, energy efficiency, enhanced comfort, and health benefits, just to name a few; make replacement windows attractive to both groups!

Full Window Replacement in the Historic Home: Wood or Vinyl

“The great thing about these older homes is the windows,” said Agatha McGinns. McGinns is a realtor who works in New England. “They’re large, and they let in a lot of light. They really add character to a place.”

Unfortunately, older windows do more than add character to a home. While they’re letting in light – particularly important during short Northern winters — older, leaky single pane windows let in cold air and moisture. This can seriously impact your enjoyment of your historic home.

Replacement windows can help you enhance your historic home’s energy efficiency and comfort levels. In the interest of preserving a home’s historical accuracy, some homeowners opt for window restoration or window inserts rather than full window replacement, but that’s not always an option.

Continual air and moisture penetration, particularly over an extended period, can result in severely damaged window sills, framing, and more. Rotted wood cannot simply be covered over and ignored — no reputable contractor will recommend such an action. Instead, structural repairs need to be done and at that point, you’re looking at full window replacement.
The choice then becomes wood replacement windows or vinyl replacement windows?

Wood replacement windows

If money is no object, wood replacement windows are very attractive. Wood is a natural insulator, and is obviously the closest match to the look of your original, historic windows. Advances in window technology mean that you can couple the best of glass — double or triple pane glass, low e coatings, insulating gas pockets and more — with traditional wood framing.

For the “Wow!” factor alone, wood replacement windows are often the best. You’ll pay top dollar for them, of course — and that’s not an insubstantial consideration when you’re taking into sill replacement and other remedial work that needs to be done to prepare your home for full window replacement.
Additionally, wood replacement windows require regular maintenance. Depending on your location, you can count on annual or semi-annual painting of your wood replacement windows.

Vinyl replacement windows

Vinyl replacement windows are a by far more affordable option than wood replacement windows. Vinyl replacement windows are available in a wide range of styles, ranging from the sturdy and serviceable to the awe-inspiring: you’ll have to do some research to find the look that works best for you.

Vinyl replacement windows offer superlative energy efficiency options. Insulating chambers, within the framing and between double or triple-pane glass windows, help conserve energy. Dollar for dollar, it’s hard to find a better value than vinyl replacement windows.

Finally, there is the maintenance issue. Vinyl replacement windows require no maintenance: you never have to paint them! This feature is so attractive that some wood replacement window manufacturers offer the vinyl-clad option, allowing homeowners to forgo the burden of annually painting their windows. Additionally, tilt-in features make washing the windows a snap: clean windows are attractive windows.

Each homeowner will have to make their own, individual decision regarding replacement windows, especially when they have a historic home. It’s critical to take into account any local regulations or ordinances regarding what type of windows one can have in a historic home. However, vinyl windows often are the most cost-effective way of improving the energy efficiency and comfort level of a home.

Consumer Reports Rates Home Replacement Windows

It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, homeowners across the nation take notice. In this month’s issue of Consumer Reports, the well-respected customer advocacy magazine looks at home replacement windows.

During the test, the magazine’s labs tested 17 different windows. The majority of replacement windows tested by Consumer Reports were wood replacement windows. Six vinyl home replacement windows were tested, and one fiberglass home replacement windows. Some major brands were not included in the testing, as they were unwilling to submit anonymously, as the magazine requires.

Windows tested by Consumer Reports covered a wide range of price points, starting from a $180 Lowe’s Reliabilt vinyl window to a $600 Pella window made of clad wood. All the windows tested were Energy Star-qualified. Factors tested were air and rain resistance, durability, and convenience.

According to Consumer Reports, replacement windows can help you save between 10-25% of your heating and cooling expense annual. The magazine does point out that the high cost of the home replacement windows often means that the period to recoup the cost of their purchase can be several decades long — but then adds they can make your home more comfortable, quiet, and attractive.

With that in mind, what home replacement windows were rated the best by Consumer Reports?
The top performers were wood home replacement windows. The magazine notes that both wood and fiberglass home replacement windows are markedly more expensive than vinyl replacement windows. When subjected to Consumer Report’s demanding tests, the wood replacement windows tested excelled at keeping out cold and water when new, and showed little change in performance over an extended period of time.

However, vinyl’s more affordable prices often make vinyl home replacement windows the window of choice for many homeowners. Consumer Reports did note that for some homeowners, vinyl simply does not match wood or fiberglass on an aesthetic level: critical for older or historic homes. However, vinyl’s low price and superior energy efficiency have resulted in the product dominating over half of the current US home replacement window market.

Top performers for wood replacement windows were Clad Ultimate and Wood Ultrex Integrity by Marvin. The 400 Tilt Series by Andersen, a vinyl clad wood window, was rated best overall. Top vinyl home replacement windows were 5600 Series Reliabilt and the Alside Ultramaxx.

Andersen, Marvin, Pella, and Alside all recommend professional installation of their products. Many of the lines available from these top manufacturers are available only from authorized dealers who have their own installation teams. What does Consumer Reports think about that?

The answer may surprise you. While it is possible to save a few dollars by purchasing replacement windows from a home improvement store and doing the installation yourself, that may not be the wisest decision Consumers Reports did a survey of their readership. Those who had the installation handled by trained professionals reported that they were more satisfied overall, especially compared to those who used contractors recommended by Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Vinyl Replacement Windows: Often the Best Choice

Homeowners considering home replacement windows want to know more than “What’s the Best Home Replacement Window?” They have a more important question. They want to know “What’s the Best Home Replacement Window — for ME?”

You see, every home is different. Every homeowner is different. That means that every home replacement window solution has to be different — there’s no one size fits all answer to your fenestration questions.

There are many replacement window options available to homeowners. One could opt for wood replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, or vinyl replacement windows. There are times and applications for which each option is ideal. In this entry, we’ll be talking about the times when vinyl replacement windows are the best choice.

When You’re On A Budget

Vinyl replacement windows are often the most cost-effective replacement window option. Depending on what region you live in, vinyl window prices are comparable to fiberglass replacement window prices. Wood replacement window prices are consistently higher.

Vinyl replacement windows offer great value for the money: dollar for dollar, you’ll be able to buy more window by opting for vinyl than almost any other option. Vinyl replacement windows are durable, meaning that your investment will last for decades: a long-term solution at a short-term price.

When You Want To Save Energy

Hands down, vinyl replacement windows offer the ultimate in energy efficiency. Windows that feature double or triple-pane glass, with low e coatings, pockets of insulating gas, and other energy saving features, allow homeowners to enjoy tremendous energy savings.

Experts estimate that as much as 40% of a home’s energy can be lost through leaky, inefficient windows. If you live in a heating dominated environment, such as the Northeast, where you have to heat your home for the majority of the year, losing nearly half of your heat is no laughing matter. Vinyl replacement windows play a critical role in keeping warm air in and cool air out: allowing you to run your heat less often, saving fuel and more importantly money.

When the Look of Your Home Matters To You

Vinyl home replacement windows are available in a wide variety of sizes and styles. Almost limitless customization options allow the aesthetically-conscious homeowner to find the ideal window for their home: whether that’s a classic style in a traditional home or an offbeat shape in a Modern mansion, you’ve got the freedom to have exactly what you want.

The customization options don’t stop with size and shape. Vinyl replacement windows never need painting: hence the wide range of finish colors, both interior and exterior, a homeowner can choose from. Grilles are available in a number of styles, from the traditional nine-pane divided light to more contemporary options. Subtle touches like hardware can add a unique look of elegance to any home.

There are other benefits to vinyl replacement windows, of course. They’re easy to maintain and can improve the comfort and livability of your home. However, these three circumstances are when vinyl home replacement windows are most likely the best option!

Installing Home Replacement Windows: How Difficult Is It?

“You can do it yourself,” the home improvement forum poster writes confidently. “Putting in home replacement windows is no big deal.”

With that advice in mind, more than one homeowner has gone out and picked up vinyl home replacement windows, fiberglass home replacement windows, or wood replacement windows to install themselves. After all, how hard can it be?

That’s when the trouble starts. You see, while home replacement windows — especially discounted home replacement windows that one gets at the home improvement center — come in standard sizes, the existing windows in your home — and the openings they fit into — do not. There may be a discrepancy — sometimes of a fraction of an inch, sometimes of several inches — between the rough opening and the window one purchased.

The next problem lies in what you discover when you remove your original windows. Rotted wood and sodden sills have to be replaced — changing a simple ‘in and out’ job into something far more difficult.

Installing home replacement windows yourself often voids some or part of the manufacturer’s warranty. This can be problematic: unless you’re an expert, you might overlook a faulty seal or flaw in a window — yet once you’ve purchased and installed the window yourself, you may have no recourse. This is not the case if you’ve purchased your home replacement window from an authorized window specialist and had your installation done by their manufacturer approved installation team.

There are some physical considerations to take into account when planning home window installation. Replacement windows — whether they’re vinyl home replacement windows, fiberglass home replacement windows, or wood home replacement windows — are heavy. If you’re considering replacement patio doors, french doors, or sliding glass doors, you can count on even more weight. How will you transport the windows to your house and lift them into position? Standard double hung windows on the ground floor may not be problematic, especially if you have strong helpers, but once you move into larger sized windows on second or third floors, maneuvering the windows into place can become problematic.

Finally, consider your time. Trained replacement window installers can do the job quickly and efficiently, as that’s what they do for a living. They’ve practiced their technique and know how to address common problems as they arise.

However, if you opt to do the job on your own, the situation may be different. Chances are you don’t install windows on a daily basis, which means you’ll have to spend some time learning what’s involved and the best way to go about it. Brushing up rusty or creating non existent construction skills will take additional time. You may incur additional expense if you have to purchase tools to make the installation possible.

This all means that your installation will take longer and may cost more than if you have a professional, manufacturer approved crew do the job. Ask yourself: is this really how you want to spend your scarce time off? Is the best use of your time to spend it doing a job someone else could do more efficiently, with far less bother? Sometimes, if you figure out the value of your time and compare it to the cost of installation, it may even save you money to have the windows installed for you.

Energy Efficient Replacement Windows: How What You Don't See Can Help You

Window manufacturers are always looking for ways to improve the energy efficiency of their home replacement windows. This is true for replacement windows of every type: vinyl replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, and even wood replacement windows — there’s a constant focus on product improvement, helping the homeowner keep warm air in and chilly air outside.

They’ve found pockets of opportunity between the panes of glass in double-pane or triple-pane windows. These narrow spaces are so small they often escape the homeowner’s notice, yet they can have a major impact on the home’s energy efficiency.

The first point to consider is the integrity of the chambers created by multiple panes of glass. The spacers — small hardware pieces integral to the window — used can make a huge difference in this. Older windows used aluminum spacers — which could conduct heat and subsequently create condensation. Now, warm-edge technology and other replacement window advances have dramatically minimized this problem. Additionally, the new spacer technology is far superior to the older plastic pieces that would buckle and warp over time, creating opportunities for air penetration.

Next, think about what’s between those panes of gas. It’s not just dead air in there, although you’ll hear the phrase bandied about now and again. Instead, these chambers are often filled with an inert, insulating gas. The most common choices are argon and krypton.

Argon is generally the default choice — the option that comes standard on most home replacement windows. Argon is an extremely dense, slow moving gas. Argon conducts heat far less efficiently than plain air — the difference is almost 30%! — which means that the gas acts as an invisible insulating chamber.

Argon is a naturally occurring gas: the air we breathe in, every day, all day, is about 1% argon. There is no health risk associated with argon in home replacement windows. Some homeowners are concerned about the argon gas leaking out of their windows — after all, you can’t see argon, so how will you know if it’s gone? However, top replacement window manufacturers tell us that argon gas loss in the best replacement windows is 1% or less annually: you’ll have your windows for decades before argon loss becomes an issue.

The other option is Krypton gas. Like argon, krypton is invisible, odorless, and naturally occurring. However, krypton is far, far denser than argon. Due to this increased density, krypton is a far more effective insulator. In fact, krypton is three times more effective as an insulator than argon, much less plain air.

Krypton glass is generally available as an option on home replacement windows. It does not come standard. However, the upgrade may be well worth it, especially in heating dominated environments such as ours. Keeping warm air in while winter winds whip outside is always a good idea!

Vinyl home replacement windows are available filled with argon gas, krypton gas, or, occasionally, a mixture of the two. The same options are available in fiberglass home replacement windows and some wood replacement windows.

Home Replacement Window Warranties: What You Need To Know

Installing home replacement windows — vinyl home replacement windows, wood home replacement windows, fiberglass home replacement windows or high quality aluminum home replacement windows — is a surefire way to improve your home’s energy efficiency, curb appeal, and comfort. These are the main reasons that homeowners opt to upgrade their home windows.

Replacing the windows in your home is a major undertaking. You’re committing thousands of dollars to improving your home. It’s a substantial investment. Make sure you’re making the best investment possible by carefully researching your replacement window purchase before committing. Part of this research should definitely include the home replacement window warranty.

There are as many different home replacement window warranties as there are home replacement window manufacturers. The warranty on Pella windows is different than the warranty on Alside windows — and that’s different from the warranty on Harvey windows, which is markedly different from the warranty that comes with the window you get from the home improvement store.

It’s a confusing situation. How does the homeowner know which warranty is best for them?

You want to look for the following:

Glass Coverage

The most obvious component of any window is the glass. If the glass in your window is broken, cracked, clouded, or otherwise damaged, it’s going to substantially affect your enjoyment of that window. Glass coverage is essential. Make sure that the warranty covers the seals: seal failure is one of the most common problems with replacement windows, and you want to be covered.

Non-Glass Components

The hardware, frame, sash and other window components are critically important. A good warranty will cover these parts. Locks and other security features should also be included.

The Length of the Warranty

How long is the warranty? At a minimum, you should look for a warranty that lasts twenty years. Reputable window manufacturers have no problem issuing these warranties, as they know their products can stand the test of the time.

Transferability

Transferability refers to who gets to enjoy the protection of the warranty. Does the coverage extended under the warranty only apply to the original purchaser of the window, or does it stay with the window itself, no matter who owns the house the window is installed in? The latter case is called a fully transferable warranty, and has obvious appeal.

Labor & Installation

If you have your windows installed by an authorized window dealer’s installation crew, there may be a labor and installation component to the warranty. Additionally, portions or the entirety of a manufacturer’s warranty may be voided if the homeowner opts to forgo the services of an authorized installation crew and go it alone. Inspect this portion of the warranty carefully to make sure you’re not opting out of protection.

Exclusions

Exclusions are those items that are not covered under warranty. For example, many home replacement window warranties do not cover interior or exterior finishes — these items are excluded. Review this section of your warranty carefully to learn what’s not protected.