Replacement Window Review: What's Best for You?

If you’re considering upgrading your home windows, hoping to capitalize on the energy efficiency the best replacement windows offer, you’ve got your work cut out for you. There are a myriad of replacement window options in the marketplace today. Wood replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, and vinyl replacement windows are all available in a wide range of styles, sizes, and prices.

It can be confusing. How do you select the best replacement windows for your home?

There are three considerations to take into account: Energy Efficiency, Style, and Price.

Energy Efficiency is becoming ever more important. Fuel prices are raising, sometimes going up substantially in a single day! Luckily, the best replacement windows can help you save energy and money. Look for windows that include double or triple pane glass, insulating gas pockets, low e coatings, insulated frame construction, and more.

Style is a critical consideration. After all, our homes are our castles! We want to have a residence that reflects the residents: your home should be as welcoming, vibrant, and engaging as you are! Wood replacement windows are often the option of choice when trying to match a classic or colonial style home — however, the high price of wood replacement windows can stop a remodeling project cold! Vinyl replacement windows and fiberglass replacement windows are available in a wide range of styles, and can be used to enhance even the most classic homes.

Finally, let’s look at price. If we’re installing replacement windows in an effort to save money, it’s clear we have a budget. It’s important to consider how many windows you’re going to replace, as well as the size and style of window you want to have installed. Wood replacement windows are far and away the most expensive, with fiberglass windows close behind. Vinyl replacement windows offer all of the benefits: energy efficiency, style, and an enhanced enjoyment of your home, all at a reasonable price. Truly the ultimate bang for your buck!

Understanding Insulating Gas in Vinyl Replacement Windows: What You Don't See Can Help You!

The question comes from a home owner’s repair and renovation online discussion forum:

Do you really need the insulating glass in vinyl replacement windows? How much good does something you can’t even see even do? It seems like I’m paying a lot of money for nothing!

The fact is you can’t see either argon or krypton, the gasses most commonly used to insulate vinyl replacement windows. Alside Windows ClimaTech Insulated Glass Package uses argon gas, sandwiched between low-e glass. It’s essential for insulated gasses to be invisible, because most homeowners like to be able to see through their windows!

Industry research tells us that argon and krypton add significantly improve the energy efficiency of vinyl replacement windows. There can be an up to 20 percent improvement in a window’s insulating value (often referred to as the R factor) when a unit integrates insulating gas.

This is substantial! With ever increasing fuel prices driving the costs of heating our homes higher and higher and higher, we’re all looking for ways to save energy. If installing vinyl replacement windows is part of your effort to save energy, it’s critical that you select the best vinyl replacement windows to help you do that!

Saving a few dollars per window by forgoing insulating gas might seem like a wise decision — until you consider the long haul. These windows are going to be in your homes for years and years and years. Don’t you want to save the maximum amount of energy possible that whole time? If you add up the cost of energy that escapes through uninsulated windows over the course of that time and compare it to the price difference between gas filled windows and those without gas, the initial price savings doesn’t seem like such a good deal anymore!

Economic forecast and home replacement windows: What you should watch for

Local newscasts this morning featured stories of elderly residents planning now for this winter’s fuel costs — chances are fuel oil will cost at least as much as it does today, if not even more. With that in mind, many homeowners are upgrading their homes in an effort to make them more energy efficient, allowing them to save money.

Vinyl home replacement windows are a common and effective way to make your home more energy efficient. Unfortunately, unscrupulous vendors take advantage of economic conditions like those we’re currently experiencing to pressure people — especially seniors! — into buying high-cost, low-quality replacement windows.

We at US Home Windows want every customer to be not merely satisfied but thrilled with their replacement window purchases. For this to happen, you need some information. Here’s what you should expect from a replacement window specialist who has your best interests in mind:

They are willing to spend time with you

Upgrading all the windows in a home is not a quick decision! A reliable replacement window specialist will be willing to discuss the process with you until all of your questions are answered. Additionally, a reliable window specialist will not push or pressure you for a lightning fast decision!

They have questions

Just as you’ll need information from your replacement window specialist, they’re going to need information from you! Don’t be suprised if your replacement window specialist has a lot of questions, from the number of windows in your home to how you use certain rooms to the type of weather and traffic patterns your home is subject to: these questions will help your replacement window specialist make informed recommendations.

They have a great reputation

Do your homework! You want to work with a replacement window specialist who has been in your community for a long time, and has a strong reputation for quality work and top notch customer service!

Replacement Windows Offer Energy Saving Versatility

A rolling band of thunderstorms brought high winds and driving rains through the neighborhood recently. The winds were strong enough to take out some power lines, plunging an entire community into darkness.

 This wasn’t good news on a hot, steamy summer night, as Renee Montaigne soon discovered. “With no power, the air conditioners weren’t working. It was so hot, you’d never believe how uncomfortable my husband and I were — and the baby! She was sweating from head to toe.”

In an effort to cool things down indoors, Renee attempted to open the windows. No luck: the original construction windows that came with her recently built home weren’t made to open.

“I thought they were stuck, but even my husband couldn’t get them to move!” she explained. “We wound up sitting in the living room with the door open, desperate for some fresh air. Of course we didn’t sleep a wink: who could, with the front door wide open?”

 Renee’s problem is shared by many homeowners plagued by original construction windows. There’s an epidemic of these low-quality windows in the marketplace, installed by contractors desperate to cut costs. The homeowner’s eventual comfort levels and ability to use the windows is never taken into consideration.

“It’s horrible!” Renee said. “We just wanted to cool off. But what if there was a fire and we had to get out? We couldn’t open the windows!”

Replacing original construction windows with a high quality replacement window, such as Alside’s Excalibur windows, can remedy this common problem. Fully functional and built with high quality materials, Alside Excalibur windows allow homeowners to truly enjoy their homes — even when the lights go out.