Vinyl Replacement Windows & The Environment: What's the Real Story?

“I don’t know,” Maria said. “I was pretty well convinced to go with vinyl replacement windows, but then my coworker told me they were pretty harsh on the environment. And the vinyl gives off gasses that wrecks the interior air quality.”

Maria’s been misinformed. The production of vinyl replacement windows is actually relatively environmentally friendly. In fact, vinyl is cited by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) as very energy efficient for use in buildings. At the most basic level, vinyl is a combination of salt and petroleum. Vast technological advances have been made to reduce the amount of energy required to transform the salt and petroleum into attractive vinyl replacement windows.

After the window frames are constructed, affixing the glass and hardware requires less energy and labor than either wood or fiberglass replacement windows, yet the quality of vinyl replacement windows is equal or superior to both alternatives.

Finally, vinyl replacement window frames and the scrap vinyl produced during the manufacturing process is recyclable. This is obviously an environmental benefit, reducing the amount of raw materials required for manufacturing.
Vinyl replacement windows are the green option for homeowners looking to upgrade or replace their existing windows.

Finally, about those gasses Maria was worried about. The phenomenon of ‘off gassing’, the natural evaporation of volatile chemicals from a non-metallic source, is most often encountered in paint fumes, or by the experience of opening a new vinyl shower curtain. The scents you encounter potentially carry health hazards.

However, off gassing in vinyl is associated with what are known as plasticizers, a component used to make vinyl more flexible and elastic. Vinyl window frames contain a far lower percentage of plasticizers, and are consistently rated as neutral or as non-sources of off gasses when tested. That’s one thing Maria doesn’t have to worry about — and neither do you.

Replacement Window Warranties: Focusing on the Fine Print

Replacement windows are a substantial investment. You’re upgrading your home in an effort to save energy, enhance your home’s appearance, and create a more comfortable living space for your family.

If you’re like most homeowners, it’s not that you mind spending the money. It’s that you want to make sure you’re spending your money wisely! You want to ensure that the vinyl replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, or wood replacement windows are a good investment.
That’s why warranties are so important.
Recently, with so many smaller replacement window companies folding, we’ve been hearing a lot of anxiety about replacement window warranties. Here’s what you need to know to put your mind at ease:

Get a Copy of the Actual Warranty

When your windows are installed, insist on being provided with a copy of the actual warranty. You need more than a document that says “These windows carry the Brand X guarantee!” You want the paper that spells out what the Brand X guarantee says: all of the terms and conditions.

Keep this paper in a safe place!

Understand What Is Covered by the Warranty

Read through the fine print. Every replacement window warranty is different. Discover what is covered: the glass, the seals, the frame construction, the hardware. Look for language surrounding conditions of use: are your windows warrantied for residential use? Commercial use? Make sure you read any clauses covering what will void your warranty: painting windows can do this, or having the windows installed by someone other than an authorized replacement window specialist.

Understand Who Is Issuing the Warranty

Generally, the manufacturer’s warranty will cover the windows. Your local replacement window specialist will warranty the installation of the windows.

Worried About Winter? The Benefits of Alside Excalibur Windows

Hurricane Ike has just finished moving through the region, and in that mighty storm’s wake, we find the first hints of winter’s impending arrival. Nothing’s going to stop the cold weather from coming. With the cost of home heating rising every single day, it’s time to consider how vinyl replacement windows can help you save money and stay warm while winter winds blow.

In this piece, we’re going to talk specifically about Alside Excalibur windows, as Alside Excalibur windows offer the ultimate in energy efficiency, durable and attractive construction, and functionality, all at an affordable price.

Alside Excalibur windows feature fusion-welded mainframes and sashes. This means that your windows are designed to stand up to tough New England winters. They’re not going to buckle and bend when the wind delivers freezing rain. Sloped sills help deflect rain and melting snow away from your window, reducing moisture penetration — a major source of energy loss, mold, mildew, and cold drafts.

Alside Excalibur windows also have insulated glass units, with PPG Intercept Warm Edge Spacer Systems. What this means for you is an energy efficient unit, designed to keep warm interior air inside and frigid winter wind out. The more warm air that stays in, the less you have to run your furnace — saving energy and money!

Finally, we all want to have an attractive home. Our homes are sources of pride to us: we want to be able to show our colleagues and peers an impressive facade. We want our neighbors to be happy we live close by! Our homes are a tangible demonstration of the love and respect we have for our families. Alside Excalibur windows feature a slimline, crisp style that works with almost every decor, highlighting your dedication to quality and comfort!

Replacement Window Sizes

One of the most common questions we hear about at US Home Improvement is replacement window sizes. Customers want to know what sizes windows ‘come in’. They’re curious about ‘stock sizes’.

Guess what?

There’s no such thing. At least not in high quality replacement windows!

Homes are like people: they come in a variety of sizes and styles. Some are tall and narrow, others are short and wide. Some feature long, sloping roofs, while others have flat tops. Some people enter their homes through a double door that opens into a grand foyer, while others have a simple entryway that leads into a cheery kitchen.

Our homes are as individual as we are.

The same holds true for the windows we’re talking about replacing. Picture windows can be huge, framing a beautiful view, and absolutely making a living or family room a special place. Powder room windows tend to be petite: far smaller than the ‘stock size’ replacement window models you’ll find in a discount home center.

A reputable replacement window specialist will measure each of your windows. Then they’ll order customer sized windows, made for that particular window, to ensure that the vinyl replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, or wood replacement windows that you’ve selected will fit perfectly.

This is the best way to minimize air and moisture penetration: the two primary causes of cold drafts, heat loss, and an uncomfortable environment.

Custom sized replacement windows fit better. This means they look better, enhancing the appearance of your home — inside and out!

What about those stock-size windows? The truth is that it’s like fitting a square peg into a round hole: with enough will power and make-do methodology, you can sometimes ‘get by’ with something that doesn’t look too bad. You’re compromising the energy efficiency benefits of installing replacement windows, and often, you don’t have the warranty protection that comes with quality vinyl replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, or wood replacement windows.

That might be okay with you — but most people want something better for their homes!