Replacement Windows | US Home Improvement

“They told me that if I signed the contract today,” Rosemarie Hutchin said, a thick sheaf of papers in her hand, “they’d drop the price by $1,500 — just because they wanted to use me as a reference.”  She shook her head, sadly.  “I should have known my name wasn’t worth that much money!”

 High pressure sales techniques used by disreputable replacement window salespeople are on the rise: not surprising as the economy tightens, and more and more homeowners are drawn to installing vinyl home replacement windows, fiberglass home replacement windows, and wood replacement windows to capitalize on their energy efficiency and lower home heating costs.  With every dollar dear, high pressure techniques are being used to force individuals into bad decisions.

 Reputable replacement window specialists are proud of the products they represent, and can inform you about how the windows are made, what benefits they offer, and perhaps most importantly of all, how they compare to other replacement windows in the market.

Beware of salespeople who dismiss the competition with a simple “They’re just trash windows” comment.  There are so many high quality replacement windows out there that no reputable replacement window specialist could legitimately say that. 

 Be particularly careful of salespeople who pressure you to make a decision immediately — and those who offer substantial, several hundred or thousand dollar discounts just to get you to sign.  Good replacement windows are a large investment, and responsible, ethical replacement window specialists are willing to take the time to help you make a good decision — not rush you into a bad one!

If you’re a parent, you know that nothing is more precious than your child’s good health. Our first priority is to help our children achieve and maintain ultimate wellness. That’s why we buy fruits and vegetables. That’s why we visit the pediatrician so often the nurses know us by name. And increasingly, we look to our homes and the impact they have upon our physical well being.

There are three top benefits where replacement windows – whether they’re vinyl replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, or wood replacement windows — can help you create a healthy environment for your kids.

Benefit #1: Eliminate a Common Source of Lead Exposure

Lead — a naturally occurring element that was once commonly used in house paint — can severe negative impact on children’s health. Behavioral problems, hearing and learning imparment, and delayed growth can all result from lead poisoning. By replacing older windows, which may have been painted with lead paint, with vinyl replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, or wood replacement windows, you can eliminate one of the most common sources of lead exposure — interior windowsills painted with lead-based paint.

Benefit #2: Minimize Exposure to Environmental Allergens

Modern replacement windows minimize both air and moisture penetration, which means that exterior air stays outside. That’s great news, especially for children who have allergies. Many allergens are air-borne — which means that when a chilly draft sneaks through your leaky windows, pollen, dander, dust, or man made irritants come along for the ride. Replacement windows allow you to take greater control of your interior air quality, which means everyone can breathe a little easier!

Benefit #3: Reduce Ambient Noise

Honking horns, screeching brakes, the melodious early morning journey of the street sweeper. Lawn mowers and noisy neighbors. We live surrounded by noise that makes it into our homes — distracting kids who are trying to do homework, hang out with their friends, or simply sleep through the night. Healthy kids need eight to ten hours of uninterrupted sleep — and grades go up when there’s a quiet place to study! Modern replacement windows help buffer exterior noise so your home can be a restful oasis in the midst of the world’s chaos.

With rising heat and cooling costs, homeowners are faced with a very important choices when updating their windows. Energy efficient replacement windows have been around for over 25 years. The standard replacement window comes in double pane glass that has low-e glass and can have argon gas in between the two sheets of glass. These replacement windows are a big improvement over old single pane windows with storm windows. Standard replacement windows have a U value of between 0.35 to as low as 0.29.

Today, homeowners can chose to upgrade to triple pane replacement windows. Triple pane has three sheets of glass with two insulating gas filled spaces and two coats of low-e. Triple pane replacement windows are the most energy efficient windows you can get for your home, and they have U values from 0.23 to as low as 0.15. As you can see, they can be twice as efficient as double pane.

If you have waited many years to update your old windows, you should consider using the best replacement window and that is clearly triple pane.

Installing replacement windows is a great way to save energy, enhance the appearance of your home, and in many cases, improve the functionality and security of your residence. However, whether you opt for wood replacement windows, fiberglass replacement windows, or vinyl replacement windows, you are looking at a considerable financial investment.

Many homeowners, particularly those with many, many windows, know that they can’t replace all of the windows in their home at once. Finances dictate that the replacement window installation must be spread over several seasons.

The question then becomes: where do you start? Which windows are the best ones to replace first?

The first thing to take into account is the condition of your existing windows. Any windows that are damaged, with cracked or broken glass, rotten sills, or compromised frames, should be the first candidates for replacement. Damaged windows simply cannot offer the same energy efficiency as intact windows! You’d be amazed how much air and moisture can penetrate through a crack or hole.

Next, consider which rooms of the house you use the most. If you spend most of your time in the family room and a pair of bedrooms, there’s no sense spending your time and money upgrading the kitchen! Don’t forget the bathroom: most people use their bathroom regularly, and the moisture rich environment can really impact a window negatively.

Functionality plays a role in decision making. Patio doors, sliding glass doors, and French doors can enhance a home — but they can also leak a tremendous amount of energy. If you’ve got older, inefficient patio doors, sliders, or French doors, you may want to address those long before you replace any windows.

Many original construction windows do not open the way they should. Replacing non-opening original construction windows with fully functional replacement windows should be a priority.

Finally, consider size and cost. The larger the window, the higher the cost! Therefore, it may be more prudent to replace several smaller windows first, and then address the large window: incremental progress is progress just the same!

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!

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!

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!

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.

Energy costs are rising quickly, and no relief appears to be in sight. Minor increases in output from major oil producers have been touted as big news — but the fact remains that high home heating costs are not projected to fall much, if at all, by next year’s cold season.

This means energy efficiency is more important than ever. Your windows and doors play a huge role in your homes overall energy efficiency. Experts tell us that as much as 40% of a home’s energy can leak out through a home’s windows and doors. This means installing replacement windows, such as Alside’s Excalibur windows, can cut down on energy loss and save you money.

How do Alside Excalibur windows save you money? It’s simple. There are a number of ways heat escapes through a window. Single pane glass windows — the old-fashioned type you find on many older homes — are often leaky. There’s no good seal to keep winter chill and frigid breezes outside.

Alside Excalibur windows feature an insulated glass unit with two panes of glass, with the optimal amount of air space between the panes. This acts as a layer of insulation, keeping warm air in and cold air out! An insulated bulb seal along the sill acts a physical barrier to cold, air, and moisture penetration. Finally a multi-chambered sash and mainframe means that Alside Excalibur windows offer superior thermal efficiency: not only do you have better glass, you have better sashes and jambs to keep you heating bills low!

Price is one of the most important considerations to homeowners considering full window replacement. This is not surprising, considering the wide range of replacement window prices!

High end wood replacement windows occupy the high end of the price range, tending to start at $500 or more per window. This can be prohibitive, especially for homeowners who have multiple windows to replace!

Fiberglass replacement windows and vinyl replacement windows prices are often more affordable. Depending on the size window you need, as well as the style and features you select in order to enhance your home’s image, you can be looking at between $200 and $600 per window. Prices can be higher for particularly large windows.

With that in mind, how does a homeowner pick the best replacement windows?

Price is important, but it can’t be the sole determining factor you rely upon. If price was the only thing that was important, everyone would use deeply discounted one size fits all replacement windows from home improvement centers.

However, price isn’t the only thing that is important. You want home replacement windows that look good, making your home attractive and inviting. You want home replacement windows that help save energy, lowering heating bills in the winter and cooling costs in the summer. You want home replacement windows that are well-built and secure, protecting your family from both the elements and criminal activity.

This is not a discussion about price. It is a discussion about value. When you consider Alside replacement window prices, for example, you find a vinyl replacement window that delivers all of the longed for benefits — attractiveness, energy efficiency, quality construction and security — at a fair price. Is it the lowest price? No. But it’s a price that delivers top value! That’s how to select the best replacement windows: by searching for top value.