The Right Frame of Mind for Replacement Windows

More and more energy-conscious homeowners want to minimize the costs of heating and cooling their homes, and selecting the most energy-efficient windows is a crucial step toward that goal. So what window material should you choose for your home? The key is knowing what type of window upgrade will give you the biggest bang for your buck without delivering a huge blow to your budget.

Vinyl

Vinyl may be a less expensive window material, but its appearance is far from cheap. A high-end properly installed vinyl window can be a practical choice as it offers excellent energy efficiency at a relatively low cost. There aren’t that many color choices with vinyl, however, and the fact remains that many still feel that vinyl is not an eco-friendly material.

Wood

Wood windows offer the best in terms of insulation, though they require more maintenance than vinyl, or composite frames. If not treated with chemical preservatives or coated with paint, wood windows become susceptible to rot. They may not be the best choice for homes located in extremely humid or rainy areas. On the other hand, many original wooden windows in older homes are still in good condition thanks to the high-quality workmanship and species of wood used.

Composite

Composite windows seemingly offer the best of both worlds: a combination of pulverized wood fiber along with PVC polymers that are strong, durable, and decay resistant. If properly installed, composite windows could be the best windows your home will ever have.

Window Replacement Can Improve Your Home’s Value

Along with front door replacement, minor kitchen remodeling, and adding a wood deck, window replacement is one of the most cost-effective home improvement projects identified by experts.

Replacing a window can give your home a fresh look and enhance its appearance. Between vinyl and wood windows, the former is relatively more cost-effective. However, in deciding between wood and vinyl windows, you also need to consider which is more popular in your area. If your neighborhood is partial to vinyl windows, this would probably be the better choice for your home.

A new window can also generate energy savings. The latest window replacement models are created to be more energy-effective than their earlier counterparts. Some also have added features that make them more resistant to storms or strong winds. New windows have also been designed such that they are easier to clean and can minimize water spots. You may also choose a window that can reduce the amount of noise coming to your home, or have a high UV protection rate to help protect your drapes and furniture.

A good window replacement can also help improve the quality of your home’s indoor air, which can contribute to increasing your home’s value. The right window and the right installation can help you achieve better air circulation that will allow stale indoor air to be expelled out, and fresh outdoor air to come in.

Double-pane Windows vs. Fibrex Windows

Being comfortably nestled in the central Rocky Mountain region, Denver usually enjoys a mild, semi-arid climate all year long, including the summer. Unfortunately, because of the impact of climate change, 2013 has seen unusually hot, dry weather upon the city. Many locals will retreat to the comfort of their homes and turn on their air conditioning systems.

However, if you are one of those who love to relax with your AC set to the max and you still feel warm and dry, a probable reason for this is that your windows are allowing the sunlight to penetrate. A good option then is to change to double-pane windows. Due to how it is designed, this type of window is well-insulated, ensuring the coolness from the AC stays in during the summer and the heat from the heater stays in during the winter.

A disadvantage of double-pane windows, however, is the space they require. Since they are designed with two panes of glass as opposed to the regular one pane of glass, you’ll need a strong window frame to support all that weight and bulk. A good solution to this is to go for Fibrex windows instead, which is a blend of thermoplastic polymer and wood fiber that gives the same amount of insulation as double-pane windows but minus the bothersome weight and bulk.

Adding Value to Your Home

No matter how you gaze at them, old and faded windows never look good in any home setting. They make your home unattractive and lower its market value. Dilapidated windows can even reflect on your personality; not a good way to enhance your reputation in the neighborhood.

However, replacing worn out and damaged windows is not an easy task and─ if you’re not careful─ can put you in a worse situation. Windows must complement your home design or they would look odd or out of place. There are many types of window materials such as wood, vinyl, fiber glass, aluminum, and several others. Choose one that blends well with your house architecture.

Aesthetics may be a major factor in your choice of windows, but you must also consider weather resistance, durability, and ease of maintenance. If you have to repaint windows after every other year, avoid those types. Most important of all, buy window replacements that are energy efficient to keep your energy bills more affordable.

It would also be best if you install custom-made windows to obtain proper fit and excellent thermal performance. Whatever type of window replacement you choose, make sure that they’re offered by a trusted manufacturer. You’ll not only be adding value to your home, but ensuring the protection of your family.

Slip and Slide: On Patio Doors

There’s a huge difference between indoor and outdoor spaces, and everybody knows this. Stepping out of the house will naturally feel distinct from staying indoors due to a number of factors, i.e. amount of natural lighting, presence or absence of walls, etc. Thus, it can be difficult to grasp the idea that you own a backyard or lawn when the space feels almost alien compared to the rest of the house.

Thus the patio was created in order to serve as a transitory area between the residence and the outdoors. While patios do allow a sense of smooth transition between the indoors and out, it can still be jarring to open a door and suddenly be greeted by sunlight and the sight of greenery. This is where a patio door comes in handy.

Patio doors are typically made of glass and are sliding doors. Since they’re made of glass, it allows homeowners to gaze through them as if they were windows, giving them a glimpse of what’s outside before they even exit. They open and close through sliding, to allow householders to leave them wide open for free entrance and exit, as well as to let the air in. These sliding doors are as important as the patio in creating a sense of seamless movement around the property.

Look for the Signs: Do You Need New Windows?

As you already know, “windows” not only pertain to the glass panes that protect your home from outside elements, but also to the frames that hold the panes in position. As such, windows can and do fall apart given enough time since the frames can only take so much use before failing. There are many telltale signs that can indicate that the homeowner will need replacement windows, although some are less obvious than others.

Visible chips and cracks are early signs of structural failure, although they can also mean that the window frames have a moisture problem. As your contractor will tell you, water has a nasty habit of weakening the integrity of the frame as well as providing a suitable environment for molds to thrive in. The latter can also be an indicator that the entire window itself is no longer properly sealed, thus allowing moisture to seep indoors.

If your windows are also designed with insulating properties in mind, you must be aware of the surrounding temperature at all times, more so during the winter. Any discrepancies in the warmth that you feel indoors may be an indicator that your windows’ insulation is already failing. Since there is no way to “repair” a poorly-insulated window, you may need to order a replacement window instead.

Tips on Replacing Your Home Windows

A lot of homeowners consider replacing their windows for various reasons. Some want to raise their homes’ resale value, while others want to keep their homes warm in winter. However, choosing a replacement window is quite daunting especially if your home has a customized design. There are a few things you need to do to make sure you’ll land the right window company and purchase the ideal types of window.

Research

Get to know the product you will purchase. Research the latest materials and designs to know the extent of the installation you should conduct. If you choose big-sized windows to replace a smaller one, you will need to cut the wall open, which is more expensive than replacing with the same size. This will give you an idea of how much you need to spend.

Weigh

Weigh your options as soon as you pick at least three from what’s available in the store. Weigh your options according to their quality and longevity. Most inexpensive windows are made of cheaper materials and may not serve for a long time. Unless you are planning on relocating after a year or two, avoid inexpensive windows.

Install

Contrary to the beliefs of some, window replacement isn’t a DIY type of job. You will make the most of your windows if they are installed by professionals. Call a reputable window company or a reliable remodeling company to have your window firmly installed. This will give you peace of mind when winter arrives.