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How to choose the right windowsThere is a lot to consider before purchasing your windows. Technology has come a long way. It is important you know the options available to you. Some say you can decrease your heat loss by as much as 38% if you choose the right product. So lets get started.
NEW CONSTRUCTION OR REPLACEMENT WINDOWS The first decision you will need to make is weather you need new construction or replacements. New construction products are easy to install. They come with a nailing fin. This fin allows you to put the window in the opening and nail it to the house via the nailing fin. Replacement products on the other hand, normally have to be screwed in place through the window jam. If you are building a new home or adding an addition, then purchase new construction windows. If you are replacing them in and existing home, then you will need to purchase replacements. WOOD OR VINYL WINDOWS Vinyl is maintenance free. They are less expensive than wood and they are very efficient. The down side is they can not be stained or painted to match existing interior trim or exterior siding. They are usually offered in white and tan(for the lack of a better color description). There are companies such as Paradigm, that offer an array of colors, even black. Some manufacturers offer vinyl products that look like wood. If you look around, you should have no problem finding what you are looking for.
Wood is usually more expensive than vinyl. They too are very efficient. Wood can be painted or stained to match interior wood work or exterior siding. You can order them with cladding. This is a wrap on the exterior that is maintenance free. This allows you to stain or paint the inside and keep the outside maintenance free. Some feel wood increase the value of the home more than vinyl. I am not sure that it matters that much. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Vinyl is very popular these days.
ENERGY EFFICIENT RATING Make sure your they have been rated by the National Fenestration Rating Counsel (NFRC). You can tell by the sticker pictured below.
2. Should be rated by an independent company. May be different than the NFRC. However the NFRC is the best source for energy efficient information. 3. Tells if the it is tested for residential or commercial use. 4. U-factor. This is and important rating for Michigan. U-factor measures how well it keeps heat from escaping the home. U-factors are rated between 0.20 and 1.20. The lower the factor, the better it is at keeping heat in the house. In Michigan, you may want a factor on the low side. A huge improvement in the industry has been the addition of Low E coatings. Low E is “Thin, transparent coatings of silver or tin oxide that permit visible light to pass through, but they effectively reflect infrared heat radiation back into the room. This reduces heat loss through them in the winter“ as noted by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. Also adding to efficiency according to American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy is “Low-conductivity gas fill. By substituting a denser, lower conductivity gas such as argon for the air in a sealed insulated glass window, heat loss can be reduced significantly. Most major window manufacturers offer argon-gas fill as an option in their most popular windows. Other gases that have been or are being used in windows include carbon dioxide (CO2), krypton (Kr), and argon-krypton mixtures”. 5. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). Measures how well the product blocks heat from the sun. The rating is from 0-1. The lower the number, the better the product blocks heat from the sun. 6. Visible Light Transmission (vlt). This tells you how much light is allowed to pass through. The rating is from 0-1 with 0 blocking light and 1 allowing full light. 7. Manufactures description.
Some stickers may have an Air Leakage (AL) measurement as well. This is optional and some manufactures choose not to put it on their label. AL ratings are typically from 0.1-0.3. The lower the number, the better the product is at keeping air out.
WARRENTIES As always you get what you pay for. Warranties will vary with the quality and the brand that you purchase. You can expect life time warranties with higher quality products. Make sure you understand the warranty before you purchase. Also inquire if the warranty is transferable. A transferable warranty means that you can sell the home and the new owner has the same warranty you did. This obviously would be a asset when selling your home.
WHERE TO BUY You can get them just about anywhere these days. I recently had a meeting with a representative from Wimsatt on Miller in Lansing. They carry a few different brands including Anderson. You can find plenty of information about Anderson's on the internet. They used to be the King of the industry. Now, there are a lot of companies offering similar quality products for less money. A brand that Wimsatt carries that I was impressed with is Paradigm. They have an initial 5 year warranty that includes service. After that, the parts are warranted for a life time. They come in any color you want and they have many add on features. For more information or to view the windows in person, you can visit Wimsatt’s show room at 1615 E Miller Rd. in Lansing. We also use
Weather King.
Weather Kings are Michigan made. Their factories are located in Detroit and Grand Rapids. Their products are affordable and offer a good warranty. A customer representative will travel to your home to discuss your project.
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