Window Replacement Is A Big Investment
When shopping for your new windows, or more energy efficient windows, educating yourself is important. Do your research and then find a contractor that has a reputation of being honest. They will then compare contrast features and benefits of all different types of windows, giving you the ability to make an educated decision about what windows will be best for you and your budget.
Replacement windows is a large home improvement for homeowners. Ask anyone who has recently replaced their windows. Whether they are inefficient or rotting windows the process can be very confusing.
Ensure Your Window Salesperson Is Well Trained
The industry is full of good salespersons. Make sure where ever you shop for windows, there is a variety of selections and they are well trained in providing you all the information you need. There are window companies out there that only sell one type or only push you on the most expensive. But that’s not smart business, and they are likely to lose you as a returning customer.
Wood Window Tips
The three most common replacement windows are: vinyl, wood-clad and fiberglass. Here are a few points to consider about wood windows during the process of selecting what type of new window will be best for you.
Wood Windows have been around the longest and are still a major player. The major upgrade in the last 30 years, is the introduction of vinyl or aluminum cladding on the exterior of the unit. This cladding (or cover) helps protect the window unit from the harsh weather experienced in different parts of the country.
There are still differences between major manufacturers like Pella Windows and Anderson Windows. Pella uses aluminum cladding and Anderson uses a vinyl cladding. Both of these options create a more maintenance free exterior for home owners. They both offer a wide array of colors so you can customize your windows to match the color scheme of your home.
Another change over the years is that you can now get custom sized replacement windows with many of the wood window manufacturers. This can benefit the home owner by lowering the window installation cost since the window installer may not have to adapt your opening to fit the window.
Most wood windows carry warranties of varying lengths for different parts of the window. The glass usually has a warranty for glass and other components. For example many window brands will carry a lifetime warranty of non-glass components. Other like Pella Windows offer additional protection like their 20-yr warranty on the EndurClad Aluminum Cladding on the exterior of their units.
Like most home improvement products the warranties for windows specifically state that proper installation in necessary. As always it is very important to pick the right window contractor to replace your windows.
Wood windows offer a huge variety of options that allow home owners to customize their window replacement. One benefit of wood windows over some vinyl windows can be the ability to finish windows to match existing wood work. Actually a lot of manufacturers are offering prefinished options that can lower the overall cost and length of project since there will not be a need to finish products.
Other features with some wood replacement windows are blinds between glass, decorative glass, triple pane glass, grids, numerous hardware color options etc. New wood windows are also much more energy efficient than their ancestors. Glass technologies allow your new windows to provide energy savings.
One important consideration when buying replacement windows in the wood category is that all will require maintenance. Properly maintaining your windows will make sure you can enjoy the replacement windows for a long time.