Top signs the answer is YES. You might be asking yourself if you really need replacement windows. Maybe, you think, that another year won’t hurt anything. But, you could be overlooking signs that your windows are quickly deteriorating. Waiting may actually cost you more money in the long run. Here are some signals that you won’t want to ignore. Drafts – when the air temperature drastically changes as you stand close to the window, outside air is whistling in. Peeling Paint – when moisture travels through improperly sealed windows and back out to the exterior it may cause exterior frames to expand and contract, eventually causing paint to peel. Window Frame Softness – use a small paring knife to test the softness of the wood frame. If it can be pushed easily into the wood, then decay may be present. Frosty Windowpanes – inadequate insulation or poor thermal material will allow cold air inside. […]
The RIGHT Frame!
We can help you see clearly. When deciding on replacement windows, you might have a lot of questions running through your mind on what type of frame best suits your home and geographical area. For example, you probably know that a wood frame is less prone to heat and cold transfer than aluminum, but that doesn’t mean wood is always the best choice to insure that your utility bill is in friendly territory. Here’s a sampling of the variety of materials available for window frames and a few suggestions on how they might best be used: Vinyl – a well-constructed, properly installed vinyl window can be an excellent choice for your budget, while still offering good energy efficiency measures through insulated glass and reduced air leakage. Wood – offers a high isulative value, but requires significantly more upkeep than vinyl, wood-clad or aluminum frames. Because of the potential for rot, they may not be […]
Does Argon Gas Make A Difference?
We always stress to consumers the importance of energy efficiency. For a small increase in cost you can add in some of the great new technologies out there such as a inert argon gas between the pains of glass or even triple pane glass with argon gas. These technologies can make a huge difference in your home’s heating and cooling bill. You may ask, and you should, what is a huge difference? Especially if it is something you cannot see, how do I know that it works? For the 2014 Home Show at the Richmond International Raceway Skyline wanted to demonstrate the positive effect of these technology in a way that would be easy to understand. Our solution: a freezer. We took a simple table top freezer with a front door and took it apart. We replaced the door with 4 separate pieces of glass with 4 different levels of energy efficiency. For comparison, we […]
Polar Vortex Tests High-Performance Windows
The winter’s harsh weather has really put a lot windows to the test. I spoke with one home owner who said they went as far as to move some of their furniture away from the their windows because of the cold temperature coming through them. A window’s energy efficiency rating always important, but nothing emphasizes that point more than freezing temperatures. This energy efficiency rating is expressed with the term “u-factor”. Which in everyday terms is a measurement of how much heat or cold can move through a window. Did you know that windows and doors account for over 10% of your home’s total heat loss? That’s not including the temperature loss due to leaky windows and doors, which in some cases can account for almost 30% of heat loss. So if you want to get new windows, don’t just go for the cheapest replacement window out there or the brand name that you are […]
Energy Savings Infographic
We are always trying to figure out easy ways of explaining how new replacement windows can save you money. For our spring homeshow we featured a small infographic that shows some relative statistics on replacement windows including some of the factors many home owners might not think about such as a window’s air leakage numbers. But enough talking, we hope you enjoy this graphical guide to energy efficient replacement windows.
