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Showing posts with label understanding windows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label understanding windows. Show all posts

A Crash Course on Replacement Windows

By Gates Dearen
Courtesy of Pixabay

While most people understand that old, worn out windows reduce the energy efficiency of a home, what they usually don’t realize, is that it’s a bigger deal than they think.  That’s because close to 50% of a home utility bill is derived from heating and cooling alone.  Another thing most homeowners don’t realize is that worn out windows are a magnet for burglars since they are child’s play to jimmy.  Of course, even when you factor your family’s comfort and safety into the equation, many consumers still find themselves sitting on the fence when it comes to taking the plunge to replace their home’s windows.  That’s largely due to the fact that like kids in a candy store, there are tons of window options to choose from nowadays. If this is what’s bothering you, read on as I take you through a crash course on window replacement.

Decoding Window Labels

Courtesy of City of Roseville CA.
By Gates Dearen
If you have been considering upgrading your home’s windows, you may have noticed that there are a great variety of replacement window options.  Perhaps you have taken the time to visit the showroom of a company that specializes in replacement windows.  If you did, one of the first things you probably noticed is that every window you were shown had a label affixed to it containing information about U-Factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, and Visible Transmittance.  The label might as well have been written in hieroglyphics for all the good it did you.  As a result, you may have left the showroom more confused about replacement windows than you were before you set foot in the store.  To help you navigate your way to choosing the right windows for your home, I have taken the time to help you decode the information presented on window labels.

Understanding “Window Speak” - a Buyer’s Guide

By Gates Dearen

When it comes to shopping for replacement windows these days, it almost seems as complicated as shopping for a new car.  Just as with the auto industry, modern windows come in many makes and models, and they offer a number of optional extras.  Everything from the hi-tech materials used in frames and panes, to attachment and pivot points - all have a nomenclature of their own.  If you don’t know a “head jamb” from a “Muntin Bar”, let me help explain.