The Best Replacement Windows

The best replacement windows, how do you go about finding the right windows for your project? That is a very difficult question to ask when you consider just how many windows there are in the market. You can find replacement windows in the box stores, individual window companies sell them, replacement window contractors will have a brand they prefer as well.

It is true that you will have no shortage of windows to choose from so it will be no problem finding what is important - the best replacement window for you.

In order to find the best replacement window for your project you should start by prioritizing what is important to you. Below are four major items to consider when selecting the best replacement window for your project.

Warranty
Window Material
Energy Efficiency
Customer Service

Warranty

Many manufacturers are offering very solid warranties on their products these days so it is hard to use it as a determining factor as to the overall quality of the window. However, if a long and detailed warranty is important to you, you should look for a replacement window that offers a full lifetime warranty on the window.

Most vinyl and some fiberglass frame windows will offer a lifetime warranty on the frame material. Wood window manufacturers on the other hand are going to only offer a 10 to 30 year warranty on their product.

This does not diminish the quality of the wood window just because it has a shorter warranty period. There are many wood window manufacturers that produce windows that will last 20, 30, 40 years if they are well maintained. Do not judge if you are getting the best replacement window by warranty alone, simply select the window you feel has the best warranty for your needs.

Window material

There are four main types of materials used today to window frames: aluminum, vinyl, fiberglass and wood. It is important to determine what type of window material will be best for you and your window replacement project. Aluminum is primarily used in new construction today and does not require a lot of discussion in replacement window applications.

Vinyl is currently the most popular material used in replacement windows and has a wide range of product features and suppliers available to choose from.

Fiberglass windows are gaining popularity in the window market even though there are only a handful of suppliers offering a fiberglass window. Fiberglass is stronger than vinyl, more energy efficient, and can be painted.

Find out more about the benefits of fiberglass windows

Wood windows are the final option available when selecting the best replacement window for your project. Wood windows provide a very energy efficient window, as well as a beautiful, traditional look on the room side of your home.

Energy Efficiency

With today's rising energy costs, energy efficiency is becoming a key decision in selecting the best replacement window for your project. The good news is many window manufacturers are creating technologies to make windows as efficient as possible.

The tough part is that with so many options available, it can be tough to figure out what options will give you the best energy efficiency for your windows. The two items to look at for the energy efficiency of a window are the glass and the frame material.

Low E

One of the essentials for the best replacement window for your project is low e glass. Low E is short for Low Emissivity and it is basically a very light coating applied to the inside of the insulated glass. This coating is not visible to the naked eye, but it is designed to reduce the amount of heat gain in and out of the house.

Each window manufacturer has their own name for the type of low-e glass that they use on their windows, but in general each one will provide the energy efficiency that you need for your project.

Frame Material

Different frame materials can offer different levels of energy efficiency with your replacement windows. Each one has its own characteristics that must be considered when selecting the best replacement window for your home.

Aluminum

In today's southern markets, aluminum windows dominate the existing home window market. Many homes built from the 1960's on were constructed with aluminum windows. Unfortunately these aluminum windows do not offer the energy efficiency that many people are seeking in a replacement window.

The reason for this is that, by itself, aluminum is a poor insulator. Aluminum is actually a natural conductor. To test this out all you need to do is touch the room side frame of an aluminum window on a hot summer day and see how hot the frame is (be careful, you can actually burn your hand if it is hot enough).

In order for an aluminum window to provide an energy efficient replacement window option, the manufacturers must build a thermal break in the window frame. The thermal break is a non conductive spacer (usually a thermoplastic) that separates the outer and inner frame of the aluminum window. This prevents the heat from being transferred to the inside of the window.

To get the most energy efficient aluminum replacement windows, you must make sure you select a thermally broken aluminum window. Without the thermal break, you are simply buying an aluminum window no better than the old ones installed in your home years ago.

Vinyl

Vinyl windows offer several levels of energy efficient frame options. Vinyl is a better material than aluminum because it does not have the same conductive properties as aluminum. However, the vinyl by itself does not provide for the energy efficient performance of the window frame.

It is the way the frame is built that creates the energy efficient properties of the window. Vinyl window frames are built with air cavities inside the window frame. These air cavities create a dead air space inside the frame and prevent heat transfer across the window frame.

A second option that vinyl windows offer for an even more energy efficient window option is foam filled airspaces in the vinyl frame. Think of the foam fill the same way as the insulation that is placed inside the walls of your house.

Just having the walls alone with a dead air space would provide insulation from the weather, but by adding insulation between the walls, you will increase the energy efficiency of your home. The same is true with a cavity filled vinyl frame.

If you are considering vinyl windows as the best replacement window option for your house, you should be sure to know if you are getting a hollow frame or a foam filled frame. The foam filled frames will cost more than a hollow frame, but will offer better long term energy efficient performance in the window.

Keep in mind that you do not have to have foam filled frames to have energy efficient windows, it is simply a more efficient option available in vinyl windows.

Wood/Clad Wood

Wood windows offer the greatest insulating material available for replacement windows. Wood is a natural insulator and will create the best barrier for heat gain on your replacement windows. Because wood does not conduct heat, your window frames will not let warmth in when it is hot outside or let warmth out when it is cool outside.

Many window manufacturers today offer a clad wood window which means it has some type of exterior cover, usually vinyl, aluminum, or fiberglass, which is used to provide a maintenance free exterior. The clad usually makes up a small portion of the outer frame of the window and do not have an effect on the overall energy efficiency of the wood window.

There are also some products on the market that are made of a non wood material and finished on the interior with a wood veneer. This is a nice option if you want the look of wood, but not the maintenance and upkeep that come with a wood window.

These windows will come close, but not offer you the true energy efficiency that a solid wood window will. If you can afford the higher cost of wood windows they will be your best replacement window option if energy efficiency is your number one concern.

Customer Service

Customer Service can be very important when choosing the best replacement window for your home. Window Replacement is a very detailed process with a lot of your time and finances invested. Choosing a window company that is going to provide good customer service from start to finish is just as important as choosing a good window.

Even the best windows have problems from time to time: glass breakage, broken hardware, ripped screens. These are all problems that need to be handled by the window manufacturer or the window installation company. Be sure to read the warranty from the window manufacturer as well as asking the installation company about their customer service department.

The window warranty will give you a good indication of how much customer service you can expect from the manufacturer. If they have a lifetime warranty, check to see what lifetime it covers. Also check to see if the warranty covers all parts of the window or just certain items. If there is not a lifetime warranty you should find out how long the warranty lasts, and again what it covers.

While the length of time that the window itself is covered is important, where window manufacturers separate themselves is with their service labor warranty. The best replacement windows will come from companies that offer service warranties in addition to the product warranty that they offer.
Look for a manufacturer that will offer at least two years service labor warranty as a part of their window warranty. Since most manufacturers defects will be discovered within the first two years of owning the windows, you will not be out of pocket for any charges.

Just as important as what the window manufacturer is going to offer in the way of customer service, is what you can count on from the window installation company after the windows are installed.

It cannot be stressed enough that when you are choosing a window installation company you understand their service after the sale. Too many installation companies are only concerned about getting your windows in and getting on to the next job.

If something is not finished or not working properly and you can't get the installation company back to your house to fix the problem, it can completely ruin your window replacement experience. The best replacement windows will come from a window installation company that has a detailed customer service plan and insures complete follow up and satisfaction after the windows have been installed.

What can we help you with?

Ready to get started? Need more information? No matter what stage you are at in your replacement window project, we are here to help. Use the links below to schedule an appointment, find out more about replacement windows or simply drop us a line with your question.