Replacement Window Information, Cost & Free Price Quotes

Windows are often viewed as practical objects useful for letting in air and light. What many homeowners fail to consider is that windows also enhance the interior and exterior appearance of your home, save energy and money, and appeal to your lifestyle. There are several different types, frames, and functions when it comes to windows.

Styles of windows include casement, single hung/double hung, bow or bay, fixed frame, skylight, awning, and slider windows. You can also customize your window style with specialty-shaped windows. When deciding on the design of your window, you should select a style that not only enhances the interior and exterior appearance of your home, but also a structure that can be easily maintained.

Selecting a frame is another important decision. It is important to know the many advantages and disadvantages to each material. Materials include vinyl, wood, fiberglass and aluminum or they can be wood frames clad with vinyl or metal.

• Vinyl framed windows are manufactured to provide you with high energy efficiency, good insulation, and they are made to be easily cleaned and maintained. Vinyl windows contain a U-factor almost equal to that of wood and are a better insulator then aluminum. They do not peel or chip and never need to be painted.
• Wood framed windows are very traditional and with their higher R-values serve as the best insulators. Unfortunately, weather can be very damaging to wooden frames. They must be repainted from time to time and require more maintenance then other materials.
• Aluminum framed windows are the least expensive. They are very easy to maintain and very reliable. Unlike wood frames, aluminum is one of the poorest insulators. However, certain aluminum windows have been thermally improved to offer you the strength and permanence of aluminum while also reducing heat loss.
• Fiberglass framed windows are a relatively new addition to the window market. Their cost compares to that of wood frames. They are unique in that they offer an array of benefits. Fiberglass contains some of the highest R-values and is very durable, without excess bulk.

Let us not forget about how important it is to glaze your windows. Multiple layers of glaze on your windows can insulate your house and keep heat inside. However, new technologies have developed and people are now focusing not only on the glaze, but on the thickness of airspace in between the windows.

In addition, multiple paned windows can be filled with argon or krypton gases to reduce heat lose and increase R-values. The higher the R-value (resistance to heat loss) the better insulation you have. The U-Value is another important thing to consider when replacing old windows. The U-Value is a measurement of heat transfer. The lower the U-Value, the less heat transfers.