| Name |
Views and Comments | Date |
| John W. Davis |
I have to replace 35 windows in an older home we just purchased.
I have 3 quotes for yinyl replace windows and each persone tells me his window is the best. I can't tell them apart.. The quotes are no more that 3K apart? Your explaination helped and thank you. |
11/7/2009 |
| john1r |
Kelly, it can get pretty confusing when shopping for vinyl windows, especially after speaking with sales people. I have heard of sales people using some pretty unethical tactics to convince the consumer that their product is the only one on the market with (fill in the blank here). Let me give you an example. Every vinyl window manufacturer offers LowE Glass in their windows. Some may include it as a standard feature, while others offer it as an upgrade. But they all have it available. However, some companies have special names to describe the LowE glass system, such as Certainteed calling their LowE Glass "Thermaflect". If a Certainteed salesman were to give you a demonstration of the effects of LowE Glass on heat deflection in his product, then go on to tell you that Certainteed is the only vinyl window company with the THERMAFLECT LowE Glass system, he would technically be telling the truth, but he would also be misleading you. Just because Milgard doesn't call their LowE Glass "thermaflect, they still offer the same LowE glass performance. If you stick to asking basic questions pertaining to the construction and performance, you will be happy with the window that you select. Welded frames are stronger than mechanically fastened frames. Fully welded simply means the corners of the main frame are welded, and so are the corners of each panel within the main frame. A manufacturer can have welded corners on the main frame, but the sliding and fixed panels can be screwed together at the corners. If the window is a single or double hung style (Panels slide vertically instead of horizontally), a quality window will have the tilt in feature, which allows you to pivot the panel inward so you can actually clean the outside pane of glass without leaving the room. It should also use a constant force balance system made up of a titanium coil to hold up the pane when you lift it. If the spacer is an intercept or super spacer, you will be fine. Avoid spacers made out of aluminum, as they hold heat. Keep in mind, windows are made sort of like cars. If the window has fully welded corners, and it offers the tilt in feature and constant force balance system, it won't have an aluminum spacer. That would be like buying a new car with leather seats, a CD player, GPS navigation system, and no power windows. You won't find that either. To me, the most important performance number is the U-Factor. If a window has a U-Factor of less than .40, it will likely have good SHGC and VLT numbers as well. All of the energy star rebates that are offered to consumers are based on the U-factor rating of the window, as far as I know. Don't get caught up in the gauge of the vinyl. Once again, if a window offers all of the qualities that I mentioned above, they are not going to have paper thin vinyl. I hope this helps a little. |
6/3/2007 |
| kelly |
Our church has been given estimates from three companies and it almost seems impossible to compare them in terms of "apples to apples." They give so few specifics in most cases.
Certainteed seems to most comprehensive. These windows are vinyl welded with Low E insulation. They say they contain argon gas although that is not written in the contract. The frame is hollow. They say air provides better insulation than any other material. They do not give a guage of the vinyl yet I'm told the thickness is important. (One states it have a guage of 0.7.
Crystal Series 200 gives practically no information beyond a bid.
We had an estimate for Silverline welded frame, low # insulated with insulated frame, material not indicated, such as air space, foam, or whatever would be used.
Some are welded and "mechanical" which I guess means screwed together. I have no idea what "weather welded" means, another term tossed out.
I have been told Alside is certified nation-wide, but what does that mean for me in Bethlehem, PA?
The Polytex dealer provides a fully welded window. Are there windows that are not "fully" welded or partially welded?
Simonton is listed in the "Top 10 Replacement Windows" but do they also make a cheaper (in quality, not price) that would be something we wouldn't want to consider?
For instance, in regular windows, I know that Anderson makes the 200 and 400 series, a still better window than that, plus a $59 window from China.
I'm afraid that the explanation on your report still needs clarification for the homeowner who is dealing companies who don't teach you about their windows but merely give you a sales pitch about the better quality of what they want to sell you.
What questions besides the U-factor and the NFRC rating are important. None of the people who dealt with our church even mentioned these factors. I will be sure to look for them and ASK. Please help me with the questions I should be asking. Thanks.
Kelly |
11/7/2006 | |
