Vinyl replacement windows are a significant investment in your home. So it only makes sense that you should do your homework and know the answers to the big questions about replacement windows before you make a decision about whether to purchase them, and how to choose the right window manufacturer and installer.
Here are six good questions that homeowners often ask us. We’ll answer these questions the way we do in our demos, so that you have the right information as you make your decision about replacement windows.
What kind of glass do I need?
All window glass is not the same—and all homes don’t need the same type of glass. Glass can have different strengths and provide different levels of protection against thermal radiation.
You can measure the strength of glass using a DP or design pressure rating. The standard DP rating is 30, and that’s usually sufficient. Within 2-5 miles of the coast, building regulations require laminated glass with a DP rating of 50 in vinyl replacement windows to provide additional protection against tropical storms. An impact, DP 50 window also provides extra security because it is less likely to shatter when smashed, and has extra soundproofing benefits.
These examples demonstrate that where you live plays a big factor in what kind of windows you need. A replacement window that’s right for a farmhouse in a rural area may not work as well for a home on a busy urban street, or a home in a hurricane zone. So you need to make sure the vinyl replacement windows you choose fit where you live.
This is one of the big reasons that Taylors Windows® manufactures its own replacement windows. This allows us to customize your windows specifically for the Carolinas, as opposed to national manufacturers that build the same windows for customers in the snowy Northeast or the cold Midwest as they do for homeowners in North and South Carolina. As you’re researching vinyl replacement windows for your home, make sure to ask how the windows and the glass will perform properly in your specific location.
What kind of gas is used between the panes?
One of the features that replacement window offer is the air between the panes of glass. Simply having air between panes makes double-pane windows more energy efficient than single pane, but windows perform better with more specialized gas between the panes.
Taylors Windows® uses inert argon gas between the panes to provide more energy efficiency and sound dampening. You can measure the impact of Argon gas windows versus double-pane glass that just has air in between through the R-value of the replacement windows. R-value measures the capacity of a material to resist heat flow, and shows the impact of including argon gas as part of your replacement window project.
What are the spacers made of?
Just as there is gas between the panes of glass, there are also spacers that separate the panes around the edge. Older windows use metal spacers, and this metal conducts and holds heat, causing the glass to expand and contract. This can lead to condensation and fogging.
Taylors Windows® uses Duralite spacers, which have no metal touching the glass. These spacers have air pockets built in to create superior thermal performance and durability. Both of these characteristics reduce the U-value of the windows. U-value measures the rate of heat transmission through building material. A replacement window project should lower your U-value and raise the R-value of your existing windows, but how much these numbers change will depend on the replacement windows you choose.
Who will install the replacement windows?
Even the finest quality vinyl replacement windows won’t live up to their potential if they aren’t installed correctly. And the sad truth is that not every replacement window company cares about your house as much as you do—which means they don’t give as much care to the installation project as they should.
That’s why at Taylors Windows®, we use only on-staff installation teams. Using staff teams allows us to ensure that everyone who comes to your home is properly trained to do the installation correctly. We can teach our installers to leave your home better than they found it by working carefully and properly disposing of trash and debris so that you can enjoy your new windows as soon as installation is complete. We have found that using only in-house installation professionals allows us to ensure quality and make sure each window we sell is installed successfully.
How much will the replacement windows impact energy efficiency?
This question comes back to the R-value and U-value of the replacement windows, and the quality of their installation. By seeing the difference in these numbers for different window types, you can make a wise decision of the right combination of energy efficiency and window cost for your home and your budget.
Taylors Windows® offers a full line of replacement windows so that we can give you several options in terms of energy efficiency and cost. We’re happy to explain the different choices so that you can make the right decision for your family and your home.
How will I benefit financially?
Vinyl replacement windows are an investment, but the good news is that you can expect a good return on the investment. You’ll first see the return in your monthly utility bills, especially in extreme weather during the summer and the winter.
You can also expect to see vinyl replacement windows provide an increase in the resale value of your home. So if you live in your house for several years and then sell your home, your replacement window project can often pay for itself.
Do you have more questions?
These are common questions, but they aren’t the only questions. That’s why we start every replacement window project with an in-home consultation. This will let you ask our replacement window experts questions specifically in regard to your home, so that you have all the information you need to make the right decision about vinyl replacement windows and your home.
Request a no-hassle consultation today with Taylors Windows®, and we’ll be happy to help you find the right windows for your home.
