Great Read for The window and Door shopper!!!! Choose the Right Window Before you begin to shop, you need to learn the lingo: Double-hung windows may be opened from the top and bottom. Casements open with a crank, which makes them easy to operate. They are especially handy in hard-to-reach places, such as over the kitchen sink. Double-pane windows are two pieces of glass that may have an inert gas (such as argon or krypton) between them that insulates better than air. Mullions, or vertical and horizontal dividers, give windows a traditional look; snap-out mullions (also known as simulated divided lite, or SDL) make cleaning easier. Tilt-out windows let you clean the exterior from the inside. Windows ordered off-the-shelf in standard sizes cost less than custom sizes with upgrades -- such as non-standard frame colors, hardware finishes and glass types; between the glass blinds or shades; and premium screens. High-performance and specialized glass (triple-paned for extremely hot or cold climates, or impact-resistant for wind- or hurricane-prone regions) add to the cost of a window. But the added cost may be worth it. For example, triple-paned glass could save on cooling a room that is often overheated by direct sunlight. The Web sites of well-known manufacturers, such as Andersen, Marvin and Pella, include guides that will lead you through the decision-making process. Check out Andersens Home Style Library to identify the architectural style of your home and window styles and options that are appropriate to it.) Another great resource is the Web site of the Efficient Windows Collaborative, which is committed to promoting energy efficiency and sustainable building design. A brand name isnt everything. Window dealers may sell a single manufacturers products or several companies products, including those you may never have heard of or seen advertised in home magazines. As long as the seller can provide specs showing that the product offers the quality and performance you want at a price you can afford, you neednt fear the unknown. Many manufacturers produce lines of windows that sell in various price ranges. If you cant afford the A line, you might get much of what you want with a B+ window, says Kerry McDaniel, with Galaxy Exteriors in Los Angeles. He says that big-box stores, such as Home Depot and Lowes, tend to sell the B and C lines in order to stay at the prices they want to offer. Because Lowes sells some Pella windows, and Home Depot sells some Andersen and Jeld-Wen windows, you could try asking local dealers to match the big-box store prices. If possible, visit the showroom to see and test models that interest you. Do the windows look as attractive up close as they do online or in the catalog? If the window tilts out, open it to see whether, given its weight, cleaning it is a job for one person or two. Select a Dealer There will always be home-improvement tin men who knock on your door and take you hostage in your own living room until you sign a contract -- not to mention the telemarketers, the lead-generating Web sites and the guy operating out of his pickup truck. Dont go there. You want a well-established company with a storefront and a Web site with helpful information. A dealer who will come free of charge to your home to assess your needs is even more desirable. Check the dealers rating and record of resolved complaints with the Better Business Bureau or your county or state office of consumer protection. And post a query about the companys reputation on a local listserv or on Angies List. Then obtain several bids. If one company cant provide exactly the same window as another, ask for the most closely comparable product it sells. Installation, including anchoring, insulating and sealing the window to the house to make it airtight and watertight, is as important as the quality of the window itself. A poorly installed window may be hard to open and close, and its durability, energy efficiency and appearance will be compromised. You can buy the best window in the world, but if it isnt put in correctly, youre throwing away your money, says Susan Selman, with Schmidt Windows, in suburban Chicago. Read more at kiplinger/article/real-estate/T029-C000-S002-everything-you-need-to-know-about-replacement-wind.html#BOTMkJ7KTOX3EPGp.99
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 20:16:44 +0000