So you’re getting ready to purchase replacement windows and you’re feeling a little overwhelmed. Don’t worry. The team at All Weather Window, Doors and Siding is here to help! All you have to do is break it down into five simple decisions. Take one at a time and soon you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for. Use these five basic categories to make your decisions easy:

1) Determine the Window Type

Windows come in a variety of styles. Here’s a little visual guide to help.

Generally speaking, plan to replace the windows with the same style unless there’s a good reason not to. For instance, if your window is a casement window, but you’d rather be able to open that window, you can replace it with a double-hung. If you’d like to be able to open the window, but there is a walkway in front of it, you could switch to a sliding or gliding window that won’t intrude past the wall it is placed in when opened. Similarly, if you have two double-hung windows in your dining room, but for aesthetic reasons you’d prefer a picture window (or perhaps a bay or bow window), you can replace them with that style. Double-hung, casement, awning, sliding/gliding, picture, or specialty.

2) Choose the Materials

You have five choices when it comes to what your windows are made of: solid wood, vinyl- or aluminum-clad wood, solid vinyl, aluminum, or Fibrex (a composite material exclusive to Andersen windows). When comparing, look at these six performance areas – strength, insulation, beauty, maintenance, warranty, and price. Each type of window material will have advantages and disadvantages, so take your time when deciding which one makes more sense for you.

3) Energy Performance

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) operates a voluntary program that tests, certifies, and labels windows based on their energy performance ratings. The NFRC label provides a reliable way to determine a window’s energy properties and to compare products. The NFRC label can be found on all ENERGY STAR® qualified windows.

ENERGY STAR bases its qualification on U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient ratings. These properties can be measured and rated according to the following energy performance characteristics:

U-factor is the rate at which a window conducts non-solar heat flow. It’s usually expressed in units of Btu/hr-ft2-oF. For windows, a U-factor may refer to just the glass or glazing alone. NFRC U-factor ratings, however, represent the entire window performance, including frame and spacer material. The lower the U-factor, the more energy-efficient the window.

Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) is the fraction of solar radiation admitted through a window either transmitted directly and/or absorbed, and subsequently released as heat inside a home. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits and the greater its shading ability. A product with a high SHGC rating is more effective at collecting solar heat during the winter. A product with a low SHGC rating is more effective at reducing cooling loads during the summer by blocking heat gain from the sun.

Air leakage is the rate of air movement around a window in the presence of a specific pressure difference across it. It’s expressed in units of cubic feet per minute per square foot of frame area (cfm/ft2). A product with a low air leakage rating is tighter than one with a high air leakage rating.

If you’d like to learn more, you can read about energy performance ratings.

4) Decide the Details

What your window looks like is very important. Color, grille, and trim choices should work with your home’s style. Grille patterns, including colonial, prairie, and custom-designed windows, will allow you to match your new windows to your home’s current architecture, change your look, or even complete a historically accurate renovation. If you’d like to see what works best with your home, check out the  Home Style Library here.

5) Size It Up

Choose to replace with standard sizes if possible. Most windows come in increments of 2 or 4 inches, so there’s often no need to order custom sizes. Standard sizes will save you money. Save where you can and that will allow you to splurge when it’s really worth it and still stay within budget.

If you need information about replacement windows, give us a call at All Weather window, Doors & Siding and we’ll be happy to answer all of your questions. We will guide you through the choices that will work best for your project. We want you to know a little about the features you want, so you can be 100% happy with and confident in the choices you make.

We are an Andersen Circle of Excellence dealer. Call us at (913) 262-4380 or contact us online.

Avoid buyer’s remorse when shopping for new or replacement windows for your Kansas City area home by knowing which questions to ask before you purchase. At All-Weather Window, Doors & Siding, we have 25 years of experience, and we know all of the questions homeowners wish they had known to ask before making a final decision. We have created this guide full of questions that we know you will wish you “woulda” asked before you bought your windows:

Will My Replacement Windows Match My Existing Windows?

This is an important question to ask when you just need to replace a few windows in your home. You want to make sure they look the same! Don’t try to window shop for a replacement window that looks similar on your own as you will probably end up unhappy with the results. You not only need to take into consideration the materials the windows are composed of (like wood, vinyl, or composite), but also the the type of configuration (like double-hung or casement). Your replacement window should have the same look and function as your existing windows.

You should consult with a window professional at an experienced window company who can help you find a perfect match. Be cautious of a window supplier that only offers one type of window, as their opinion will be biased, and their window recommendation might not match anything you have. There is no “one-type-fits-all” in window replacement.

Related Reads:  4 Money Saving Features to Look for When Choosing New Windows

Will I Lose Glass Due to Thicker Window Frames?

There are two types of replacement windows – pocket replacement windows and full frame window replacement. The one you choose will affect the amount of glass area.

Pocket windows are manufactured to fit inside of an existing window frame in your home. Many homeowners choose to go this route because they don’t require a lot of work inside or outside of your home, they tend to be less costly, and they take less time to be installed. Many window contractors only offer pocket type installations.

Because the pocket windows have a frame of their own, which fits inside of the existing frame, you will likely lose some window space. This problem is even more noticeable if you have narrow windows, or multi-units such as twin or triple wide casement type windows, and the posts that separate the windows are left in place. The space between the glass can be double what it is currently, and that beautiful view of your yard is lost to your new window frame.

If more glass space and natural light are important to you, you may want to go with a full frame window replacement. All-Weather offers both types of installations and your consultant can help you make the right choice to maximize your view.

Another factor that affects glass size is frame size. Some window brands have large, beefy frames that reduce the glass size, while others offer slim-line frames that give more glass area. Both can be installed as pocket replacements or as full frame replacements. Just ask, and we’ll explain the differences to you and show you examples of all of the styles.

Will My Blinds and Window Treatments Fit the New Windows?

This is one question most homeowners never think to ask. They assume it will all be the same but not all window frames are the same size. When replacing your windows, it is important to pay attention to the differences in dimensions. If you ask your window company this question they will be able to plan ahead, and help you find new replacement windows that will work with your existing window treatments. No one wants a surprise after their new windows are installed that they need to buy new plantation shutters!

Also, be sure to find out who is responsible for removing and reinstalling window treatments as most contractors do not provide this service. All-Weather can quote this as an option for you in most cases.

These are just three of many important questions you should consider and ask before you purchase new or replacement windows for your home. For a full list of questions to keep in mind, click the image below to download our All-Weather guide to Improving Your Window Buying Experience.