So the time for buying new windows has come. But is this as straightforward as you think? Your home benefits a lot from such a purchase.
Not only that, but you benefit even more. New house windows eliminate a lot of issues. For starters, it makes your home more energy-efficient as it prevents air from escaping your home.
But we’re here to tell you about why you need new windows, we’re here to tell you what to look for when buying new house windows.
Replacement of windows and doors should better be trusted to professional home remodeling companies, such as kitchensacramento.com.
With all that said, let’s start.
Look For the Materials
There are a few common choices when it comes to choosing the right material. You shouldn’t base your opinion on how good the window looks, but rather on how effective the material is.
While many of you are familiar with wood and aluminum, other materials exist such as vinyl and fiberglass. These four are the most common choices and are generally very effective.
When it comes to the strongest material, it would have to be fiberglass. But this material can be very expensive, so you should look over your budget.
Wood is pretty much the go-to material for a lot of homeowners. But unlike other materials, wood does require the most maintenance. You’ll also have to do some repainting from time to time, as wood can deteriorate as time goes by. But apart from that, wood is very flexible and looks pretty darn good. Vinyl is an excellent alternative for homeowners who are looking for windows that offer excellent insulation. And unlike wood, vinyl requires very little maintenance but is less sturdy than wood.
What Size Of Glass Are You Looking For?
The size of the glass can determine a few things. For starters, the bigger the size the better the insulation. However, a triple pane glass window is far more expensive than a single pane glass window.
And generally speaking, very few homeowners replace with single glass pane windows. What you should be aiming at is double or triple.
The difference between a double pane glass and a triple pane glass is the fact that double pane windows eliminate heat loss by trapping the air between the two layers. And even double pane glass windows vary in insulating properties.
Certain types of double pane windows have an added coat of invisible metal that greatly helps eliminate heat loss.
When it comes to triple pane glass, the difference in cost isn’t that much. On average, these types of windows will cost anything between 10% and 15% more than their double-pane glass counterparts.
But in return, you’re getting a product that is much better at preventing heat loss. Many experts suggest that both double and triple pane glass windows are well worth the investment. If you’re interested in that, then make sure to visit klarwindows.co.uk.
Look For the “R-Value” and “U-Factor”
If you’ve never previously bought new windows for your home, then this is probably the first time you come up against the terms “R-Value” and “U-Factor”.
Both of these terms are indicators that tell you how good the windows are at a particular thing. For example, the R-Value refers to how energy efficient the particular unit is.
When it comes to measuring these values, a greater value means the product is better at energy efficiency. Each type of pane glass has a different R-Value. Single pane glass windows have an R-Value of just 1, while triple R-Value units can go as high as 7.
The R-Value will most likely be displayed next to the particular unit. If not, then make sure to ask the seller for it.
On the other hand, we have the U-Factor. The U-Factor indicates how good a particular unit is in conducting non-solar heat. The U-Factor measures differently than the R-Value, as the lower the value the better the product.
A lower U-Factor means the product is better at energy efficiency. Do keep in mind that a higher R-Value and a lower U-Factor product will make your home more energy-efficient and lower the energy bill.
Consider the Maintenance Needs
We mentioned previously that certain materials have greater and lower maintenance needs. And this one is very important as homeowners do have to take care of their windows and keep them in perfect condition.
But if you’re like most homeowners, then you’re probably looking for low-maintenance windows. This isn’t anything to be ashamed of as very few of us have the time to look after the windows.
Luckily for you, the industry has grown so much in recent decades that most new windows come with very low maintenance needs. But if we are to give you the one that requires little to no maintenance, then we’d have to recommend vinyl or fiberglass. Aluminum is yet another low-maintenance material for windows.
On the opposite side, wood requires the most maintenance as you will need to repaint it from time to time.
But generally speaking, you can’t just leave the windows messy and clean. Regardless of what material you go for, every unit will require some maintenance.
What you’ll need to do at least is wipe them down, wipe away stains and dirt, vacuum them, and hose them from the outside.
Look At the Lifespan
And lastly, you’ll want to look at how long the particular unit will last. It would be quite unwise if you’d have to replace your windows every 5 to 10 years.
Buying units with such a short lifespan is a financial disaster. Luckily for you, taking good care greatly increases the lifespan. But the unfortunate part is that nothing is guaranteed.
What you can do is look up the lifespan of each particular material. Fiberglass is the best at this. Fiberglass windows can last up to 50 years, while their vinyl counterpart can last for around 30 years before needing replacing.
Wood requires high maintenance and most often replacing.
Conclusion
Window shopping might sound like an easy task, but it’s far from it. Considering that this is an investment, and a costly one, you’ll need to look up a few things first before handing over your credit card.
