Benefits and What to Look for When Shopping for Replacement Windows.

                                                                                         

Over the past decade, replacing windows has become one of the most popular remodeling projects for homes all across the country. Whether its vinyl or wood that you are replacing your existing, decrepit windows with, you are doing more to your home then just dressing up your exterior…you are creating a much more comfortable, energy efficient home.

With energy costs projected to go up an average of 30% over the next 18 months and the real estate market declining (meaning you will probably not move), now is the perfect time to get a new set of shades for your estate. With hundreds of different styles and models to choose from, purchasing the perfect window could be a tiresome process, but here are a few things to look for when shopping for new windows:

Double Pane: make sure it’s a double pane window. Some companies might try and up sell you a triple pane, but the third pane is a complete waste of money and will make your windows heavier than they should be (this could lead to your jams sagging and causing framing issues in the future).

LoE: this is a thin layer of “tint” embedded into the glass. This keeps harmful sun rays from penetrating through the glass and damaging your floors, curtains etc…this will also keep your house from heating up inadvertently.

Argon Gas: not harmful at all…but the gas in between the panes of glass is what keeps the energy that you use in your house (you will notice a nice reduction in your energy bills). There are companies that offer so called “upgrades” to argon for a premium, but this is an absolute gimmick.

R Value: make sure the R value of the window you are considering has at least an R value of 2 or more (anything above an R4 is probably a waste of money, and again, more of a gimmick).

U Factor: the U factor determines how much of the suns UV rays are emitted through the glass. A good U factor is a .4 or less.

Now, you are definitely looking to save a nice bit of coin on your energy with new windows, but don’t let companies who promise 40-50% energy savings dupe you into buying their over priced Gucci windows. A recent window purchaser, Neil Gold, who I met at the local hardware store, told me, “you should realistically expect around 15-25% in energy savings. That’s what my window company Paragon Remodeling told me, and they hit it right on the money. My wife and I are saving around 20% a month.”

So to answer your subconscious’s question of should I replace or not? The answer is yes! Get new windows, don’t fall for any gimmicks, do not spend more than around $600-$800 a window and pick a company that will give you the facts straight. Not only will you improve the look of your house, but you will save some energy.

About the author:
Paragon Remodeling, Inc is a Residential Home Remodeling Company located in Northern Virginia which specializes in replacement windows, siding, custom built decks and patios. Paragon Remodeling is specialized in virginia replacement windows and northern virginia windows From 2006-2008, this firm has received national recognition as a Top Remodeler by Qualified Remodeler Magazine for their utstanding home remodeling services for Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, DC.

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