Here are some questions to ask yourself if you are considering replacing the window in your home:
Are the frames insulated? Vinyl windows with frames made of uPVC (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) extrusions insulated with a polyurethane core are much more energy efficient than wood, multi-chambered hollow vinyl, aluminum, and composite windows. Also make sure you look at the R-Factor of both glass AND frames. Remember, the greater the R-Factor the better the insulating value. All our windows are constructed with a polyurethane core.
How are the window corners connected? If the corners are fusion welded together the corners will never leak, which means neither water nor air will penetrate through the frames of the windows. However, if the corners are either screwed together, mechanically fastened or chemically welded, then they can start to leak over time. All our windows are completely fusion welded.
Do the windows have an energy efficient glass, which will help to reduce the transfer of heat and cold? Most windows are available with Low-E Glass, some Low-E coatings are pyrolitic hard coats, some are sputter coated soft coats, and some even contain 2 layers of Low-E coating. The highest performing Low-E, Our windows are coated with up to eight different layers of heat reflective metallic shields.
Are the windows ENERGY STAR? approved where I live? Products are tested and rated by the NFRC (National Fenestration Rating Council), which have certain guidelines windows must pass to be considered energy efficient. Only the best performing windows will have the ENERGY STAR? approval by the U.S. Department of Energy for outstanding energy efficiency (utility cost savings). The department rates products for three different geographical regions in the United States, so many windows may not be ENERGY STAR? approved in all regions of the country. Our windows are ENERGY STAR? approved in all regions of the country.
What does the warranty cover and how long does it last? Windows offer a wide range of warranties. Some offer the warranty for 5 years, many windows are warranted for 10 years, and others offer a lifetime warranty, maybe pro-rated after a few years. Our windows' warranties are lifetime, non-prorated, transferable warranty. If any part of your window ever breaks or fails, it's covered!
Replacement windows built by today's standards can pay for themselves by the amount of savings in heating and cooling costs of a home. They also offer a homeowner many different options, such as different types of glass, colors of frames, and many different styles of windows.
Magnetically controlled operator is used on all tilt-only SunBlinds.
SunShades Colors: Fawn, Almond, Charcoal, Taupe, and Gray
Magnetic operator and cord is used on both lift & tilt SunBlinds and SunShades.
Grids
V-Groove Etched Glass
Tudor
Petal
Marquis
Trellis
V-Groove Colonial
Double Prairie
Florentine V-Groove
Designer Glass
Add an elegant statement to your home by including one of our beautiful hand-crafted leaded glass designs. From contemporary to traditional, these wonderfully arranged designs are sure to make your home the envy of the neighborhood. Select from 12 distinct glass styles and 10 vibrant colors to create your own custom window for your favorite room.
Prairie Du Chien
Keokuk
Natchez
Vidalia
St. Paul
Hannibal
Gretna
Davenport
Galena
Vicksburg
St. Louis
LaCrosse
Yellow
Champagne
Ruby Red
Light Purple
Emerald
Cobalt Blue
Medium Amber
Clear 100W
White
Pale Amber
Brass
Patina
Nickel
Zinc
ENERGY STAR?: Getting More for Your Money
Will I Be Able To Find The Style And Type Of Window I Want? When choosing an ENERGY STAR? window or door, you don't sacrifice comfort, versatility or style. All our windows feature ENERGY STAR? approved glass in all our window and patio door options.
What Other Advantages Can I Expect From An Energy Star Window? Some home furnishings and d?cor can actually suffer a kind of sunburn when continuously exposed to too much daylight. The ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause fading and degradation of many materials and dyes found in upholstery, carpet, artwork, wood or paint. Our exclusive Ultra-U glass, available for all our windows, can reduce harmful sun damage by up to 75 percent, giving greater protection to your interiors.
ENERGY STAR? windows, by virtue of their design, eliminate draftiness and resist condensation for greater comfort. A well-insulated window also diminishes sound transmission.
How Can I Get The Most Energy Efficient Product For My Climate? ENERGY STAR? performance requirements for windows and doors are tailored to fit the energy needs of the country's different climate regions - Southern, Northern and Central. The ENERGY STAR? Climate Region Map gives you clear guidelines for determining which windows and doors will do the best job to help reduce heating and cooling costs in your region - and your home. To be sure, crosscheck your window selection with the Climate Region Map on each ENERGY STAR? label. In all cases your decision is simplified; Restorations products meet performance requirements for all three regions.
What Is An NFRC Rating? All ENERGY STAR? qualifying windows and doors also bear a label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). NFRC provides unbiased energy performance ratings for windows and doors (or "fenestration".) Independent NFRC ratings provide the basis for the ENERGY STAR?'s window performance requirements.
NFRC's labels provide product-specific performance ratings for technical qualities such as U-Factor (the rate of heat loss from your home through the window during the winter), and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (how much heat your house gains from the sun during the summer.) Just as an EPA sticker on a new car will give you a guideline to the car's fuel economy, the NFRC label on a window gives consistent ratings that can help consumers determine both Winter and Summer performance characteristics. Look for low U-factor and SHGC numbers for highest efficiency performance.
Can Windows Save Energy? In a typical house, over 40 percent of the annual energy budget is consumed by heating and cooling. Proper selection of windows and doors can significantly affect how much money we spend or save every year on keeping your homes bright and comfortable.
When you are investing hundreds or thousands of dollars on new windows or doors, you need to get the most for your money. A great way to find the right products for your home is too look for the ENERGY STAR? symbol. ENERGY STAR? labeled windows and doors are twice as efficient as the average window manufactured just ten years ago. These high performing products can help cut your heating and cooling costs, make your home more comfortable and help the environment too. Here are some thoughts to consider when looking for an energy efficient window.
What Features make The Energy Star Window A Good Buy? New materials, coatings, design and construction features, as well as other innovations, make ENERGY STAR? labeled windows a cost-effective investment. ENERGY STAR? labeled windows and doors are 40 percent more efficient than products required under the most common national building codes. This means you'll be using less energy to heat and cool your home all year, resulting in lower utility bills. There are also environmental benefits associated with choosing ENERGY STAR? labeled windows and other products. Most energy is produced by burning fossil fuels in large power plants. When we use energy more efficiently in our homes and businesses, we also help reduce air pollution.
The National Fenestration Rating Council's (NFRC) Energy Performance label is designed to help consumers measure and compare the energy performance of different window brands. Just as the EPA sticker ona new car will give you a guideline to the car's fuel economy, the NFRC label gives consistent benchmarked ratings that can help consumers compare performance characteristics of different window and door brands.
The NFRC Label
Winter - U-Factor In the winter, the lower a window's overall U-Factor, the less heat you will lose through that window. A lower U-factor means you'll use less energy to heat your home, saving you more since your furnace isn't running as much. U-Factor ratings generally fall between .20 and 1.20.
Summer - Solar Heat Gain Coeficient In the summer, a lower SHGC means less solar radiation is admitted through your window. Your home will remain cooler and your airconditioner will not have to work as hard. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1.
Visible Transmittance Visible Transmittance (VT) measures how much light comes through a window. The higher the visible light transmittance, the more light is transmitted through the window. VT is expressed as a number between 0 and 1.
Condensation Resistance Condensation Resistance (CR) measures the ability of a window or door to resist the formation of condensation on the interior window or door surface. The higher the rating, the better the product is at resisting condensation formation. CR is expressed as a number between 0 and 100.
Air Leakage The lower the number, the less drafts and air infiltration into your home. The lowest number the government assigns is a .1 and Restorations Windows are 70% better than the best industry standard. Any windows with an air leakage number above .3 fail this test.
Operating Your New Windows
Tilting-In Double & Single Hung Sashes:
Unlock sash locks.
Raise lower sash at least 2-3 inches.
Release both tilt latches and pull top of sash toward you.
To tilt-in top sash (not applicable for single hungs), first tilt-in lower sash. Then repeat steps 2 & 3 for top sash.
Removing Lift-Out Slider Sashes:
Unlock sash locks.
Slide inner sash towards center.
Lift sash up and bring bottom into house.
Repeat steps 2 & 3 for outside panel.
Operating Tilt-In Sliders:
Unlock sash locks.
Slide inner sash at least 2-3 inches towards center.
Release both tilt latches and pull center side of sash toward you.
Repeat steps 2 & 3 for other sash.
Operating Casement & Awning Windows:
To open, unlock lever on side of window.
Turn crank mechanism to desired position.
To close, crank in opposite direction and engage locking lever to fully close & lock window.
To clean glass, remove screen by pulling it into house (with casements, you may have to pull up on screen clips first.)
Care of Your Restorations Windows
Glass
To clean your windows with typical glass, simply use a glass cleaner and a soft cloth.
Frame Cleaning*
Keeping your windows and doors clean means more than just the glass. Here are some helpful tips for cleaning the PVC frames and sashes of your windows effectively without damaging them.
Clean window and doorframes with a mixture of mild dish soap* and water.
Abrasive or caustic cleaners or solvents are never recommended because they might cause permanent damage to the frame finish.
Mild, nonabrasive soaps* are usually safest for most dirt and stain removal.
Always rinse completely with clear water and wipe dry.
Check to make certain that drainage or "weep" holes are always clear of dirt and obstructions - both inside and outside the window or door in the bottom of the frame. NOTE: If the window is "stacked", there may be weep holes between the units.
*Ivory? is an example of a mild dish soap. Always test cleaners in an inconspicuous area first.
Smooth Operation*
To ensure that your windows and doors open, close, lock and unlock easily for years to come, follow these helpful maintenance tips to keep your windows and doors operating smoothly.
Moving parts in hardware components and tracks and rollers can be lubricated periodically in accordance with the manufacturer's maintenance instructions. Salt-air environments may require more frequent care.
Check weather stripping around operable window and door panels and be sure it seals evenly.
On sliding doors and windows, make certain track area is kept clean.
Adjust sliding door rollers for proper height clearances. Remove the caps over the access holes on the exterior of the door. Use a Phillips screwdriver to adjust the rollers manually. The best way to begin is to turn the screw all the way to the left to even the rollers. As you adjust, you will feel the screw "click" with each turn.
Drainage Systems*
Windows and doors often have a simple drainage system or "weep" system designed right into the product. These water drainage pathways must be kept clear and clean for the window or door to operate correctly. It is normal for water to accumulate in the sill or track area with wind driven rain. The water is intended to drain to the outside as water builds up or outside pressure subsides.
Keep sill or track areas clean of dirt and debris.
Make sure that outside and inside "weep" holes and sill area are kept clear of any dirt, stucco, sand or building materials.
Use a small, soft bottlebrush to clear openings.
Key Do's and Don'ts*
DO: Clean the frame surfaces. DON'T: Use a razor blade, putty knife or abrasive pad.
DO: Use a glass cleaner or mild detergent. DON'T: Use any petroleum-based cleaners or solvents.
DO: Clean tracks and weep holes. DON'T: Use oil-based lubricants or damage weep hole covers/baffles.
DO: Check weather stripping and hardware. DON'T: Live with poor performing components.
DO: Clean your insulating glass with proper cleaning agents. DON'T: Add attachments to window or glass without approval from the window manufacturer.
DO: Choose certified windows and exterior glass doors. DON'T: Settle for products that do not meet important air, water, structural, forced entry and thermal performance standards.
*(c)2004, American Architectural Manufacturers Association
Windows play a large part in the energy and cost savings of your home. Visit Washington Home Remodelers of Maryland for your window needs and see our variety of windows ranging from double hung, sliders, and garden windows. We can cover all of your window needs from styles, materials and the installation of your new windows.
Do the windows have an energy efficient glass, which will help to reduce the transfer of heat and cold?
How Can I Get The Most Energy Efficient Product For My Climate?
The NFRC Label
