Windows and doors play a key role to the overall beauty, comfort and cost of our homes. They are an integral part of the home envelope and with a good product, installed correctly they maintain the integrity of your home by eliminating air and water leakage. And since the 1990’s we have increased the number of windows or sashes in a home and spend $7,000-$20,000 on replacements.
So what should you look for in a window and what are your choices in today’s market. Besides the style (double or single hung, casement etc) there is the type of window and what it is built from (wood, vinyl, aluminum and fiberglass). Each type has pros and cons, but I believe to be more “Green” one type in particular stands out the most and that is Fiberglass.
Fiberglass is not well known and mostly because they are a more expensive window to build. The benefits however, far outweigh the extra cost on the front end. First, the all-fiberglass and fiberglass-clad products are stronger and tend to insulate better than a vinyl or aluminum window. If you live in an area where hail, strong winds and large trees exist, the fiberglass can withstand the hits with little to no damage. Compared to a vinyl window where R-values are 3.3 to 6.3 on average a fiberglass window R-value rates 7 to 11 in most cases.
Wood windows need to be thoroughly cleaned, resealed and painted carefully so the paint doesn’t hinder the smooth operation of the window working mechanism. A fiberglass window also appreciates a good cleaning to keep the working mechanisms running smoothly but they appear to handle mistreatment better. They can be painted but if you order your favorite dark color to begin with the other great advantage is they resist fading and then you don’t have to do any painting.
The best part of the fiberglass is they expand and contract at the same rate as glass, resulting in fewer seal failures and cracks. What makes them a favorite for “Green” is they take less energy to manufacturer and are primarily made up of silica sand which is an easy to obtain natural resource.
Although they may cost more to start the time you save on maintenance, overall wear and tear appearance will be long lasting curb appeal. To enjoy the benefits of the R-value and maintain a good moisture and air seal your window installer plays a key role in the new window performance. Make sure to ask questions to ensure your windows are installed correctly per the manufacturer’s instructions. Most water intrusions occur when the installer did not properly flash or secure the window to its opening. To learn more about various windows and manufacturers visit: www.jdpower.com and look for residential window ratings. Or visit your favorite window manufacturer directly on their website. Marvin www.marvin.com, Pella www.pella.com , Hurd www.hurd.com , Weathershield www.weathershield.com
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