Your windows aren’t just glass and frames – they’re the poetry of your home, where light weaves a story that reflects your soul. So, while the nitty gritty details of costs can make your eyes cross, it’s a journey worth taking to make your nest truly yours.
Spoiler alert: installation labor isn’t cheap, and warranties can either be your best friend or an overlooked footnote. Learn to navigate your window shopping journey with savvy.
Energy Efficiency
Choosing energy-efficient windows is an investment that pays off year after year. These windows block 90% of the sun’s heat, resulting in significant savings on energy expenses. They also feature a vinyl or fiberglass frame to prevent thermal transfer. Additionally, these windows are durable and low-maintenance.
Window features such as Low-E glass coatings and double-pane insulation can help homeowners reach ENERGY STAR certification and save money. Adding a warm-edge spacer system further minimizes condensation and energy loss.
The Texas window market has witnessed a dramatic increase in energy efficient products during the past one and a half years. This increase is attributed to the efforts of TWI and other organizations in the state. TWI has conducted over 160 on-site training sessions and complementary promotional activities for hardware store sales personnel and builders throughout the AEP service area during this time. Initial impact estimates show that a 10% market penetration of high performance windows could yield “gross” lifetime energy savings and utility peak demand reductions of 162,725 MWh.
Style
Whether you’re looking to increase the home’s resale value or simply improve its curb appeal, high-quality windows are a great investment. They not only make your home more energy efficient, they also provide a range of other benefits, including noise suppression and UV protection.
In addition to energy efficiency, you’ll want to consider style when choosing your new windows. Choosing windows with minimal frames will allow for uninterrupted views and more glass area, creating a sleek and contemporary aesthetic that’s popular among modern homeowners.
Bay windows are a beautiful option that showcase your home’s architecture, offering panoramic views of your property. If you’re looking for something more traditional, double-hung windows are a classic option that complements many different architectural styles. They’re low-maintenance and offer easy ventilation. Featuring a thermal break, dual-pane glass, and Low-E coatings, they’ll keep your house cool in the summer and protect carpets and drapes from sun damage.
Warranty
When it comes to new windows, there are many factors to consider. You’ll want to choose a company with a great reputation and excellent customer service, a large selection of high-quality window options from top manufacturers, and a comprehensive warranty for your protection.
Window manufacturers offer warranties ranging from a few years to a lifetime on their products. These warranties typically cover the aesthetics and functionality of your windows under normal conditions. However, it’s important to read the fine print before you decide on a particular manufacturer or warranty.
The best warranty will have few exclusions. For example, some manufacturers will only guarantee the color of their vinyl for a certain amount of time. This is because recycled and reprocessed vinyl tends to discolor over time due to atmospheric pollution. The warranty should also include installation coverage. Typically, a longer window installation warranty is better. Those that are transferable to the next homeowner can be a good selling point, as well.
Installation
When choosing new windows for your home it is important to choose wisely. The type of window, frame material and even the glass will affect the price. Your energy bills will be lower and the value of your house will increase with the right choice of replacement windows.
It is also important to choose a professional company for installation. A reputable company will ensure that the windows are properly fitted to avoid leaks and other problems. They will use high quality materials and provide a professional service.
The Hearst “Best of” curatorial team carefully chooses businesses that are dependable and trustworthy, offering consumers a variety of options and excellent customer service. Our experts choose companies based on local and national news and reviews from consumer-facing sites, including Angi, Google, Facebook, and Home Advisor. We also take into account the nominees, finalists and winner of Houston Chronicle’s Best of the Best window installers. Then we cross-reference their ratings with those from other trusted online sources, including Home Advisor and Houzz.