To Improve or Not to Improve Your House With New Windows & Doors

Your Windows & Doors: Shape how you see the world & how the world sees you!

Is the #1 reason homeowners replace their windows and doors financial such as reduced energy bills, adding resale value and curb appeal, or return on their home improvement investment? Or is the #1 reason that they finally decide enough is enough and replace their old, drafty windows and doors due to aesthetics, ergonomics, or simple vanity; they just hate the way they look, operate, or reflect back on them? Truth be told, the latter gets the ball rolling and the former justifies the decision to proceed. This isn’t “rocket science”, it’s human nature.

Case in point: Some homeowners will pay too high energy bills for years and allow their family to complain about how cold they are during the winter heating season and warm they are during the summer air conditioning season. But have a window stick one time too many, an entry door make them embarrassed to open, or have a valued friend comment on how much nicer their view would be if their windows weren’t so cloudy (from moisture due to broken seals and spacers). Then they’ll be on the phone or searching the internet the next day for a reputable replacement window & door contractor.

While you’re not necessarily required to replace your current windows and doors with the same types and styles, you may be limited in your choice of replacement windows and doors by the openings available. Of course you can change the size of the openings to accommodate your desires but that will likely require added time and expense. This is not meant as a discouragement, just offered for your consideration. Now let’s look at your choices for types, styles, glass and gas for your replacement windows and how to rate them…

Vinyl, wood or aluminum-clad wood replacement windows: which type is right for you?
Each type of replacement window has advantages and disadvantages. This chart looks at several:

Vinyl: Extremely Durable; Quite Strong; Very Engergy Efficient; Virtually Maintenance Free; Streamlined & Flexible Design - Limited Color Palette; Moderate Expense

Wood: Wood Frames are more susceptible to damage associated with moisture ; A Bit Weaker than vinyl; Energy Efficient; Maintenance required at regular intervals such as painting, scraping, etc.; Unique designs and natural beauty of wood with limitless options; Moderate to High Expense

Aluminum-Clad Wood: Aluminum Clad - Durable Exterior Frame is Very Strong, Interior Frame is A Bit Weaker; Energy Efficient; Interior only; Finish to match your decor; Moderate to High Expense

Window Styles: which do you like?

Whether awning, bay, casement, double hung or slider, each have looks and features that may be right for you. Here are examples and information to help you decide which are best for you…

Awning Windows
Awning windows feature a top hinge and open outward. Your replacement awning windows will generally provide for lesser rates of air leakage. The reason? The sash closes by pressing against the window frame. Note that screens are placed on the interior of the window frame.

Bay Windows

Bay windows are generally comprised of three or more windows. A unique look is achieved by projecting the side units out from the exterior in 30, 45 or 90-degree angles. For your replacement bay windows, you can elect for individual windows to remain stationary or operating. You may even choose to make your center window stationary and the two side units operating as double hung or casements.

Casement Windows

Casement windows are based on a side hinge design. The benefits of replacement casement windows include: lower air leakage rates, a sash that closes by pressing to the frame, and screens that are placed on the interior. Additionally, because casement windows project outward, the home is afforded better ventilation than sliders of similar size.

Double Hung Windows

Double hung windows feature the ability to slide each sash vertically. You are able to control the level of ventilation from a small opening to one half of the total glass dimension. Additionally, with double hung replacement windows, you have the option of placing a screen on the exterior of the window frame. Double hung windows also come with a tilt-in feature shown here with the added benefit of carefree cleaning.

Gliding Windows

Gliding windows allow homeowners to slide both sashes horizontally. Benefits are similar to that of double hung windows: ventilation area can be manipulated, and screens can be placed on both the interior and exterior of the unit.

Fixed Frame Windows

Fixed frame windows are the most basic of styles. This term typically alludes to windows that are inoperable or non-venting.

Grades of Glass

Choices! Choices! Choices! Now that you know your window style options, you will need to consider the various types of glass that are available. There are several different grades, and you will want to make the best decision based on your energy efficiency goals. This section has been designed to help you do just that!

Clear Glass

As you probably have already guessed, clear glass is the preferred material for home windowpanes. But with newer techniques such as glazing or cutting, as well as custom fitting, consumers now have the ability to 'customize' the appearance of their windows. Additional enhancements include glazing options that help control heat loss and condensation.

Low-Emissivity Glass (Low-E)

Low-E glass features a unique surface coating that reduces the heat transfer back through the window. In fact, such a coating can reflect anywhere from 60% of the normally transmitted heat without inhibiting the amount of light that passes through the window.

Window Gas Fills

The insulated glazing mentioned above will improve the thermal performance of your replacement windows. The thermal performance can be further improved when the space between the glass panes is filled with gas.
To accomplish this further improvement in thermal performance, window manufacturers use inert gases—ones that do not react readily with other substances. Because these gases have a higher resistance to heat flow than air, a gas is sealed between the window panes to decrease a window's U-factor (see below).
The most common types of gas used by window manufacturers include argon and krypton. Argon is inexpensive, nontoxic, non-reactive, clear, and odorless. Krypton is more expensive but has a better thermal performance (lowers the windows’ U-factor even more).

Energy Performance Ratings for Windows, Doors, and Skylights

The energy performance ratings of windows, doors, and skylights tell you their potential for gaining and losing heat, as well as transmitting sunlight into your home.

Heat Gain and Loss

Windows, doors, skylights can gain and lose heat in the following ways:
• Direct conduction through the glass or glazing, frame, and/or door
• The radiation of heat into a house (typically from the sun) and out of a house from room-temperature objects, such as people, furniture, and interior walls
• Air leakage through and around them.

These properties can be measured and rated according to the following energy performance characteristics:
• U-factor
The rate at which a window, door, or skylight conducts non-solar heat flow. It's usually expressed in units of Btu/hr-ft2-ºF. For windows, skylights, and glass doors, a U-factor may refer to just the glass or glazing alone. But National Fenestration Rating Council U-factor ratings represent the entire window performance, including frame and spacer material. The lower the U-factor, the more energy-efficient the window, door, or skylight.
• Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)
A fraction of solar radiation admitted through a window, door, or skylight—either transmitted directly and/or absorbed, and subsequently released as heat inside a home. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits and the greater its shading ability. A product with a high SHGC rating is more effective at collecting solar heat gain during the winter. A product with a low SHGC rating is more effective at reducing cooling loads during the summer by blocking heat gained from the sun. Therefore, what SHGC you need for a window, door, or skylight should be determined by such factors as your climate, orientation to the sun, and external shading.
• Air leakage
The rate of air infiltration around a window, door, or skylight in the presence of a specific pressure difference across it measures air leakage. It's expressed in units of cubic feet per minute per square foot of frame area (cfm/ft2). A product with a low air leakage rating is tighter than one with a high air leakage rating.

Energy Performance Testing, Certification and Labeling

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) operates a voluntary program that tests, certifies, and labels windows, doors, and skylights based on their energy performance ratings. The NFRC label provides a reliable way to determine a window's energy properties and to compare products.

Doors: More options than you might have considered

Entry Doors

There is not one greater statement about who you are and how welcome all your friends, neighbors and family are to your home than the entry door they approach and you open upon their arrival. Not only will a new entry door enhance the beauty of your home, it will also reduce your heating and cooling costs, enhance your home’s security, add curb appeal and Increase the resale value of your home.

Entry Door Options

You have more options with entry doors than ever before. You can choose from single or double doors in steel, fiberglass or wood. You can pick among embossed, smooth, or textured finishes. You can pick a solid door or one with beveled, leaded, etched, clear, or tinted glass – in many window styles. There are half-round, ellipse, or rectangular transom windows plus single sidelight or double sidelite windows. Options include door hardware and locksets. Your choices are plenty! But don’t be overwhelmed, your Burr door & window specialist will help you find the right entry door for your lifestyle and budget.

Solid Door

As the name implies, a solid door is all door, it does not have any glass. Solid doors can have smooth or textured finish, or can have embossed panels.

Doors With Glass

You now have almost endless options for glass in your entry door. Single windows in oval, half-light, or full-light size; double windows; or doors with half-round or arched quarter light windows – and even multiple options within each of these types!

Transom Windows

Transom windows sit above the entry door. As you now have figured out, there are many different styles of transoms to choose from too. Transom windows can be elliptical, half-round or rectangular, and can be made from clear, etched, beveled, frosted or leaded glass.

Sidelite Windows

Sidelite windows are located beside the entry door. You’ll find a single sidelite window on one side only and double sidelite windows on both sides of the entry door. Sidelites can be ½ the size of the entry door, ¾-size, or full length. They can be rectangular or rounded, and can be made with clear, beveled, etched, frosted or leaded glass to create the specific look and flair you’re after.

Patio Doors

Your patio door(s) say as much about the rear and sides of your house as your entry doors. Patio doors also reduce your heating and cooling costs, enhance your home’s security, provide added ventilation, increase light and improve your view, and increase the value of your home; they bring the outside in!

Patio Door Options

Here too, your options abound. Your choices include sliding, French, swing-in or out styles in fiberglass, wood, vinyl, or steel. Glass choices include clear, etched, or tinted. Hardware and lockset options are many. Be sure to discuss these with your Burr windows & doors specialist too.

Sliding Patio Doors

Sliding patio doors, as you might expect, are patio doors that slide on tracks. Typically, one side is stationary and the other slides to open and close; however, sliding patio doors can be 2-part, 3-part, or more, and any number of the panels can slide.

French Patio Doors

French Doors are hinged at the outside of the unit and contain at least two active panels that swing in or out from the center of the unit.

Storm Doors

Storm doors give you the option of letting more of everything good about the outside, like additional light, ventilation and view, while keeping out the bad, like unwelcome weather, pests and other intruders. As you will soon see, they add much more than they detract from the beauty of your home.

Storm Door Options

Storm doors come with ½-light, ¾-light, or full view. Glass options include clear, etched, or tinted. You also have such options as pet doors, kick plates and retractable screens. Here too you’ll find the right storm door for your lifestyle and budget.

½-Light Doors

½-Light Doors have windows and/or screens occupying about ½ of the door’s area. Single or two-piece windows are available with the full complement of glass options.

¾-Light Doors

¾-Light Doors have windows and/or screens taking up about ¾ of the door’s area. Single or two-piece window configurations are available along with all of your glass options.

Full View Doors

Full view doors have windows and/or screens that fill almost the entire area of the door. Single or two-piece windows are available with many different glass styles and configurations.