OK, so I’m probably not actually going to tell you everything about vinyl windows. After all, this is a short, informational piece, not an extensive dissertation containing all the technical data about how vinyl is made, how it is transformed into windows, and all that other dull stuff. There are already resources out there that will provide that information, and, most people don’t really care about that part. Instead, I will be looking at three major vinyl window manufacturers and providing you the information I believe will be most helpful to assist you in your decision making process.

Vinyl windows are among the most popular on the market today, in large part because they tend to be less expensive than their wood and fiberglass counterparts. However, as with any important decision, price should never be the primary consideration. Instead, you should always look at quality and value for the price, as well as at the available options. If a vinyl window does not offer all the features that are important to you, it will not be the right choice for you, regardless of the price. So, obviously, you are going to have to decide what is most important to you when choosing what kind of window will best meet your needs.

Our three manufacturers – Simonton, Sunrise, and Great Lakes – each offer fusion welded windows in a variety of basic exterior colors (white, tan, and at least one shade of brown for each). Fusion welding is important in that it maintains strength and stability over the years, whereas a frame that is screwed together at the corners may tend to shift out of square over time. Additionally, Sunrise and Great Lakes both add insulation inside the frames for added energy efficiency. Simonton will add steel within the frames and sash rails for additional structural integrity in high wind applications, such as on a higher floor. Along with their standard colors to match the exterior, each also offers a number of woodgrain laminate color options to give the appearance of wood without the maintenance. Each has a wide variety of energy efficient glass options, including tinted, tempered, laminated, and obscure glass, as well as various Low E coatings. Varying Low E coatings provide different light and heat transference ratings, something to consider depending on the region in which you live and the location of the windows in your home. Each also offers grids between the glass in a variety of popular styles and patterns to add to the beauty of your home. The benefit of having the grids between the panes of glass is that it is much easier to clean your windows. And, on that note, all of our manufacturers also provide tilt-in sash, meaning you tilt the sash into the house to clean them, rather than having to go outside to clean exterior glass.

The available options vary between manufacturers, including blinds between the glass offered by Sunrise, and some art glass (aka stained glass) options available from Sunrise and Great Lakes. Simonton will provide an “empty” sash (with no glass) so that art glass can be installed by an outside source. Each manufacturer also offers various hardware color options to meet your needs, in addition to the standard color matched hardware they generally install. Each of these manufacturers also offers a lifetime transferable warranty on their products, so that if material or manufacturing defects arise over the life of your windows, you don’t have to worry about the cost to replace it. Note, this generally does not include the cost of installing a replacement window, if necessary. That is something you will have to discuss with your contractor.

Vinyl windows are a great lower cost option for replacing the windows in your home. They offer a wide variety of color, glass, and grid options to enhance the appearance of your home. About the only real drawback I can think of, depending upon your needs, is the limitations on color options (both interior and exterior). In general, our manufacturers offer plenty of color options, but, unlike wood, they cannot be painted or stained if you want to change the color somewhere down the road. And, before anyone points this out, I am aware that there is vinyl paint available on the market. But, before you think about going that route, check your warranty. After market changes to any product will impact the warranty, sometimes even voiding it. I will note that Simonton does have a product line that offers painted exteriors In a broad spectrum of colors, but this is not a standard feature and requires extended lead time, taking away one final key benefit of vinyl windows – lead times of 2 to 4 weeks, whereas wood and fiberglass generally require longer manufacturing times of up to 8 weeks, sometimes even longer for special products.

Rae the Renovator

When you are planning to replace the windows in your home, you are probably thinking first and foremost about energy efficiency. And, that is an excellent starting point. However, you should also give serious consideration to the “look” you want for your new windows. Like updating your personal wardrobe, changing the style and/or color of your windows can have a dramatic impact on the impression your home leaves. So, when you start planning your renovation, think about what impression you wish to make.

There is no simple answer to what is the right window for a home. The right choice for you may not be right for someone else. So, rather than trying to give you cut and dried answers, over the next few days, we are going to provide an overview of the three most popular types of windows for this region – vinyl, wood, and fiberglass – to help you find the right answer for you. We’ll be using information provided by some of Evergreen Door & Window’s most popular manufacturers in each category – Simonton (Reflections), Sunrise, and Great Lakes (Seabrooke) for vinyl, Anderson(400 Series), Pella (Architect Series), and Marvin for wood, and Pella (Impervia) and Marvin (Integrity)for fiberglass – to give you some basic information about standard features and options available for each type. At the end of our exploration, we will provide a summary of all three window materials to help you find the best match for your particular needs.

We hope you will find this information helpful in your search for the right window. Please feel free to ask specific questions, either by posting your question at the end of each posting, or by contacting Evergreen Door & Window via email: info@www.evergreenwindow.com or by phone at (708)423-1720.

Rae the Renovator

Of course your home is special – everyone’s is! The question when you are planning a renovation project is what makes your home special from a contractor’s perspective?

At first glance, you may not see anything particularly special that your contractor might want to know. Trust me, every project is different, and the more information you can provide on the front end, the better for everyone.

For instance, are you planning to replace the windows in your high rise lakefront condo? There are at least two special circumstances on that project. First, if your unit is in a higher level (anything above the 3^rd floor), there are installation issues to be taken into consideration. Obviously, these windows can’t be reached on the outside by a ladder (and windows are installed from the outside, for the most part), so the installation contract will have to include allowances for a lift, scaffold, or other method to reach this height. Secondly, lakefront or oceanfront properties require products with precise engineering ratings to qualify for building permits. Your contractor will need to know this in order to quote you the appropriate materials. There is one other issue that may come into play in this situation as well – what are your condo association’s rules on access to the building and elevators? Does the work have to be done during specified time periods, or do the products have to be approved by the association prior to installation? All of these questions should be answered before your project begins to avoid problems during and after completion.

Ok, so you don’t have a lakefront condo – you have a basic 2 story in the suburbs. What could possibly be special about that? First, every municipality has specific permit requirements, and they vary from city to city, or county to county. Then, there are situations exclusive to your property. Do you have extensive landscaping that needs to be protected? Are there trees or other obstructions close by that could either limit access to the property or make replacing a roof, siding, or windows difficult for installers? They need to know about these issues up front to prepare for them prior to installation.

Finally, are there considerations within your home that need to be addressed? Do you have pets or children? Many contractors, particularly when moving materials into a home, will prop the door open for ease of access. That means the kids or animals could slip out if they are not kept out of the work zone. Of course, there are also the safety issues to consider. Some pets will become aggressive when a stranger enters their territory (small dogs seem to have a particular aversion to large men in their space), so, for the contractor’s and pets protection, they should be isolated during the project. And, of course, children should never be allowed to play around the work area – there are too many sharp or heavy objects around that could cause injury.

You may think that your contractor should notice most of the above situations when they come to give you your quote, but not all of them are obvious, particularly if they are there in the evening when obstructions may not be visible or during hours when children are at school or daycare. And, let’s face it, we’re only human. We can’t think of everything. We need your help to make your project as painless as possible. So, consider your special circumstances before you get a quote, and point them out to your contractor so they can address them. Make sure any special considerations are addressed in the quote and contract to be sure they will be properly dealt with throughout your project.

Here’s to a smooth and successful remodel!

Rae the Renovator

We have all heard that this summer’s drought is likely to cause price increases at the supermarket, although no one seems able to say exactly how much. You hear everything from “minimal” to “substantial” increases, depending on who is talking. But, will the drought have an impact on home improvement prices? My sources tell me this is a very likely scenario.

Think about it: Wildfires destroyed millions of acres of timber, used in everything from framing to decking to windows and doors. What may surprise you is that there are a number of products used in the home improvement industry that rely on corn production. Did you know that corn is one of the major ingredients in fiberglass, used to make, among other things, insulation, bathtubs, and windows and doors? So, between the loss of all that wood and the reduced supply of corn, consumers are in all likelihood facing increased prices on a wide variety of remodeling materials.

So, what’s a consumer to do if he is thinking about a home improvement project? My recommendation is to think faster. If you can find a way to schedule your project before the end of 2012, it would probably be in your best interest if you are looking for a lower price, and who isn’t looking to save money these days? Based on communications Evergreen Door & Window has received from major manufacturers and suppliers, odds are high that there will price increases coming by the first of the year. Granted, not all of these increases are caused purely because of the drought and wildfires this past summer, but they are certainly the deciding factor. Most manufacturers have been swallowing price increases for fuel and materials, knowing that everyone is in a tough financial situation these days, and trying very hard not to pass on every cost increase they have, instead maintaining lower margins to keep their companies running, hoping for an economic turnaround. However, with this final straw of another increase to cost of goods, many manufacturers can no longer afford to hold off on price increases and still maintain their workforce at current levels. They are facing the decision of having to increase their prices to contractors in order to keep their heads above water.

Since most remodeling companies operate on low margins as it is, they cannot afford to absorb these prices increases without either passing them on to their customers or laying off some of their own staff. It’s a vicious cycle that ends, unfortunately, with more having to come out of the homeowner’s pocket sometime in the near future.

So, take my advice – schedule that home improvement project now, before the inevitable jump in prices. Look at it this way; you’ll get to spend the winter enjoying your improved home, and you’ll save money in the long run! What could be bad about that?

Remodel on!

Rae the Renovator