Replacement Windows Discussion Board Forum

Mention to them in advance you are not concerned with the install speed, but do care about a solid install. Show an interest in learning about the process they use and ask a few questions, so they know you care about your home. Offer them a drink or a snack - an installer that likes you will care mo...

I saw those windows at a home show 2-3 years ago. They are a fairly small company, but they had a nice booth, I recall. :D Sadly, I don't remember a lot about my opinion of the windows at the time, except the demo models had SuperSpacer and looked decent, and the show salesman seemed more knowledgea...

I believe all of the Simonton Windows around here come from the newish McAlester, OK plant. I'm hoping since it is a newer plant that they have the machinery set up to edge delete and automatically apply the SS material. Anyone know for sure?

I was told that Simonton edge deletes before applying SS, but I don't know if they apply it by hand. I have seen lots of Simonton SS windows recently, and it seems one out of every 35 or so have some kind of minor deformity/bend in the super spacer somewhere, so I was a bit worried they were either ...

It looks like they didn't caulk the interior as well. It is sad to see a nice house get treated like this.

Vinyl will generally be more efficient than thermally broken aluminum (and much better than non-thermally broken). On the other hand, aluminum will often allow for larger windows, has less flex in larger frames, and can be painted, if those are issues for you. For more specifics on energy performanc...

The only big downsides to vinyl/aluminum clad wood windows are the added cost compared to vinyl and the remaining slight possibility of rot/warp, for example if the cladding fails and allows moisture into the wood. Your warranty should cover that for a few years. Fiberglass windows will be as cheap ...

I'm assuming this is a vinyl window you are talking about. The u-factor difference of .03 might not be that big in reality, but remember that energy star is an (aging) minimum guideline. An average quality vinyl, double-pane, LowE, argon window will have a u-factor around .32, and high quality ones ...

Have you put a level to the the frames to be sure they were installed level, plumb, and straight in all directions? Are the gaps (reveals) between the sashes and frames even up/down and on both sides (for double-hungs)? Do the windows operate and lock smoothly? If the gaps are large enough that the ...

If you really want an accurate answer to whether replacing your windows will pay back in some number of years, find a local energy expert who specializes in home energy simulations. They may know Manual-J or a similar home energy simulation system. You can hire them to come out and analyze your home...

I looked at some Republic windows several months ago. I don't think they are bad quality, maybe just not as good as some of the others discussed here. If you are getting them at a good price from a reliable dealer, they may still be a reasonable deal for you. Metal reinforcement in the frames is usu...

A .18 u-factor will be a for a triple pane window, so it isn't an apples to apples comparison. That said, u-factors are be a little misleading because the numbers are small decimals. A drop from .28 to .18 means heat conduction through the window is only 64% of what is was before. Granted, there are...

The NFRC has the energy specs for most major-brand windows.

See: http://cpd.nfrc.org/pubsearch/psMain.asp

RBA windows are not well-recommended here (this is a vinyl windows web site after all, and their dealers are not kind to pure-vinyl windows), but you may end up perfectly happy with your windows. Why are you attempting to cancel your contract? Do you feel you overpaid? Or has your opinion about thei...

I got to see some Don Young aluminum thermal break windows recently. They looked and operated nice. They are not as energy efficient as most vinyl windows, but they are very strong. I spoke with the installer and he has had very good luck with Don Young products over many years.