Vinyl, Aluminum, Wood or Fiberglass?

Recently, we have been talking to some potential customers who have mentioned our "pro-aluminum" competition. Of course we understand that we still have some "old school" window competition around Dallas who have exclusive deals with aluminum window manufacturers. Heck, even we still sell Aluminum Windows on occasion. But to argue that aluminum windows are in any way superior to vinyl windows is just irresponsible of any window company who plans to remain in business long-term..
Folks, the windows that you currently have are probably aluminum. And how old are they? 15 - 20 years old? Simply walk over to your existing windows and examine their condition. Aluminum replacement windows fade, corrode, conduct heat/cold, conduct sound, they often "rattle" and the seals never last very long. Aluminum windows become hard to open and sometimes difficult to keep open (SLAM).
Every summer day the Texas sun heats the exterior of an Aluminum window to extraordinary temperatures, melting the silicone seals. That evening those seals re-congeal when the temperature drops. Repeat... month after month, year after year. This cycle is one of the reasons that your windows are so drafty. Also, because Aluminum conducts so well - when the exterior aluminum gets hot/cold the interior also gets hot/cold. The inside aluminum temperature simply radiates through the room as if it were a space heater or A/C vent.

Vinyl Windows on the other hand, are terrible conductors of heat/cold. They don't get nearly as hot and the seals stay in tact throughout the summer. Vinyl doesn't corrode like Aluminum and they tend to "flex" with the movement of Dallas homes, allowing them to smoothly open and stay open throughout the lifetime of the home. Aluminum windows can be painted. That is the only edge that they have on Vinyl. But in Dallas - a painted window must eventually be re-painted. Vinyl is virtually maintenance free.

Wood Windows are the most energy efficient type of window but most of our potential customers simply can't afford them.  Of course, wood is paintable and easy to match to your existing interior / exterior but if you paint them you must ALWAYS paint them.  Yes, they are more decorative but those decorative moldings rot and decay.  There is a risk of buying an expensive window that will need to be replaced relatively quickly if the homeowner forgets about inspections or painting for a season.  However, for those diligent homeowners who can afford them, wood is an extremely attractive option that adds warmth and beauty to a house.

I'm sure that some of our competition and any manufacturer who offers them will disagree with our opinion of fiberglass windows.  Unfortunately, the truth is the truth.  Fiberglass windows are not only expensive, they are brittle.  It is very common to see splintering and cracking relatively quickly with fiberglass windows and they're (in our opinion) just too expensive to have such expensive problems.  Of course, there are salesmen out there who make huge profit margins from selling fiberglass windows but Adams Exteriors is still searching for one that we can stand behind.  Check back in a few years.

        

Burglar-proof Windows

"Burglar-Proof"?  Well, I suppose they are as burglar-proof as anything can be. 

I think that it's safe to say that aside from simply walking through the front door, breaking a window is probably the most common way to break into a house.  But, what if the glass broke but didn't break through.  How many times would a burglar loudly beat on a window before getting frustrated and moving on? 

Burglar-proof windows use a heavy polyurethane laminate sandwiched between two pieces of glass to form a window that is not only extremely efficient, it's also extremely difficult to break through.  Now, if a burglar is smart enough to stop whacking on it and pry the window open, it could still be possible to break the lock.  But the questions are:  How much noise is this burglar going to be comfortable with making?  How long is the burglar going to be willing to "problem solve" this frustrating window?  What are the chances that you'll be inside and not hear the racket that the burglar is making? 

Of course, a homeowner can always install "burglar bars" on their windows.  But, what happens in case of a fire?  Being locked behind bars, imprisoned in your own house is probably not a great idea.  Besides, burglar bars don't exactly add to the look of a home.

        

Soundproof Windows

As cities grow larger and more dense, soundproof windows are becoming more attractive.  I suppose before we can talk about them, we should talk about what qualifies a window to be "soundproof".  Adams Home Windows considers any window with the same sound measurements of a brick wall to be "soundproof".  If we can agree that it wouldn't make any sense to install a window that is more sound-efficient than the wall that surrounds it, we should be able to agree that you're likely to always hear SOME sounds from outside.

Sound efficient construction material is measured by STC rating. A brick wall has (aprox) a STC rating of .37 - .39

There are a few companies who provide "interior mount" windows that greatly reduce the amount of sound that travels from outside to inside.  You may have to install them yourself or find a local installation crew to do the work but these windows achieve the .39 STC rating that you're looking for.  These windows do NOT replace your existing windows.  Since they are installed INSIDE your house, there are two major problems with these windows.  First, your blinds or interior shutters will need to be moved because the new Soundproof Window will be in the way.  Second, cleaning the glass is very difficult because they require that you uninstall them completely.  Think of them like an interior storm window (but much higher quality).  And they are expensive!

Another option is Soundproof Replacement Windows.  Using thick laminated glass, these also achieve the .39 STC rating, making them qualify as "Soundproof".  These windows actually REPLACE your existing windows and should not get in the way of your existing blinds or plantation shutters.  However, they almost always have Vinyl frames and might not look anything like your other windows.  The price of replacing ALL of your windows with Soundproof windows might be a little staggering, but Energy Efficient Windows will match them perfectly.  Don't think that EVERY window must be soundproof.

We have seen some of our customers use Theatrical Curtains to block sound.  Using thick, heavy material they are pretty effective but of course they also block light (which in a bedroom, might not be a bad idea).

        

$199.00 "Any Window Installed"

Nothing is more frustrating for a Reputable Window Installation Company than seeing "$199.00 - Any Window Installed" ads that are common in local newspapers. 

First, let me just say that the majority of these ads are "bait and switch" / sketchy sales tactics from window companies with horrible BBB ratings and high pressure salesmen.  But lets proceed under the assumption that these are actual legitimate offers from reputable companies.  In order of importance to the window company, these are the three factors of the $199.00 price:

1. Profit (If the Company goes out of business, your workmanship warranty goes out of business) - This $66.00 ($199 divided by 3) will not budge.  The salesman earns a portion of this, so the real profit amount is certainly less...
2. Cost (Window, Caulk, Trim, Shims, Screws, etc...) - If you have never seen a $66.00 replacement window, simply walk through your nearest manufactured housing development (mobile home park).  There is NO quality $66.00 replacement window.
3. Labor (Remove and haul away old windows, Install new windows, Caulk / Finish) - You'll have to reduce this $66.00 in order to buy better windows.  Do the best installers work for less?  Or do they work for companies who pay them what they are worth?

Check with the Better Business Bureau, Angies List and your local Chamber of Commerce and refuse companies with horrible reputations.  Get at least 3 estimates to familiarize yourself with typical practices / pricing for your area.  My final tip is this: ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS!!!  Really!  Ask every question that you can think of.  Ask questions even if you don't care about the answers.  The idea is to test the knowledge of the salesman.  Would a knowledgeable / honest salesman work for such little profit when other companies would pay more?  Will your salesman take your phone call after you've paid? 

This is the simple math behind the "$199.00 Any Window Installed" ads.  These numbers can be argued and divided differently, I suppose.  But one thing is for sure... you've found the cheapest possible option for your most valuable investment, your house.  You've found "bottom of the barrel".