Factors To Consider When Choosing New Home Windows | New Braunfels, TX
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Do you tend to avoid a certain window in your home because you know there is a draft? Or do you own an older home and the wooden fittings are starting to splinter and split allowing a lot of hot air to drift into your home? These are all reasons that you may want to consider replacing your home windows. Windows are your home’s first line of defense against the weather outdoors, and if they are not properly blocking air from seeping in or out the difference will be reflected in your heating and cooling bills.
While home windows can be a costly investment, they are well worth it when you consider how much money you may be losing by allowing air to seep out of them. Your HVAC system will have to work twice as hard to produce enough cool air to keep your home comfortable, and even then there will be drafty areas. However, you can solve the problem by installing new home windows that will in turn also increase the value of your home making it an investment that will continue to pay off.
However, deciding to install new windows is only the first step. There is a lot to navigate once you decide to install new home windows. If you have never looked into windows before it can start to feel overwhelming. This guide is designed to help make the process a bit simpler so you can feel more confident about your decision to upgrade your windows.
Start with a Customized Consultation
If you are thinking about new home windows you may have been spending an increased amount of time looking at windows online or in the aisles of popular home improvement stores. However, most homes, especially old homes, do not feature standard windows. Windows are heavily customized so you will need a custom consultation to really get a good idea of what you will need and what to expect.
As part of the consultation, a trained window technician will come out to your home, take measurements of all of the windows that you are thinking of replacing, and then discuss your various options. They will likely go over different window materials, show you some window and glass samples, and answer any questions that you may have. This is a great starting point if you are seriously considering new home windows and a great opportunity to think about your options.
Frame Materials
So what are these options? One of the big decisions you will have to make is related to frame materials. There are a lot of framing options these days, and the level of customization you are after will likely influence your costs. Fiberglass and wood are very popular these days because they are great insulators, but vinyl is another great cost-effective choice that offers a lot of insulation value as well.
Usually, you want to strike a balance between insulation and appearance keeping your overall budget in mind while shopping for home windows. While you want your frame to look good, it may be better to focus on higher quality glass over higher quality frames. That said, while it is a cost-effective choice it is wise to avoid aluminum frames because while they are inexpensive they are not great at insulation which makes them bad for Texans who deal with extreme heat. After all, the point of purchasing replacement home windows is to improve your insulation, so you want to make sure you choose frame materials that will help this happen.
How Many Panes of Glass You Need
If you have an older home in New Braunfels, TX then there is a very good chance that you have single-pane windows. Upgrading to double-pane glass will instantly make a world of difference which will likely show in your cooling bills almost immediately.
In double-pane windows like the name implies, two panes of glass are placed into a frame and the cavity in between them is filled with gas. The result is even more insulation and as a side bonus usually noise muffling benefits. One of the other immediate benefits you will notice almost immediately is that there is no glare near your windows anymore. The high levels of insulation are also able to block UV rays to protect your furniture from fading and that same technology allows you to sit next to the window without baking or dealing with the glare of the sun.
The other option you have is to purchase triple-pane windows which are essentially the same design but feature two gas-filled cavities and three panes. The extra pane will add extra insulating properties and help reduce more outside noise from seeping inside, but in general, they are not necessary. The price jump between double-pane and triple-pane home windows is not justifiable for most unless they live in a noisy area or close to a highway or airport.
Investment Value
Finally, before you make your final decision you need to think about the value of your investment. You are more likely to recoup your investment when you sell your home if you choose vinyl windows over wood windows. In terms of energy savings, new windows will always set you back some, but when you compare the benefits they are worth it for many homeowners. If your windows are rotting or old then they will need to be replaced at some point anyhow so it’s not a one-to-one comparison.
Do you need more help deciding if you should replace your windows, and what your best choices are if you decide to do so? First Place Windows of New Braunfels, TX is a home window replacement company that would be happy to come out to your home to discuss your options. We offer free consultations and are always happy to sit down with area homeowners to go over exciting new options. Give us a call today to talk about your options.