Buying replacement windows for your home is a big investment that can bring you some impressive benefits including improved efficiency, energy savings, greater comfort, added value, and enhanced curb appeal. Here’s some helpful advice on key criteria you can use to select new windows for your Atlanta home.
Quality Construction
The best replacement windows are built to provide long-term durability, low maintenance, and few performance issues. In our area of Georgia, with its high humidity, look for windows constructed of composite or vinyl with a low air leakage (AL) rating. These are better able to resist warping, rot, heat, moisture, and insects in our climate.
Energy Efficiency
The right new windows will increase your home’s efficiency, help lower your energy bills, and boost your comfort. In our climate zone, efficiency-wise new windows should have the following features:
- A Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.35 or lower. The SHGC tells you how well a window blocks heat gain in the summer to help control your cooling costs.
- A U-factor of 0.55 or less. U-factor describes the window’s resistance to heat flow and its insulating properties.
- Double-pane glass filled with Argon gas. Gas-filled windows have higher thermal efficiency and also helps reduce sound transfer.
- Low-E coating. Look for the more efficient “soft coat” low-E coating to help reflect solar radiation and limit heat gains through the glass.
- Energy Star certification. Choosing new windows with the Energy Star logo provides peace of mind that they meet or exceed the energy code requirements for our region.
Warranty
Quality windows made by reputable manufacturers typically carry lengthy or even lifetime transferable warranties that are backed by responsive customer service. A good warranty should cover the frame and hardware components, as well as the glass and screens.
Manufacturer History
Purchasing windows from a well-established manufacturer with a long history helps ensure that you’ll be able to obtain service and replacement parts if problems crop up in the future, such as a broken seal, cracked window pane, worn-out weatherstripping, or damaged components.
Installation Expertise
Even the most expensive replacement windows won’t perform as expected, if they’re poorly installed. To ensure installation quality, look for a manufacturer-certified professional contractor who’ll verify the correct window sizing, properly prepare the openings, insulate around the frames adequately, and finish the job with superb workmanship.
To learn more about high-quality replacement window options for your Atlanta-area home, contact us at Echols Roofing.
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