Photo credit: FAS Windows and Doors What?s the weakest link in a home?s thermal shell? You guessed it ? windows. Even the most modern homes can suffer from window leaks. That?s why one of the first steps you can take to improve your home?s efficiency overall is to install replacement windows . But where to start? Dan Wolt, President and Founder of Zen Windows , stopped in to provide the answer. Dan?s been in the business for 23 years, and his company has serviced all of Ohio for the past 12. You can bet his advice is solid. The following steps cover everything from glass selection to navigating energy efficiency levels to screening a potential window contractor. How do I decide what type of glass to buy? Dan: The most important thing when it comes to glass is to make sure it is manufactured by a glass manufacturer that has been in business for at least 50 years. Also, make sure the glass has either two panes or three panes and is coated with low-E coating on every piece of glass. How do I decide which window frame material to choose? Dan: Make sure that the window frame has fusion welded corners and an I Beam construction (the same one used for building bridges) as opposed to a chemical weld, which will break over time. Even worse is a mechanical weld, which consists of screws

holding a window together. How do I pick out the energy efficiency level? Dan: You can either go to the Energy Star website or my website explains it all . Most importantly, when speaking with your window reps, ask them for copies of materials on the glass packages and for energy efficiency ratings. Photo credit: HomeWorks Is there a simple way I can predict costs? Dan: No. Every home is different, so every installation procedure is going to be different. On top of that, although windows may look the same, each and every one is built differently and has a multitude of options. You can get a window installed for $150 or $1500 and they?re going to look the same; the difference is in how well it?s installed and how well it?s manufactured, so it?s really difficult to predict cost. On top of that, there are two types of windows. One is a stock window, such as a standard 48? by 48.? The other is the window you should be buying: a custom made window. You should buy a window to fit your home, not buy a window and make your home fit into it. This can harm your home, and it can be very intrusive when you start tearing apart walls. It might also end up costing you more. (more…)

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Six Steps to a Successful Window Replacement