Energy-Efficient Replacement Windows
As heating and cooling costs continue to rise, homeowners are looking for solutions that can keep their energy bills manageable. All American Exterior Solutions® has decades of expertise installing energy efficient replacement windows and various kinds of insulation.
Replacement windows come in a wide variety of styles and offer many different options that can increase their energy efficiency. They add comfort, beauty, and value to your home while keeping out wind, rain, snow, and harmful UV rays. The two most common types of replacement windows are made of wood or vinyl. Each has its own distinguishable characteristics and price. Both wood and vinyl replacement windows are normally made with double insulated glass and many tilt in for easy cleaning. No matter what window best fits your needs there are more options to consider such as:
- Low E glass to keep heat in during cold weather and reflect the heat out in warm weather. Low E also reflects harmful UV rays, helping protect rugs and furniture from fading.
- Argon glass in double glazed units increases the thermal value of the window
- Aluminum exterior cladding on wood windows
- Removable interior window grids and between-the-glass grids
- A wide variety of styles, including Casement, Double Hung, Picture, Bay and Bow
Window financing options and payment estimator
How to Compare Replacement Windows
Every window quote promises the same things, so compare the numbers instead. U-factor measures how much heat escapes, and lower is better; in our climate zone look for 0.30 or below. Solar Heat Gain Coefficient measures how much solar heat comes through, which matters most on south and west exposures. ENERGY STAR certification for the Northern Zone bundles both into one label worth asking for. Beyond the glass, ask what sits between the panes: argon fill and a warm-edge spacer do more for comfort than an extra pane on its own, though triple pane earns its cost on a wind-exposed elevation.
Frame material decides maintenance and cost. Vinyl is the least expensive and needs no finishing; wood carries the best look and the highest upkeep; aluminum-clad wood splits the difference; composite frames combine fiberglass and wood for stability without the painting. How the window goes in matters just as much. An insert window fits inside the existing frame and keeps your interior trim intact. A full-frame replacement takes the opening back to the framing and is the only way to find and correct rot, failed flashing or hidden water damage. We quote both and tell you which one your openings actually need.
Sierra Pacific
Sierra Pacific is a leading manufacturer of both high-quality wood and vinyl windows to fit most budgets. Aluminum-clad wood windows can be prefinished in a variety of paint and stain options. Vinyl windows are energy-efficient, maintenance-free, and cost-effective. Both provide the best in high-performance glazing and hardware options. Sierra Pacific are windows that never compromise.
Wood Windows
Wood windows are considered high-end. They can often match older existing windows. Wood windows perform well-retaining heat and their strength makes them ideal for larger openings. The exterior frames of wood windows can be painted or can be clad in maintenance-free aluminum.
Pella offers an unparalleled selection of windows and doors. Manufactured with meticulous care and craftsmanship, Pella has been recognized for being the highest in quality and innovation. Pella windows and doors offer the beauty and durability of wood combined with exceptional design and detail. Pella’s products are backed by the strongest warranties in the industry.
Vinyl Windows
Vinyl replacement windows are the most common replacement windows on the market today. Made of tough Polyvinyl Chloride they can come in several different colors. Vinyl replacement windows are manufactured to fit existing openings and are often installed without disturbing the interior trim.
Vinyl frames never need painting and will not rot, and today’s welded corners and multi-chambered profiles perform far better than the vinyl windows of twenty years ago. The trade-offs are real ones: color choices are narrower than wood or clad, dark exterior colors are restricted by some manufacturers, and a very wide opening may be better served by a stronger frame material. We install vinyl from several manufacturers and will tell you when an opening calls for something else.