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Replacement Windows Payback
Replacement windows payback, whether you are considering
wood, vinyl or fiberglass windows, is one of the highest returns of all home
improvements. That’s especially good
news if your present windows are starting to get weathered and need replacement
or upgrade.
Good News For Homeowners - Payback From Replacement Windows
There are multiple pieces of good news for those looking for replacement windows at this time. Here are a couple of highlights –
Four Season Sunroom Comparison With Three Season Sunroom
A four season
sunroom perfectly illustrates the immense change occurring in sunroom design
since the days when add-on aluminum sunrooms were introduced in the 1970’s. And,
when homeowners see the new technology designed into the present day four
season sunroom, they are usually pleasantly surprised, often impressed and generally
very excited.
They days of the single paned glass, aluminum, metallic looking, non-insulated glass-roofed structures is just a bad memory.
Replacement Window Comparisons
At some
point every home will need a replacement window. Whether a homeowner is
replacing one window or every window in their home, the need to compare the
various products available is inevitable.
A replacement window can come in a vinyl, fiberglass or traditional wood. Each of these types of windows has strengths and can be used in various situations.
As you consider a replacement window for your home, consider the amount of durability you expect, what you prefer aesthetically and the energy efficiency (savings) you hope to attain.
Given the
climate we contend with in the Madison WI area, a replacement window is an
important investment. The benefits to you in making a good choice include
enhancing your home’s beauty, increasing its market value, reducing outside
noise, decreasing the amount of cleaning and maintenance required as well as
energy costs.
Sunroom Additions - What To Do With the Rest of the House?
Sunroom
additions all have one thing in common – the homeowner is wished they had built
their sunroom sooner.
At
ClearView Sunrooms & Windows, the most difficult part of our jobs is hearing
our customers lament that they wish they had built their sunrooms sooner. While
we feel gratified our customers are enjoying their sunrooms (usually four
season sunroom additions for year round use), we are frustrated too. In most cases there
is no good reason to delay building. The result of the delay is they deny
themselves the enjoyment of the room. Our experience tells us enjoying their
sunroom is a huge part of their Return On Investment (ROI).
Four Season Sunroom - The Ultimate Home Addition In Madison WI
A Four Season Sunroom
often provides the ‘best of both worlds’ for homeowners when compared to a
traditional room addition.
To clarify, many people confuse a Four Season Sunroom with a traditional room addition. A traditional addition will usually have a few more windows than a home living room.
On the other hand, a Four Season Sunroom will have virtually all windows. Sunrooms are built specifically to accentuate window and glass area to embrace an outdoor experience - while sitting indoors protected from bugs and the elements.
Conversely, when using traditional building methods, Wisconsin building codes and materials needed limits the amount of windows - glass area. The result is traditional room additions can make if feel as if you are sitting in just another room in your home.
Replacement Windows - Measuring Energy Efficiency
When homeowners get to the point of
replacing old, worn windows, they are generally looking for their replacement
windows to improve their home’s energy efficiency.
Unfortunately, they often times go
through the entire replacement windows selection process without having all of
the definitive information they need to battle the Madison WI elements in winter and summer..
For example, many people gain a false sense of security if a window has an Energy Star rating. While this identifies products having minimal efficiency ratings, an Energy Star rating does not necessarily identify the best performing product in terms of energy efficiency.
Building A Sunroom On A Solid Foundation
Homeowners often ask if
they can build a sunroom on their deck or a concrete slab or patio.
Unfortunately for the
homeowner, the answer is usually no. While there are instances where the
existing structure allows this to occur, it is rare. The Uniform Dwelling Code
(UDC) applies to the entire state of Wisconsin and local building inspectors in
the Madison WI area adhere to the code. If you are considering working with
someone who says they can build on a deck or patio, it is a good idea to get an
additional opinion.
Sunroom Basics To Considered When Building
Have your contractor pull the sunroom building permit. This is important because if a homeowner pulls the permit, he or she assumes all liability for onsite injuries, damages, etc. The contractor you choose to build your sunroom should be licensed and insured. Ask for proof. In addition to a building permit, your contractor may also pull a Zoning Permit, Electric Permit and possibly a Heating-Cooling Permit to build a sunroom. Clearview Sunroom and Windows takes responsibility for all needed permits its customers require.
Replacement Windows - Winter Shows We Need Them
With each passing year, aging windows
increasingly show wear. At first it’s subtle, but time, and more significantly
the elements, wears down materials, seals and finishes causing a progressive
window failure. It’s difficult to know when replacement windows should be
installed, however, it’s very typical for an older home to lose 30 to 40
percent of its energy through leaky, drafty windows and doors.
Replacement Windows - Waiting to Install A Costly Option
Windows are one of the most important aspects of regulating home temperatures. Today’s energy efficient replacement windows are designed to keep heat in or out of the home depending on the season. If homeowners are putting off replacing older windows to conserve their cash, they are paying more for NOT changing their windows.
Sunroom Facts - Debunking The Myths
When it comes to a sunroom
built today, we are definitely in a different era.
Today’s sunroom is better looking, better performing and much more energy efficient than the stereotypical metal and glass contraptions of the past.
Stuck In Sunroom Past
Some people think of the
products of thirty years ago when they consider a sunroom addition to their
home. They are usually very pleasantly
surprised when they learn the single pane glass, aluminum/metallic-looking, non-insulated
glass-roofed structures are now just a faded, bad memory.
Replacement Windows – Technology Triumphs
Double-pane replacement windows
can now perform better than triple-pane windows. Even better, these replacement
windows cost $150 to $200 less per window.
When purchasing replacement windows for your home, a per window differential of that amount adds up very quickly. With ten windows a homeowner can save as much as two thousand dollars and a twenty window purchase can save up to four thousand dollars. The best part of this scenario is the replacement windows perform at a higher level, saving energy costs year round.
These double-pane replacement windows are a great example of technology applied practically to a common, everyday use. Homeowners can now get windows that save more energy, practically eliminate ultraviolet rays from the sun, and reduce unwanted glare. To be specific, you get an NFRC U-factor of .20, which converts to an R-value of R-5 on a double-hung window. Center of glass R-value is R-10.