| SNOWRIDGE CONSTRUCTION: Old-fashioned Craftsmanship Meets State-of-the-Art Technology What You Should Know Before You Invest in Replacement Windows Your windows and doors are the most visible parts of your home. New windows and doors can provide a beautiful "make-over" to your home, increase its value, and improve its "curb appeal". But more importantly, new windows and doors provide you these important benefits: 1) Today's windows make your life much easier. Modern mechanical components mean windows never stick or squeak. New materials like vinyl/thermal and fiberglass frames make window maintenance (like scraping, painting, caulking) a thing of the past. Many windows tilt in for easy, inside cleaning of the outside glass. 2) Today's windows are much safer than in years past. Superior cam locks are screwed down into a metal sub- frame, making these locks some of the strongest ever manufactured. Built-in vents allow you to safely open the window for ventilation. 3) Today's windows are much more cost effective. New insulated glass designs, glass coatings, and improved pane insulation cut energy costs dramatically. Your home is more comfortable while actually costing you less to heat and cool. 4) They look great! Today's windows come in a variety of shapes, styles and colors - bay windows, large bow windows, sliding windows, traditional double hung windows (up and down movement), casement crank-out windows, kitchen garden windows. Obscure glass comes in different patterns to offer privacy. All of these improve the looks, design and style of any home. How to get the best value in replacement windows Windows can vary greatly in quality. Here's what you should look for: 1. Snowridge recommends you invest in insulated windows. This means that there are two panes of glass instead of just one. These windows save you the most money on heating and cooling bills and dramatically reduce noise pollution. A good contractor will install a window with a 1/2" to 7/8" air space between the two panes of glass. Anything more or less, and the window will not insulate your home properly from the bitter cold or extreme heat. 2. Windows can be made from a variety of materials - wood, aluminum, and vinyl and fiberglass Aluminum - older aluminum windows were not good insulators, but today's aluminum windows come with thermal breaks between the frames to stop cold and heat transfer. Wood - wood windows are beautiful, and usually cost more. Their good looks can be a hassle to maintain. Consider windows with wood interiors and metal or fiberglass clad exteriors - that way, you get the beauty of wood on the inside of your home without spending a lot of time and energy in exterior upkeep. If you do choose to paint the interior and exterior wood, consider having the windows primed at the factory, saving you time on painting. Vinyl - today's vinyl windows offer airtight construction, making them one of the quietest windows you can choose for your home. Their frames won't rust, stain, chip, or warp. Vinyl is usually more affordable than wood. 3. We recommend having a special coating applied to the glass (called Low E, short for Low Emissivity). This clear coating reflects unwanted summer heat without affecting visibility (no tinting), especially on the south and west sides of your home. This can dramatically decrease your cooling costs. Low-E will also prevent fading of carpeting, fabrics, and drapes. Certainteed makes a really effective product called Thermaflex that comes with Low E and argon gas between the panes. 4. Many cheaper insulated windows have a metal spacer separating the two panes of glass. These windows are prone to "seal failure" and allow unwanted cold to jump from pane to pane - and into your home. Choose a window with a special "Interceptor" spacer. This spacer, made from special alloys and mastic compounds, provides maximum comfort and prevents seal failure. Argon gas between the glass panes helps increases the insulation value of your windows in cold climates. 5. Some contractors will try to save money by installing standard sized windows and trying to make them fit into your window openings. These windows, usually purchased from a building supply or lumberyard, are not a good value. Here's why: over time, a home settles. As it does, the window openings are never 100% square and level. So, in order to get a precise fit, a contractor will have to try and level out, "build up", or "shim" the window opening. The best way to ensure a precise fit and airtight installation is to precisely measure the window openings and then custom make the window to those dimensions. You may think this sounds expensive. Actually, it doesn't cost much more to have a custom made window than to have a standard sized one. Plus, you’re assured of a perfect fit. 6. Finally, a good contractor will finish off the job with the "little extras". The exterior trim around your windows should be finished-off with custom vinyl or aluminum capping, leaving it clean and neat. Then the trim should be sealed with a special polyurethane sealant (one that comes with a 50-year warranty). This neatly finishes off the edge of the window and further prevents drafts. Many contractors use inexpensive caulking. Overtime, caulk can dry out and shrink, leaving an ugly gap. Most importantly in our Northwest climate, replacement windows must be properly flashed with drip edge and flashing tape to protect your home from dry rot. Why Choose Snowridge? We install high-quality windows - Certainteed, Marvin and Milgard - with the best warranties We stand by our work - you're protected with an exclusive three-year warranty (most contractors only offer one year). If there are any problems with your new windows, all you have to do is call. But don't take our word - here's what some of our clients say about us: I wanted to take the time to tell you how much I am enjoying my windows! During the entire summer I have been enjoying the benefits of cross-ventilation. I believe the new windows also helped to reduce my energy bill last winter. New windows allowed me to keep my bills constant, while using less energy than the year before. So, thanks again to you and your crew for your contributions to my house! -Dana Twight, Seattle “Thank you for the excellent work. We would not hesitate to refer our friends to Snowridge.” -Brian and Mary Cook, Seattle “You were great to work with.” -Keith Cooke and Lynda Zeis, Seattle Are you ready for a free consultation? Simply e-mail us or call (425)402-3824 and we'll meet with you to determine your needs, preferences, budget and what will work best for your home's exterior. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
This Lake Washington home (above and
below) gets hit with lots of sun. New windows
with Low-E glass cut down on the summer
heat
below) gets hit with lots of sun. New windows
with Low-E glass cut down on the summer
heat
asked us to convert a storage area into a
sunroom. The skylights, large windows and
french doors allow lots of natural light for
healthy plants (& people, too!)
sunroom. The skylights, large windows and
french doors allow lots of natural light for
healthy plants (& people, too!)
New wood windows and Alcoa siding give this
West Seattle home a classic look.
West Seattle home a classic look.
BEFORE: Old aluminum windows and wasted
space.
space.
AFTER: French doors, side lights and large
windows turn this gloomy area into a bright
and inviting space.
windows turn this gloomy area into a bright
and inviting space.
All of the above photos are Snowridge
projects. We can help you design and
renovate your house into a beautiful,
comfortable, energy-efficient home.
projects. We can help you design and
renovate your house into a beautiful,
comfortable, energy-efficient home.
| Kirk Knight, Owner Lic #SNOWRICI003B8 (425) 402-3824/Fax: (425)485-5165 www.snowridge-exteriors.com |