Some home-improvement projects pay bigger dividends than others. For example,
a new vinyl floor in the kitchen can do lots to improve the appearance of the
space, but doesn't do much else.
On the other end of the home-improvement spectrum is window replacement. It's
a project that has benefits galore. Except for siding and roofing, new windows
have the biggest impact on the overall appearance of your home. And a window's
attraction isn't limited to the home's exterior. Depending upon the material
and style chosen, a new window can nicely dress up the interior of a room.
And, energy-efficient windows can make your home more comfortable, as well,
by eliminating drafts in winter and preventing heat gain in summer. Good windows
will give you the best of both worlds—allowing sunshine to warm your home
in the winter and preventing solar gain in the summer, thus keeping your home
cool. The result is a more stable interior climate and reduced demand on your
home comfort system—heating and air conditioning. That means less energy
use, lower utility bills and home comfort equipment that won't work as hard,
and consequently will last longer.
If you're window shopping, we have two words of advice for you: "Energy
Star." In 2002 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star—a government-backed
program that helps individuals and businesses protect the environment through
superior energy efficiency—saved enough energy to power 15 million homes
and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 14 million cars.
And $7 billion was saved. It says a lot that a home improvement that has such
a positive effect on the value of your home also has such a profound effect
on our environment and economy.
If all residential windows in the United States were to be replaced with Energy
Star qualifying models, the nation would save $134 billion in energy costs over
the next 15 years. Using new technology in frame materials, glass coatings,
design, and gas fills, today's Energy Star qualified windows, doors and skylights
lead to significant energy cost savings.
The facts:
- Energy Star qualified windows today are, on average, twice as efficient
as the average window made only 10 years ago.
- Energy Star qualified windows, doors and skylights can help reduce your
energy bills up to 15 percent. Over the lifetime of a typical window, the
return on investment can be substantial. And, saving energy prevents pollution.
- Energy Star qualified windows, doors and skylights also provide increased
comfort, noise reduction and protection against sun damage to carpet, vinyl
wood flooring, window treatment, fabrics and even artwork in your home.
- To achieve maximum energy and pollution savings when window shopping:
- Look for windows, doors and skylights with the Energy Star label.
- Check the U-factor—the rate of heat transfer either from your home
or the outside through your window, door or skylight. A lower U-factor means
less heat is transferred.
- Be aware of the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)—how much heat your
house gains from the sun. A lower SHGC results in less heat gain from the
sun.
- Consider climate: Windows, doors and skylights are tailored to fit the energy
needs of the country's four main climate regions: northern, north central,
south central and southern.
- Learn about energy-efficiency horsepower. All Energy Star qualified windows,
doors and skylights also bear a label from the National Fenestration Rating
Council (NFRC), which provides independent energy performance ratings by product
for U-factor, solar heat gain coefficient, and visible transmittance.
There are three basic means of window replacement installation:
- Buy a retrofit window that fits inside the old wood frame.
While there are many variations on this process, the basics are the same:
A new frame—generally aluminum or vinyl—is custom built to fit into
the old one. In retrofit installations, built-in wooden flashings reduce any
water infiltration between the old and new frames.
These flashings work well but don't always offer the best aesthetics.
- Saw the old frame out and install the new window in a thick bed of caulking
and-or foam on all four sides.
This technique is used primarily for aluminum and older-type steel windows.
With windows, leaks are a primary concern, and this process has the most potential
for developing leaks because caulk may shrink or separate from the frame as
a result of normal house movement and settling over the years.
In our opinion, this is the best option. It also happens to be the most disruptive
and costly. All exterior wall covering gets removed; the old window is taken
out completely (including the flashing) down to the studs; and the new window
and flashing is nailed in place, covered with siding paper, and caulked and
sealed from face of stud to exterior trim. This way, you have three or four
layers of protection between the outside elements and the interior of the house.
