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Today we have a better mouse trap. They include wood and vinyl frames, insulated glass, with argon gas separating the layers of glass. They also have reflecting coatings to keep out infrared and ultraviolet light. They use space age sealers, which can last fifty years. They are better made than ever before.
The better quality windows are wind storm approved by
Texas Wind Storm. They are given a WIN#. They are rated by the strength of the window from dp 25 to dp 75 in general. They are tested by opening size. They are rated by the length and height of the opening they fill. The higher the dp rating the stronger the window. The dp 50 windows are stronger than a dp 25. They also supply testing results and installation product evaluation. [ dp design pressure ]
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CLICK here: Texas Wind Storm Insurance guidelines, inspect & product evaluation.
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The ability of the window to thermal and solar protect your home is expressed by U-factor and SHGC usually rated from .60 down to .20. The lower the number the better insulated the window. Energy Star rated means the U-factor & SHG are below 0.45. Better windows are below 0.30. In very cold climates 0.25 and lower is needed, but in Texas heat 0.26 to 0.30 is good. THAT’S THE INSULATION ABILITY OF THE WINDOW, U-factor. SHGC is solar heat gain, this is the windows ability to reflect sun light which heats up your rooms. The homes with a lot of direct sun into the windows should be below 0.25…
The use of the inert gas argon, is to insulate between two layers of glass in insulated windows. This gas does not easily expand and is an insulator. The reflective coating which stops the sun rays from heating the room is Silver Oxide, this is a coating on the inside of the outer glass of the window.
The terms: 240, 270, 366 glass, is the amount of Silver Oxide coating, your minimal, low E glass used by most manufacturers is 240. The 366 glass, is the better reflector and may be called ultra or super low E glass. Windows with 366 glass are less than 0.22 in many cases.
Be aware, windows with ratings of U-factor below .22, are made for very cold climates and may be damaged in the super hot climate of Texas. Windows with SHGC below .20 will not allow enough light in for house plants and may appear dark, needing extra electronic light which defeats their purpose.
Single strength glass is what you may have in your single pane windows now, it is ok; but when you replace windows you are much better off with double strength or DBS glass. It will be much more resistant to breakage and will be a much better noise reducer. Impact glass is good for areas which require a hurricane rated window. Double strength glass is good where windstorm windows { above dp 25 } are required. Impact windows give very good security and noise reduction. You will have to evaluate cost vs strength of glass; but in places like Galveston you do not have a choice.
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Be aware of sales people:
Many companies offer the customer super prices
like this: $199.00 per window or a whole house for under
$3500.00 for 10 windows. For a home owner, this may
sound good, but they are not very good windows. If you
are investing in windows spend a little more and get a
good rated window.
According to your location, get a window rated by TEXAS WIND
STORM to insure that you are adequately protected.
Usually a good contractor or builder can guide a
home owner to the best windows suited for their
home. All the contractors and builders we work with are
coached by us to insure that they have proper windows for
their jobs. Atrium Window Corp., is very strict with their
agents about training the builders, contractors and
installers.
Terms salesmen use, especially the super advertisers of windows, some of it is just lack of knowledge, the rest is control method:
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#1. The windows are made of virgin vinyl .
The windows are made of PVC, this vinyl is molded from processed pellets which are mold extruded. Chemically it makes no difference if they use recycled plastics, or new refined material they reprocessed as pvc meeting federal standards. They also require recycling.
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#2. The windows are the best made windows.
The best made windows are the windows rated by TEXAS WIND STORM, they are rated by strength. All the windows that are rated the same are all good for that strength of window. You get what you pay for. There are some better values from the different models that are manufactured. They are all good products!
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#3. If you buy today I can knock off an extra *%.
Ask yourself, “ why did you not give me your best price in the first place”. You should not deal with a person who does not give you at least 10-15 days so you can get other bids or sleep on it.
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#4. You have a lifetime warranty for everything.
There is no such thing as a lifetime warranty. Warranty is always a limited warranty. Most warranties cover the product up to 25 years even though they call it a limited lifetime warranty. The product is covered for defect, leakage of gas, installation for two years, if it was installed by an approved installer and it was the proper window for the intended use. Most warranties do not cover labor costs to replace any part of the window. Even if the sales man said so. Some windows offer glass breakage lifetime warranty, it usually only covers the glass, not labor. Most of the labor depends on the dealer or distributor. Some retailers offer warranty extra coverage, but if they change suppliers, you may be out of luck.
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PERFORMANCE WINDOWS OF TEXAS WORKS AS A FACTORY AGENT. WE ALSO DO MOST OF THE WARRANTY WORK FOR OUR CUSTOMERS FREE OF LABOR CHARGES FOR DEFECTS FOR 5 YEARS. WE ALSO DO THE WARRANTY WORK FOR OUR BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS WHO SELL WINDOW JOBS TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. Our labor rates for extended periods is service call fee of $65.00. flat rate after the 5 years . ALWAYS READ WORD FOR WORD THE ACTUAL FACTORY WARRANTY THE SALESMAN TALKS ABOUT. NOT JUST THE CATALOG.
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#5 oh! They have service problems or They have a lot
of trouble with their windows.
Salesmen who put down other products are just talking bull, as long as you are looking at windows rated by TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE WIND STORM INSPECTIONS AND PERFORMANCE. All Atrium products are listed for their class. Windows are monitored by the state and are re-evaluated if there are reported problems. In general all the top quality brands are very good.
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#6 It is urgent you buy now we are going to have a
substantial price change. I can get you in.
Atrium Window Corp publishes a price change 60 days before it goes into effect. Our stores know well in advance of changes. Also a grace period of 30 days is given on orders the store or dealer quoted. Urgency is used by sales people to control the customer.
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If a salesperson can not honor a quote for at least 30 days I would be nervous.
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TAKE YOUR TIME AND THINK.
DO NOT GO FOR FREE FINANCING, IT IS A TRAP.
IF YOU FEEL THE FELLA IS NOT WORKING FOR YOU, FIND SOMEONE ELSE.
BE KIND WHEN DEALING WITH PEOPLE. LISTEN AND GO SLOW.
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THANK YOU FOR READING “LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT WINDOWS”.
-Bob-
