When you buy a home, whether it’s your first house, or not, you’re making an investment. As with any investment you may make, you want to take care of it and not only make sure you’re getting your money’s worth, but also saving & making money on it when possible.
This is why maintaining your home is so important. Keeping a well maintained or updated home can not only help you to make back your money when you decide to sell, but it sometimes can increase the value of the home too.
Making timely home improvements can lower your energy costs, beautify your home and increase its resale value, but it is important that you search out the best contractors like Dependable Construction who use only quality materials. When it comes to completing projects like new siding and window replacement it’s important to seek a professional’s opinion. They can help you choose which projects can get you a good bang for your buck. One of the best is investing in vinyl windows.
Shopping Tips for Vinyl Windows
Even if you’re an expert on upkeep with a house, it’s always good to go to an expert when it comes to something as important as windows. Vinyl Windows are so popular these days because they are an energy efficient solution that works well in almost any home needing a facelift, but there are dramatic differences between windows. They are low maintenance and usually a top choice when replacing a leaky or rotting wood window, but there are still some issues to get past when picking vinyl windows.
Over time, white vinyl can yellow, colors can fade, and the material can even crack. Usually you can tell the difference in the types of vinyl windows because they are labeled. This shows the different AAMA certifications on the frames of their windows. In order to get the most bang for your buck and keep from having to replace your vinyl windows constantly, there are a few ways to really take into consideration what windows you’re getting.
One of the most important things to think about when buying vinyl windows is to aim for the best quality windows you can get. Yes, sometimes other windows may be more affordable, but the better the vinyl, the more likely your windows will be protected against fading, yellowing and even becoming brittle or splinter like. The extrusions on the sash and frame should have well welded corners, as well as well made internal air chambers.
You should also be ready to assess the glass in the window. Dependable Construction recommends a window that has spacers between the double panes, this helps to minimize heat loss. Special coatings can help your windows to reflect heat in the summer and keep out cold in the winter. They also help to keep furniture or photos in the house protected from fading due to sunshine.
As with any home project/investment, you really need to take the time to study the warranty and read the fine print. Make sure the warranty covers any potential problems and that it can be transferred to a new homeowner if you sell the home. Also be sure to read that the windows are Energy Star qualified, and that it has been verified by the National Fenestration Rating Council, which will let you know that you can depend on the window’s efficiency and air-tightness.
Although choosing a color is more of a fun part of buying vinyl windows, it is still important when it comes to how you’ll care for and maintain your new windows. Colors can fade or go out of style, so keep this in mind when picking what you want. You can order colors to match your exterior paint or to contrast like a trim would. Yellowing can sometimes occur in sunny areas, so if that is something you want to avoid, a white trim facing the sun may not be a good plan.
Talk to your window contractor
No matter how much research you may do on your own, it never hurts to seek the help of an expert like Dependable Construction. If you feel comfortable, ask a few contractors what they’d recommend and sort through the quotes before making a firm decision. Sometimes the lowest price isn’t the best, and the most expensive isn’t the highest quality. Talking to them about how you’ll need to care for your new vinyl windows is also important. Your vinyl windows contractor should be able to answer any question, as well as give you any resources to help you in the future.
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