I read a really interesting article last week titled, “Energy Efficiency Hits from the Doors (and Windows).” The name might sound a bit silly, but it talks about how you can actually feel—and hear!—the difference when you replace leaky old windows and doors with newer, ENERGY STAR qualified models. Comfort, lower energy bills, no drafts or rattling window panes—all benefits that I think many homeowners with old homes would appreciate!

The article also provides an important reminder—consumers can still take advantage of federal tax credits for windows and doors for just a few more weeks. That could save you even more money! However, homeowners who want tax credit benefits must move quickly—because the federal tax credits expire on Dec. 31.

To read this entire blog article, visit http://www.eereblogs.energy.gov/energysavers/post/Energy-Efficiency-Hits-from-the-Doors-(and-Windows).aspx.

With all of the political rhetoric that fills the newspapers and the television, has it made you afraid to spend money? With the housing market still experiencing ups and downs, has it made you throw up your hands and say it just isn’t worth putting another dime into the house? It doesn’t matter what political affiliation you are, all the government arguing - whether it be on the national level or even the state level - makes it difficult to spend money on anything, from true retail goods to improving your home.

I have talked to countless individuals about the economic ups and downs. Everyone is longing for the good times to come again. It seems that ‘bad times’ have lasted a lot longer than the ‘good times.’ I am not sure if this feeling is factual or not. But here is what I am sure of, if we sit on our hands and do nothing, it can be compared to not making a decision at all. And that is the worst thing we can possibly do.

I understand and appreciate that everyone’s situation is different. But if you have the economic means, now is the time to spend. And the best bang for your buck individually and economically is spending in the building products industry. This industry has so many small businesses that employ so many people. The building products industry is truly the backbone of the U.S. economy. There are still tax credits available with different building products and with business still soft, you aren’t going to get a better deal than you are today!

I’m biased towards vinyl replacement windows and doors. There are many great reasons to purchase energy efficient vinyl replacement windows, here are just a handful.

1. Energy efficient
2. Improve curb appeal
3. Can reduce outside noise
4. Make your home more secure and safe
5. Improve the value of your home
6. Certain tax credits still available through the end of the year

There are countless reasons to invest in energy efficient windows and doors. So, don’t let the politicians, the news, even the economy get you down. Do yourself some good and the economy some good, invest in your home and vinyl replacement windows!

Well, it seems as if the Fall season is blowing in fast…in my area, we went from 95 degrees to first-frost conditions in one just week. With the change in seasons, many people begin thinking about doing a thorough pre-holiday housecleaning—you know, scrubbing walls, shampooing carpets, washing windows, and getting all those other “nooks and crannies.”

With so much cleaning to be done, it’d be nice to have one less item on your “to-do” list, right? If that’s your attitude, you might want to consider easy-cleaning glass in your windows and doors.

Notice I said “easy-cleaning”—not “self-cleaning,” because that’s not exactly true. No glass on the market will actually clean itself for you! But there are options—such as Gorell’s SolarShine—that will keep the glass in your windows and doors cleaner for longer.

So how does this glass work? Basically, it features a “built-in” transparent coating that’s super smooth so that most dirt doesn’t “hold on to” it. It even loosens and breaks down the dirt that does adhere to the glass. The coating uses two natural resources—the sun’s ultraviolet rays and water—to slowly decompose and loosen organic dirt, then rinse it away. Water “sheets” off SolarShine instead of beading, so there will be less spotting and streaking.

Windows and doors with SolarShine—or any similar product—are comparable to self-cleaning ovens. They’re a great help, but they are not magic. These products still require a little work from you. You will need to apply water to your windows occasionally, especially ones that are not exposed to regular rainfall. You basically just need to spray the windows or doors with water, from a hose or spray bottle, then wipe off any debris and let it dry.

Easy-cleaning glass definitely makes window cleaning quicker and easier…and anything that makes that Fall cleaning go a little faster is a good thing!

I came across a useful article on-line this morning – “The Heat is On – But Energy Efficiency Can Curb Summer Energy Bills.” The article offered energy-efficiency tips in three different areas -- Keeping Your Cool, Keeping the Heat Outside and Clever in the Kitchen.

Two of the tips, in particular, caught my attention, because they focused on advice that I – and other contributors -- often give on this blog. Those two very important tips were:

“Consider investing in energy-efficient windows to save money and increase indoor comfort.” It’s true -- the combination of highly insulating frame materials and a wide variety of Low-E glass options make replacement windows one of the best ways to increase the thermal efficieny of homes—and DECREASE energy bills!

“Plug energy leaks with weather stripping and caulking, and be sure your house is properly insulated, to save up to 20% on energy bills.” That’s a pretty significant savings – 20% -- more than enough reason to re-evaluate your home’s insulation. And summer is the perfect time to consider installing reflective insulation in attics to help cut energy costs and keep these spaces more comfortable.

To read the complete article, and learn more energy-saving tips, visit http://www.ase.org/news/heat-%E2%80%93-energy-efficiency-can-curb-summer-energy-bills.

Summer means sunshine and warmth. It means more daylight and longer days. It means vacations, picnics and amusement parks. These are some of the things we all love about the summer season.

Unfortunately, for some of us, summer can also mean less sleep. Lawnmowers waking us up early in the mornings. Children playing loudly and keeping us awake in the late evening. Neighbors’ party guests and music keeping us up until the pre-dawn hours. The sounds of summer can be bothersome, particularly if you’ve got to wake up early for work and can’t join in the fun.

There is, however, an easy solution—windows and doors with laminated glass. Laminated systems consist of three glass panes, two of which sandwich a tough polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer. This interlayer is what gives laminated glass systems their remarkable properties for keeping out exterior sounds, such as noise from traffic, aircraft, yard work and pets. The glass and interlayer actually help absorb and deaden sound waves.

Gorell’s Armor Glass Plus laminated system, for instance, provides as much as 100 percent perceived improvement to the human ear in sound deadening. This glass system achieves Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings as high as 35.

Homeowners who want to keep their homes more peaceful and quiet by blocking exterior sounds should consider windows and doors with laminated glass. These products provide excellent noise reduction—as well as other benefits such as safety, security and UV protection.

Most homeowners are aware that the sun’s UV rays can fade furnishings – we see it all the time on the cushions of our patio furniture. Unfortunately, those same UV rays can fade the inside of a home, too – from draperies to furniture to carpeting – because they can easily penetrate windows and doors.

There’s not much homeowners can do to protect items that are left outside, but there is an easy way to protect the inside of homes—replacement window and doors! Windows with high-performance Low-E glass actually filter out much of the spectrum of UV light that causes fading.

The glass in windows and doors carries a Fade Protection Factor (FPF) rating. Like Sun Protection Factor (SPF) for sunscreens, FPF is a rating achieved through independent laboratory testing. A higher FPF number means greater fade protection for household furnishings because virtually all of the UVa and UVb rays are being blocked by the glass and coatings.

Clear glass for instance, has an FPF of only 2. Laminated glass systems offer particularly good fade protection—like Gorell’s Armor Glass Plus option that carries an FPF rating of 50 (the highest rating possible)!

The bottom line is this: Nothing can completely prevent fading, but if homeowners want to keep their interior home furnishing looking newer and brighter for longer, they should consider high-performance replacement windows that help block the sun’s harmful rays from homes.

For more information on the FPF ratings for Gorell’s various high-performance glass systems, visit http://www.gorell.com/pages/glass_chart.htm.

Most homeowners know that one of the biggest benefits of replacing older, less-efficient windows with newer, high-performance models is energy savings. Today’s replacement windows are much more technologically advanced, and they’re better at reducing home energy usage and improving the comfort of homes.

However, many homeowners believe these energy savings occur primarily during the winter months—when new windows prevent furnaces from running so much. While it’s true that replacement windows can help lower energy bills in cold weather, energy-efficient windows are just as important during the summer months.

Surprised? It’s really very simple: The Low-E coatings that keep warm air inside during winter months also work in reverse—they reflect outside heat away from windows in warm weather. This keeps the inside of homes cooler and results in air conditioning units running much less. Voila—summer energy savings!

When considering new replacement windows, homeowners should ask to see the NFRC ratings for each model they’re considering. Depending upon what area of the country a home is located in, a window’s Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) ratings can be important to consider. SHGC is pretty relevant to areas where warm weather prevails, because this value measures the heat from solar radiation that enters a building. A window with a good SHGC rating can really help reflect that outside heat away from homes and lower air conditioner usage and overall home energy bills.

Replacement windows are a good value ANY time of year, and ANY place in the country. Windows with Low-E coatings are designed to improve home comfort and reduce energy usage—no matter what the weather is like outside!

This week is the ‘unofficial’ start of hurricane season. Many homeowners along the coast look to hurricane windows with protective laminated glass to keep them safe and secure.

But laminated glass isn’t just great for hurricanes. Laminated glass has many benefits to offer than just hurricane protection. This super strong glass has five very strong benefits for homeowners. Laminated glass is considered safety glass. When this type of glass breaks, it creates the visual look of a spider web. Although the glass breaks, it stays attached to the PVB interlayer. Here is an example.... http://www.hurricane-window.com/pages/miami-dade-county-approved.htm

Laminated glass is also security glass. With certain types of laminated glass such as Gorell’s Armor Glass Plus, a ‘would be burglar’ can hit the glass over and over with a baseball bat, and after awhile, they just give up. Here is a quick video showing the effectiveness. Click on the baseball video http://www.gorell.com/pages/armor_glass_plus.htm

Laminated glass also is a great UV protector. It blocks up to 99.5 % of the UV rays that fade carpets and upholstery. In fact, laminated glass is so effective at stopping fading, that some of our country’s most important documents are protected by it, including the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution.

This type of glass also offers great sound reduction from outside noises. Because of the laminated glass make up, the glass helps absorb and deaden sound waves. This helps reduce the amount of noise coming into your house.

And finally if you have a laminated glass unit insulated like Armor Glass Plus (http://www.gorell.com/pages/armor_glass_plus.htm), it comes combined with a high performance glass coating, SolarControl Max. This gives you energy savings and comfort.

So, when you are looking at replacing your windows, consider laminated glass as part of your package. Today, laminated glass like Armor Glass Plus, does a lot more than just protect homes from hurricanes!

The national average price for gas is hovering right around $4/gallon, and it went up for 40 straight days! We certainly get an eye-opening experience when we fill our tanks up with gas. And some interesting, but probably not surprising, trends have developed.

First, smaller and more fuel-efficient automobiles are selling faster and better than they ever have. Chevrolet’s Cruze was one of the most popular automobiles sold in the month of April, and Ford’s Focus sales were up 22%.

What does this mean? It means we as a country are adjusting to the rising fuel costs and, for the most part, we are expecting these fuel prices to keep increasing. It also means that homeowners have to take the lead in helping manage these rising fuel prices.

Every one of us, as homeowners, need to think about energy conservation. Many of us think we can’t afford replacement windows or reflective insulation, But having new energy-efficient windows or reflective insulation installed is similar to purchasing a fuel-efficient vehicle.

We all know fuel prices (in the very best near-term scenario) are just going to level out. To continue letting energy pour out of our homes can be compared to driving a vehicle that gets six miles/gallon. Some people can do it, but the majority of us just can’t.

So when we are struggling with the decision to upgrade the energy efficiency of our homes, realize that it isn’t just about investing in the value of our homes anymore. It’s also about making homes conserve energy—and two of the most proven ways to conserve energy are by upgrading to high-performance windows and reflective insulation.

Doing some research on the security aspects of windows, I see that lots of manufacturers say their windows are superb for security purposes. You have to wonder how many of these claims are advertising fluff versus accurate statements that can be backed up. To say anything about a window being a strong product that's effective for security purposes, a manufacturer should have had the specific window tested to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Specification F588-97, which measures forced-entry resistance.

Some windows are made specifically for security, using laminated glass like the glass in automotive windshields. Laminated glass may "crack" when struck with a sharp or heavy object, but a heavy-duty plastic interlayer sandwiched between the glass planes helps keep intruders or their burglar tools from actually getting through the glass.

Other types of glass are less resistant to intrusion. Many people think tempered glass is ideal for security purposes. It's actually a glass made for safety reasons—so it's pretty easy to get through, but it breaks into small pieces (not shards) that are less likely to injure someone. I experienced this personally just recently. I was carrying a small TV cabinet with glass panels from our house to our car and tripped on our driveway. The cabinet broke into lots of pieces and all the glass panels shattered. I instinctively extended my arms and hands as I fell, and my hands landed right on the glass. I got just a few very small cuts, but it would have been much worse had that glass not been tempered!

The name for standard or regular glass is "annealed." It typically breaks into dangerous, jagged “shards” when broken. There is actually some play in annealed glass as well. It will "bend" a little before breaking. I heard from a co-worker a week ago that an attempt was made by an intruder to break into her sister's home through the windows. The guy used his foot—wearing a steel-toed boot—to try to break the glass to get in. The glass didn't break, and his shoe prints on the glass even led to his arrest!

I was sure the glass in the windows—which are Gorell windows by the way—was laminated security glass, or possibly tempered. Remarkably, it was regular annealed glass. Not that annealed glass should ever be recommended for security purposes (laminated glass is, of course), but it does go to show you that a well-made, tough window that meets tests for strength can be somewhat effective at least keeping the bad guys out. One last thing—please don’t try this at home (i.e., putting your foot through a window to see how strong it is!).

I recently read an interesting article from Forbes magazine—“Ten Best Home Renovations for the Money.” (There’s also a “Ten Worst” list for those who are interested.) The article used Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report to gauge just how much of their investment homeowners can recoup on various home improvements.

As you might expect, most renovation projects will not “pay for themselves”—meaning that homeowners generally will not recoup all of the money they spend on home improvements if they later sell their home. Some projects are just “plain dollar drains,” according to the article, and shouldn’t be undertaken for the sole purpose of increasing a home’s value.

The article recommends that homeowners who are going to shell out money on improvements should focus on the home's exterior because it offers more decent returns on investment. For instance, both vinyl replacement windows and vinyl siding were shown to recoup 72% of their cost upon resale.

Any homeowners who ars considering a home-improvement project might want to check out this best/worst list before jumping into a renovation—to ensure they’re undertaking renovations like windows or siding that provide amuch better value. The article is available at http://tinyurl.com/4rw95qd

Until consumers start researching windows when planning to replace their old ones, most aren’t aware of the possibilities of buying windows with “gas” between the panes. Yet gas-filled windows have more or less been the rage over the last several years. So, it’s not unusual to hear homeowners ask WHY do we want gas-filled windows?

Here’s basically what happened. Back in the 1970s and 80s, the window industry raced to see how wide a gap it could make between the panes of glass to improve the thermal efficiency of windows. Company A had ¼” thick glass, then company B developed 3/8” thick glass, so company A in turn released ½” thick glass… and the race was on.

All of these glass systems were produced with “dead” air space; just air that didn’t move. Then the labs began to notice an interesting side effect. Once the air space reached wider than roughly ½”, the air inside it began to move. It was no longer the “dead air” space that was required to improve a window’s thermal performance. In fact, the air movement inside these larger spaces actually began to draw heat out of the home rather than keeping it in! Companies found themselves asking, “What now?”

During those times, to achieve the best performance, sheet glass companies were also rushing to develop glass with very thin, practically invisible metallic coatings because the coatings worked well to reflect heat energy. This new coated glass was more expensive, but also pretty much worthless because the larger air gaps simply counteracted the thermal benefits of the coatings.

Long story short, industry professionals eventually realized that filling the air spaces with a gas heavier than air would stop the movement inside between the panes—and work better with the new glass coatings to greatly improve the thermal performance of double-pane and triple-glass windows.

There are three gas elements that are heavier than air and completely safe—and all naturally existent in the air we breathe. They are Argon, Krypton and SF6. Argon is the most common and abundant of the three. It’s also the easiest to extract, so it’s the least expensive. Krypton is more expensive than argon, but still a pretty affordable choice. SF6, however, is the least available gas of the three and thus is not a viable option.

Now window manufacturers have excellent solutions for homeowners—new Low-E-coated glass panes, combined with inert gases that are heavier than air and result in highly effective double- or triple-insulating glass systems. Windows now can achieve center-of-glass R-values in the range of 10—levels that were unheard of some years ago.

No area in a home is more vulnerable to intrusion than windows and doors. FBI statistics show that 93 percent of break-ins occur through windows and doors. So it’s not surprising that, when researching windows and doors, many homeowners are thinking about security. These homeowners may come across references to “laminated glass” as a good choice for high-risk areas. But most people aren’t familiar with laminated glass and have always considered tempered glass the “safe” choice. So what’s the difference?

Tempered glass is actually designed to minimize injury rather than prevent entry. It shatters into tens of thousands of pieces when hit. Tempered glass keeps people safer from injury or being cut by glass—such as in a car accident—but doesn’t stop intruders from breaking the glass and getting in. In fact, a sharp-edged object will break the glass’ ”surface tension” and shatter tempered glass without any impact and with very little noise.

Laminated glass is much harder for would-be burglars to penetrate. A laminated glass system usually consists of one composite pane made up of a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer sandwiched by two sheets of glass—and then another pane of standard glass. That special PVB interlayer is what keeps the glass from being penetrated. There are different thicknesses of PVB interlayers. Thicker interlayers (such as .060 or .090) will provide much more protection than thinner interlayers (.030 size, for example). In tests, windows and doors with thicker interlayers have withstood more than 30 blows from a baseball bat before a hole the size of a quarter appears. The glass will shatter – but the PVB won’t break, so no one can get through.

Tempered glass is a good choice in some situations—such as patio doors, or very large windows with big expanses of glass—because it’s safe when broken (often a concern of homeowners with kids). But for home security, to help prevent intrusions, laminated glass is more effective.

There’s an excellent article – called “Energy Wasters in Your Home” – that just appeared on Yahoo Finance on the Internet the other day. It was written by ENERGY STAR spokesperson Maria Vargas, who provides some very interesting data as well as excellent tips on how to reduce household energy consumption. She states that the average American household spends $2,200 on energy. That’s a lot of money!

Her good news, however, is that this amount can be cut by a third by doing some simple energy-saving things in the home. Like changing or cleaning furnace air filters, lowering the temperature on the water heater, using a programmable thermostat and switching to those new compact fluorescent light bulbs. There are a lot more tips in the article. Definitely worth taking a few minutes to read.

One thing the writer points out that many may find surprising is that heating and cooling costs typically account for 46% of a home’s electric bill. Heating and cooling are obviously areas that need to be addressed – and she does so in the article. The one thing she might have mentioned, however, is that one of the biggest “energy wasters” in the home happens to be inefficient windows. Nothing contributes more to that furnace running so often in cold weather than inefficient windows. The same goes for the AC running constantly in warm weather.

The $1,500 tax credit for purchasing highly efficient windows is about to end, but energy savings certainly won’t -- if homeowners take action and do something about their windows that are the cause for those high heating and cooling bills.

To see the article, “Energy Wasters in Your Home,” visit http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/111560/energy-wasters-in-your-home

There’s a new energy tax credit being debated in Congress. Based on what I’m reading, you may want to act this year if you are thinking about replacing windows.

The initial language of the bill says homeowners would get 10%—or up to a $200 (capped)—tax rebate if you purchase windows that are Energy Star qualified. There is a second way to increase your rebate. If you purchase replacement windows that meet or exceed the R-5 program, you can get up to 30% or up to $1000 (capped). Click here to see the Energy Star / R-5 chart.

The current expiring tax credit allows you a 30% tax credit up to $1,500 for this year. For homeowners to qualify for this tax credit, you must purchase windows with a .30 U-value and a .30 Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). Most Energy Star labeled windows fall into this category, but you need to make sure this is what you’re purchasing.

Also, with the Energy Tax Credit that is expiring at the end of this year, it’s important to note that—to get the rebate—the windows must be installed or be “in service” by December 31, 2010. Because many manufacturers have lead times, and many remodeling companies have installation lead times, it’s important to order now. This will ensure you getting your windows installed before the end of the year and qualifying yourself for up to $1,500 in tax credits.

To see the draft language of the proposed bill, visit click here.

More than 25 years ago, the National Crime Prevention Council—and McGruff the Crime Dog—designated October Crime Prevention Month. That makes this a good time to think about the safety and security of our homes, our schools and our communities.

We all worry about how safe our families—and our possessions—are. We all wonder, at least occasionally, whether an intruder could possibly get into our homes. When it comes to home invasion, most burglars get in through windows and doors. So what can be done to keep homes more secure against break-ins? There are common-sense things you should do—like keep your windows and doors locked, and remove shrubs and trees from in front of your windows so possible intruders don’t have any hiding spots. But, depending on the home, maybe more drastic measures should be considered—like replacing old, un-secure windows or doors with newer, laminated glass models.

More ideas for making homes more intruder-resistant can be found on NCPC’s web site at http://www.ncpc.org/topics/home-and-neighborhood-safety . Or see Gorell’s “10 Window & Door Security Tips” at http://www.gorell.com/pages/gorell_mcgruff.htm .

Ever rearrange your furniture or rugs and notice that the hardwood floors underneath the furniture is a darker color? Well that's because the rest of your flooring has faded due to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Just as you do with your skin, you need to protect your furniture, floors and draperies from the sun.

Many consumers aren’t aware of the UV protection benefits of windows incorporating high-performance glass options. Gorell offers various glass systems that achieve the highest FPF rating available – FPF 50!

Fade Protection Factor (FPF) is a measurement of the glass systems ability to block fabric fading UV rays. Like Sun Protection Factor (SPF) for sunscreens, FPF is a rating achieved through independent laboratory testing. A higher FPF number means greater fade protection for household furnishings because the glass and coatings block virtually all of the UVA and UVB rays.

While glass systems can't completely eliminate fabric fading - some can significantly reduce it. Light that gets into a home through open windows and doors can still cause fading. The speed at which fabrics and hardwood floors fade is also affected by temperature and humidity.

Many consumers look at a high FPF as a cost-avoidance benefit because it can significantly delay fading damage to hardwood floors, couches, curtains and artwork. The windows are helping them to protect their investments and increase the lifespan of the furnishings in their home.

If you want to see the FPF ratings of the various glass systems we are offering, they are available on the Glass Selection Chart.

If you’re planning to purchase windows—or appliances, lighting, computers, or many other products—you’ve probably heard the term "ENERGY STAR" being tossed around. You may have been told that ENERGY STAR labeled products are more energy efficient and that they’ll help save you money on your home energy bills. But do you know what the ENERGY STAR program really is? Or what it means for a product to be ENERGY STAR qualified?

ENERGY STAR is a government/industry program designed to help consumers and businesses quickly and easily identify energy-efficient products that help save money and protect the environment for future generations. 

In 1992, the EPA introduced ENERGY STAR as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify energy-efficient computers and monitors. Through 1995, EPA expanded the program to include additional office equipment, as well as residential heating and cooling products. In 1996, EPA partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy for specific product categories. It’s pretty amazing that the ENERGY STAR label is now displayed on over 40 product categories—everything from major appliances to office equipment, home lighting, home electronics, windows and more. 

As for windows and doors, that specific ENERGY STAR program was created in 1999.  Not all windows qualify for the ENERGY STAR label. They first must be tested by an independent laboratory to meet strict criteria pertaining to energy efficiency and light transmittance. The ratings they achieve differ because of variables such as the glass used, style, and product design and construction. 

The benefits? ENERGY STAR labeled windows help reduce energy costs, increase a home’s comfort, and protect against UV damage. Plus, they’re better for the environment—because they reduce green house gas emissions—and for the country because they reduce the America’s dependency on foreign oil. More information on the program is available at www.energystar.gov

This time of year is a good time for homeowners living in areas of the country prone to severe weather to consider addressing their preparedness for the "next big one." Especially in the event of hurricanes (but not limited to them).

To help in this area, we've prepared a document called "Protecting your family and home from violent weather with Hurricane Windows and Doors."  Obviously, being a manufacturer that makes "impact" windows and doors, we designed this piece to stress the importance of installing hurricane-strength windows and doors that can withstand the tremendous dangers of strong winds and flying debris.

This document addresses much more, however. For example, it includes a checklist of actions to take and items to have in place as part of a plan to be better prepared. It also includes ASCE wind zone maps that show the areas most affected by hurricanes and the level of protection required for that area by the International Building Code.  And, it addresses different types of protection -- from plywood to impact windows -- to keep wind and debris from entering homes and causing serious injury or death and damaging or destroying homes.

To view or download a PDF of this literature, visit http://www.gorell.com/pages/hurricane_windows.htm

The most recent Cost vs. Value Report has been released by Remodeling Magazine. Here is the link, http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2008/costvsvalue/national.aspx. This report is used as a reference tool for many industries ranging from remodeling to realtors.

There are terrific references to all kinds of products including decks, kitchens, and replacement windows.

To illustrate a specific example, with replacement windows, you are able to reference replacement windows from many major marketplaces around the country. You can quickly see what your return on investment would be based on your city with a midrange or upscale project. If you combine this with the energy tax credit being offered, you will certainly see one of the best return on investments out there.

If you’re still considering replacing your windows in 2009, you may be finding that window dealers or home improvement companies are not as available as before to meet with you to discuss windows. This is actually not unusual, because traditionally November is a time when homeowners rush to replace their windows before the colder weather arrives -- and window dealers have more work than they can handle.

Compounding this situation this year are a few additional factors. One is pent-up demand and the improving economy. Many who waited because of lack of confidence in the country’s financial stability now feel they can make purchases with confidence.  Another factor is unquestionably the $1,500 federal Tax Credit program and the rush to purchase qualifying windows before year’s end.

A thing or two about the Tax Credit: One is that windows must be installed in 2009 to be eligible for the credit to be taken on your 2009 return. It’s still possible, of course, but it will be close if you’re ordering windows now. The other thing to remember is that you do have until December, 2010, to take advantage of the program.

The good news? If you do purchase windows now and they are installed in early 2010, you still win financially because you’ll save money with lower winter heating bills – and you still get the tax credit (although later).

As homeowners, what should we be looking for in a window warranty?  Like vinyl replacement windows, the warranty can come in all shapes and sizes.  There are limited warranties, transferable warranties, warranties with exclusions, and many other types.

As homeowners, one of the first things we want to look for in a window warranty is lifetime.  But even seeing this, you have to look further.  A lifetime warranty usually has some criteria attached to it.  It might be a Lifetime Limited warranty, where the window pro-rates after 5 or 10 years.  Let me give you an example of pro-rating.  If you have a Lifetime Limited warranty, but as you look at the 'stipulations' or criteria, you see that although there is a lifetime warranty included in your window, you might have to pay 50% of the window cost to replace/warrant your windows after 10 years, and after 15 years, you may have to pay 75%, and after 15 years, you may be responsible for 90% of the cost.  Nevertheless, the warranty can still be called Lifetime (Limited).

Many companies offer a Lifetime Warranty to the first homeowner.  If you are the first homeowner, that sounds great, but what happens if you move.  One of the reasons you purchased replacement windows to improve the value of your house.  If you can't transfer the warranty, or the warranty pro-rates when you sell your house, you have to evaluate whether your investment in replacement windows was really worth it.

As we look through a window warranty, we also want to find out what parts and pieces are covered and for how long these parts are covered.  Many times a warranty will have a lifetime warranty on the vinyl, but only 10 year warranty on parts.  Does this make sense when you are purchasing a quality product?

Let me give you an example of what I mean.  If you go out and purchase a refrigerator, and the warranty on the refrigerator is for 10 years.  Does the refrigerator usually break down the day before the warranty runs out or the day after.  It's been my experience that the warranty runs out the day after, probably yours too.  My point, a manufacturer only warranties their product for exactly how long they think it will last.

Look at some of the name brand windows and their warranties.  You will find those warranties are much more limited and reduced in length compared to a company such as Gorell, where this blog is located.  It's interesting that manufacturers like Gorell have strong confidence in the product, and from experience, they stand behind the product.

Also, take a look at the warranty on their insulated glass.  What is covered here and for how long?  There are some manufacturers that warrant for glass breakage.  Again, it seems the Gorell's of the world outclass some of the name brand windows in terms of warranty for seal failures - and glass breakage!

My point with warranties is simply this.  Make sure you find an easy to read warranty, and if there is fine print, make sure you read it thoroughly.  Look for how long the insulated glass seal is warranted for as well as the parts.  If you find a window manufacturer that includes glass breakage in their warranty, all the better for your piece of mind.

When you are investing thousands of dollars in your home, you want to make sure you make the right choice of product, and you have a warranty to back up that choice.  Good luck with your purchase!

When we hear about the construction or housing industry being down, it’s usually more in reference to new home construction. Unfortunately, the recovery of this segment of building may take a while. An article posted June 10 on Window & Door magazine’s web site predicts that it could take several years.

There are currently too many existing homes on the market, mortgage money remains tight, unemployment is close to double digits and many employed homeowners—unsure of their job future—are not thinking about investing in new homes now.

The home-improvement business, on the other hand, is expected to recover much sooner, as early as this year. Homeowners not planning to build new homes soon may be deciding to do something with their present homes to make them better and nicer places to live in.

A smart home-improvement idea is to replace windows. It’s a good decision, economically and otherwise. New windows add to a home’s value. Remodeling magazine reported in January that 77.2% (national average) of the cost of replacing windows is recouped when the home is sold. And that doesn’t factor in the big 2009-2010 federal energy tax credit of up to $1,500. (See http://www.gorell.com/pages/energy_tax_incentive_act.htm for more details on the tax credit.)

Premium-quality replacement windows also save homeowners money because of lower home heating and cooling bills. Window replacement also contributes to a cleaner environment and reduced dependency on foreign oil. 

What makes a window move up and down?  How come some of the older windows need to be propped up with a cut off broom stick?  Why are some windows easy to open up and difficult to close?

These are some of the questions you might ask when you are selecting new replacement windows for your home.  The answer to the above questions is balances.  What is a balance or for the purpose of our discussion, specifically what is a window balance?

A window balance is located inside the window, and its primary function is to operate the sash of the window up and down.  There are different types of window balance systems available, I am going to discuss three, block and tackle, spiral, and constant force.

The block and tackle balance system has been around for years.  Many 'old line' window companies started using these decades ago.  The concept is a rope and pulley system, even the 'new versions' operate under the same premise, rope and pulley.  By operating on a type of rope and with having several moving parts, this type of balance is susceptible to breaking down over time.  Also, the tendency for this type of balance is to work easy going up or going down.  But it just doesn't have the easy of operations in both directions.

The spiral balance was introduced to replace the older designs of the block and tackle design.  This balance has a tendency to break down over time even more quickly than the block and tackle.  It needs to be lubricated with grease, and as the window remains closed, the spiral balance is open and unprotected from the environment.  This means dust, dirt, pollen, etc. sticks to the grease of the balance.  When the window is operated, all the elements of the environment act as drag on the balance.  This makes the window extremely difficult to operate in both directions.  If all this wasn't enough, the spiral balancer has different colored tips based on the weight of the sash.  So if a balance goes bad, you need to color match the tips otherwise the window will not operate properly.

There has been a newer type of balance introduced to the market, and it is called constant force balance.  This balance has very few moving parts.  It is self lubricating and many of the constant force balances are Teflon coated.  This makes operating the sash easy both up and down - most of the time, you can operate a constant force balance window with one finger. 

Another great benefit is it doesn't matter how heavy or light the sash is, the balance keeps the force of opening the window or closing the window 'constant.'  So, in this world of green and energy efficiency, you can have a triple glass window, and not have to worry about how difficult it would typically be to operate.  The triple glass gives you great energy efficiency thereby making it more of a green or environmentally friendly product.  And the constant force balance system gives you easy operation. 

Guess which balance system is in my house!

Of course there are numerous issues and challenges for older people who want – or have to – live in their own homes. An important one, which I've experienced firsthand with my own elderly mother, is upkeep of the home. This is connected to other issues, such as safety, security, finance and health.