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Comparing Replacement Windows for Your New Jersey or New York Metro Home
Let’s face it, every replacement window brand in New Jersey and New York claims their home improvement solutions are the best, the cheapest or the most energy efficient windows on the market. You’ve got to weed through the hype to find out how they measure up. What is the UV-value? Do vinyl frames really hold up more than three or four years? Then, there’s the question of installing them yourself or having to start the arduous process of vetting installation contractors. Right?
While we’re confident our replacement windows and patio doors are excellent solutions for our New York and New Jersey friends and neighbors planning to upgrade their homes, we know that you need to be thrilled with your purchase after the installation, and for as long as you stay in your current home.
One place where homeowners get hung up in the research journey is deciding whether to replace their single-paned windows with double, or triple-pane solutions, or go back with the same type of configuration.
Here’s what you need to know to make a well-informed decision.
Taking the Pain out of Comparing Multi-panel Windows
First the simple facts:
All three options have a clearly defined number of glass panes, but this is where the similarities end for single and multi-pane windows. Even with low-e coatings and superior performing frames made with high-quality composite or wood components, single-panel windows don’t come close to multi-pane windows as far as energy efficiency and noise reduction qualities go.
They’re less expensive than some options, but they aren’t well-insulated against extreme temperature variances and you generally have more condensation problems with a single-pane window than either double or triple styles.
Anatomy of a Multi-pane Window
A lot goes into manufacturing a high-performance, multi-panel replacement window. Low-e coatings applied to the inside surface of exterior panes improve energy efficiency dramatically. Special factory coatings applied to the exterior surface control the amount of ultraviolet light that enters your home, without reducing clarity. Some Renewal by Andersen glazing options even have extra technology that eliminates up to 99 percent of water spots when activated by direct sunlight.
Whether you choose double-pane or triple-pane windows for your home, you want to make certain the windows have a low conductivity glass spacer, both primary and secondary gas seals, and high performance framing materials that control heat transfer and are guaranteed not to warp, peel, fade or rot.
Different brands use different air space fillers. Argon, or an argon gas blend, is perhaps the most popular because it provides exceptional insulating qualities and is more affordable that the expensive krypton gas.
Which Type of Window is Best for Your Home?
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) studies the energy efficiency of window types and brands based on the whole window – glazing, framing material, spacers, air space filler, and all components. Lower NFRC U-Value ratings show a window has good (or excellent) heat resistance and insulating qualities.
A high-performance double-pane window may achieve a U-Value rating of .30, whereas a triple-pane option could achieve a significantly lower rating of .15, providing the framing and spacing elements are superior. But, that doesn’t mean triple-glazed windows are the best choice for your home. Here’s why.
Because there’s lower demand and more materials, triple-pane windows are significantly more expensive than double-pane windows. One reason is that adding the extra glass makes the glazing section heavier. Weaker frames, like vinyl and aluminum, must be significantly modified to accommodate the weight. Modification costs money, which gets marked up and passed along to the consumer.
Another issue we have seen over the years results from manufacturers who put a triple-pane section into weaker non-modified frames. The windows may hold up for a few years, then homeowners notice the seals are weakening and the frames are sagging or pulling away from the exterior of their homes. Remediation can be very expensive and in the end, inferior triple-paned windows may need to be replaced sooner than if you had chosen a double-pane window originally.
Because of the initial cost versus the return on your investment in energy savings, triple-pane styles are best suited to areas with extreme weather where heating your home is the primary reason for upgrading. In our area, double-pane solutions are normally the most affordable option with similar benefits associated with lowering heating and cooling bills and improving interior comfort.
Window design and manufacturing processes impact overall performance and durability. But, windows with exceptional NFRC ratings are only as good as the installation.
Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey and New York Metro offer a broad array of window styles, shapes and glazing options for New Jersey and Metropolitan New York residents, AND we provide trained installation technicians so you’ll never have to worry about whether or not your windows are fully covered under the exclusive owner-transferrable warranty.
Need more information to help you decide how many glass panels your new replacement windows need? We can help. Give us a quick call at (866) 609-5033 or fill in the short form on this page.
Learn Everything You Need to Know BEFORE Buying Replacement Windows