Windows & Doors

SOLAS makes replacement easy from start to finish. We will measure, install your new windows and doors, and even haul away your old ones. So replacement is convenient and stress-free for you.

As you consider replacing your windows or doors, look for these indicators that your old windows or doors need to be replaced:

• Poor performance
  • opening and closing is a difficult task
  • air leaks in, out or around the window
  • condensation or fogging occurs on or between glass panes
• Safety
  • windows that don't open easily or are painted or nailed shut may prevent a safe escape during a fire when seconds count
• Looks
  • chipping, deterioration, and water stains on the window or the area around the window (inside or out)
• Effort
  • cleaning is a major hassle
  • replacement parts are hard to find or even non-existent

Improve the Energy Efficiency in Your Home

Keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter by opting for Low-E (low-emissivity) glass coatings. Low-E helps reduce heat transfer and ultraviolet (UV) rays that can fade carpets, walls and furniture.

You also can reduce heating and cooling costs by replacing old single-pane windows with today's energy-efficient double- or triple-pane windows. Select windows and doors that have earned the ENERGY STAR(r) distinction to ensure you are maximizing potential savings to your heating and cooling costs.

Other Considerations

To keep the exterior appearance consistent, consider replacing all the windows on one side (or one level if it's a two-story house) at the same time.

If you're replacing siding, replace windows before the siding, so that siding can be fit to the new windows, for a neater appearance and better overall energy efficiency.

If your window frames are in excellent condition, the easiest way to replace is to remove old sashes and put a replacement window into the old frame. This allows the existing trim to remain in place. If frames are worn or damaged, replace the entire window unit.

For the ultimate in convenience, schedule an in-home appointment with a SOLAS replacement expert who can help provide solutions for your replacement window and door needs.

Features and Benefits

Vinyl vs. wood or aluminum

Vinyl is a better insulator than wood or aluminum. It doesn't conduct heat or cold like aluminum – a major source of lost heating/cooling energy. And, it doesn't swell and shrink like wood when temperatures change. It never needs painting and won't show scratches, unlike aluminum or wood windows.

Today, over 75% of replacement windows are vinyl*. But just because a window is made of vinyl doesn't mean it is a superior product. The design, engineering and manufacturing of the window all help distinguish a poor window from a superior window. *Sabre Report 2004.

R-value

The thing to remember when considering an R-value is that the higher the R-value number is, the greater the insulation value. As with any measure of energy efficiency, it's not so much what's considered acceptable, as what is acceptable to you. Insulation in the sash and/or mainframe of a vinyl window can significantly up the R-value of a window frame. Check for the availability of this feature when assessing a window's energy efficiency.

Glass is rated in R-values also – the same used to rate window frames. The type of glass, thickness, number of panes, distance between the panes, as well as, the manner in which panes are connected, all affect the R-value performance of the window.

U-factor

This is a standard measure of heat transfer through an entire window unit. The methods for measuring U-factor ratings were developed by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) at the request of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Trade Commission.

The lower the U-factor the better the window's insulating ability. A window's U-factor is the reciprocal of its R-factor. They both measure its insulating ability. Look for windows with low U-factors and high R-values.

Low-E glass

There are two major types of Low-E (the 'E' stands for emissivity) glass: hard-coat (pyrolitic) and vacuum-deposition (sputter). Both types block radiant heat, keeping summer's heat outside and winter's heat inside. And both block the sun's rays to some degree.

But windows made with multi-layer, vacuum deposition (sputter coat) Low-E glass have much better visual clarity. With this type of glass you have very little haze factor which provides almost the same clarity as clear 'uncoated' glass.

Argon or Krypton gas

Air between the panes of insulating gas can be replaced with high-density Argon or Krypton gas. This process provides windows with a both increased energy efficiency and increasing sound deadening properties. Both Argon and Krypton are safe, odorless, colorless gases that occur naturally in our atmosphere. But, because of their density, heat and cold do not pass through these gases as easily as through air. When Argon or Krypton gas is used in an insulated glass system with a vacuum deposition (sputter) coat Low E glass, it creates one of the most energy efficient windows you can buy.

Noise reduction

Some of the same features that make a window more energy efficient can also help to significantly cut down on noise transmission from outdoors.

Wood grain finishes

Today's better interior wood grain finishes are designed for a lifetime of maintenance-free beauty. They've proven themselves over time to resist fading, chipping, peeling and blistering.

Designer or decorative glass

Glass styles play an important role in the appearance and curb appeal of a home. Styles and selections will vary with each manufacturer, but the more styles that are available to choose from, the better the protection and enhancement of the value of a home, whatever its architectural style.

Solas LLC
Phone: (503) 830-0207 or (503) 349-0750

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