Are you having a hard time opening and closing your windows? Do you notice air leaks or drafts around your frames? If so, you’ve probably been thinking upgrading your Dallas home with replacement windows. Even if you aren’t experiencing issues, replacement windows can dramatically reduce your energy costs and improve your home’s curb appeal.

Whether you know that your home needs new windows or you want to increase the energy efficiency of your home, these helpful tips will provide you with good deal of insight into what you should look for in replacement windows.

Learn Important Rating Terms

The first step in choosing replacement windows is to familiarize yourself with the numbers located on the Energy Star and National Fenestration Rating Council labels. These numbers include:

U-Factor or U-Value: This number generally ranges from 0.20 to 1.20, and a lower number indicates that less heat will be lost through the window.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): The SHGC measures the amount of heat the window blocks from the sun and ranges from 0 to 1. Dallas homeowners will benefit from a window with a low SHGC number, while those in cold climates should opt for a window with a higher number.
Visible Transmittance: If you prefer a window that allows more visible light into your home, look for a number at the higher end of the visible transmittance range, between 0 and 1.

Choose the Right Frame Material

The type of frame material that you choose for your replacement windows will affect the look, durability, and price of your window, as well as the level of maintenance that is required. There are three popular types of replacement window materials:

Fiberglass Windows: The frame of fiberglass windows is made from a catalyzed mix of polymer resin and glass fibers. Although they are still relatively new to the market and a bit more expensive, fiberglass windows are extremely durable, resistant to heat and cold, and are exceptionally energy efficient.
Vinyl Windows: Dallas homeowners looking for an energy-efficient, resilient, and cost-effective replacement window find that vinyl windows are the perfect solution. Additionally, vinyl windows are long lasting even in the Texas heat and humidity.
Wood Windows: While wood windows are visually pleasing, they can be costly and require more maintenance than synthetic materials.

Consider Important Features

When you work with an experienced Dallas window installation company, you’ll likely be educated about numerous replacement window features. The most important features you should be aware of include:

Cladding: Wood-framed windows are clad in aluminum, fiberglass, or vinyl to provide protection from the elements and eliminate exterior painting. While they tend to be more expensive, they offer a wide selection of wood types to create an aesthetically pleasing interior.
Double or Triple Glazing: Double-glazed windows are built with air or gas between two panes of glass. The gas provides increased insulation and a slight increase in energy efficiency. Triple-glazed windows have a third layer of glass that reduces outside noise and provides enhanced energy efficiency, but unless you live in a noisy area of Dallas, the cost of triple-glazed windows is more justified in extremely cold climates.
Low-E Coating: In warm climates, this transparent coating is applied to the outside of the glass to improve the efficiency by keeping heat out while allowing light in—and vice versa for cold climates. Regardless of whether the coating is applied inside or out, there is a reduction in visibility.
Tilt-In Sashes: Today, most single- and double-hung windows feature sashes that tilt in for simple cleaning.

Is your Dallas home in need of replacement windows? Center Point Renovations offers a wide selection of industry-leading products, and our trained window installers deliver exceptional results. Give us a call today to learn how our new replacement windows can add value, beauty, and energy efficiency to your home! You can also get started right now by completing our simple online form to schedule your free, no-obligation project estimate.