how much better are new high end window vs old windows + storm
B G
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
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Low-E vs Storms on Gothic Window
Comments (2)Just a few thoughts... R value is not the best measurement of a window's energy performance. U value is a much more accurate measure, but unfortunately most window sales folks still use R value in their presentations because most people have been conditioned to think in R value. LowE is a metallic coating that is applied to one (or more) lites of an IGU (Insulating Glass Unit) or thermo-pane window. Not all IGU's use LowE coating and not all IGU's use an aluminum (metal) spacer. The top-of-the-line IGU's manufactured today use what is called WET or Warm Edge Technology spacer. There are several different WET spacers in use today, including a couple that are stainless steel based. LowE coatings substantially increase the energy efficiency of a window. LowE coatings are required by energy code in many parts of the country for new construction. Having storm windows is better than not having storm windows, but the energy performance of a single pane window with a storm window is not comparable to a modern IGU-equipped window with LowE and argon fill. There really is no comparison in energy performance numbers or actual field measurements. John, you have classic old windows that might be worth saving for the asthetic value, but you will lose something in energy performance if you do so. I really like older windows, personally, and if the original windows are in good enough shape to save, I would attempt to save them...but that would be a trade off in performance versus new windows. If you can afford it, you can get newer windows that look every bit as good as the originals with much better energy perfomance. Something over 70% of all LowE coated residential glass in North America is manufactured by Cardinal Glass which happens to be headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. They also happen to have an R&D lab in Minneapolis, which is a local phone call for you I assume...Cardinal supplies most of the major window companies in North America with LowE glass and also many of the big window companies with IGU's as well....See MoreRestoring Old Storm Windows
Comments (26)Yes, we did. It took a year of haunting CraigsList and the local junkyards/salvage places to collect all the supplies, then a few months of rehabbing the old sash we found. I just installed them a month ago, in the nick of time for a cold winter here in the Northeast. I was lucky in that the replacement folks left the original frames intact; they just pulled out the sash, pulleys and weights, but the jamb still had the pulley cutout. Once I found the right sized pulleys it was just a matter of reinstalling everything, shaving the sash to fit, weatherstripping, etc. Ha. "Just" a matter of that. But it's absolutely worth it. The new and weatherstripped old wooden sash, even without storms, are just as airtight as those cheap vinyls were. They were awful: poorly sealed, breaking and bowing, half of them wouldn't even open any more - of course, had they been a nicer high-cost version, perhaps we wouldn't have been motivated in the first place. But are vinyls ever nicer, high-cost versions... ? ;-) If folks are seriously that interested in the project, I'm happy to post a few pictures....See MoreStorm windows vs Replacement
Comments (3)Hey there, The decision to get storm windows or replace your old windows depends on a few factors... If you have decided to replace your storm windows, be sure to check up on the factors we outlined here: http://blog.custombuiltri.com/steps-to-replacing-your-residential-storm-windows...See MoreReplacement Windows vs. New Construction Windows
Comments (23)A new construction window does not always mean more glass. It depends on window type and size and manufacturer. When we replaced our old leaky Aluminum windows with AL clad, wood interior windows (Marvin Ultimate), we ended up losing about 6+ inches of glass. The old aluminum had skinny sash while the new ones have large wood pieces inside. The large wood pieces did not affect the views as we feared but they certainly did not yield more glass. There are several reasons to stay with replacement even when changing siding and trim. We lived through this in our previous house. When trim around the windows is expensive to replace and already matches the house trim. WHen original frame is sound and we are not changing window size. When replacement window is sufficiently better than old window. When project cost of new construction is way higher than replacement windows. WE ended up using replacement windows for our previous home. For our current house, the trim was bad and needed replacement anyway, the framing surrounding the windows had visible water damage and there is no replacement for those poor quality Aluminum windows. The end result was new construction windows....See MoreCoolAir Inc.
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