Windsor Windows
#1
05-04-05, 09:06 PM
Windsor Windows
any opinions on this brand? Our new home has been bid with Windsor windows. The U rating is .35, which from reading other posts, could be better. We are considering upgrading to the higher level of this brand window but wanted some opinions on it if any of you are familiar with this brand. I don't think the windows that have been bid are gas filled either. I'll be looking to that as well. By the way I'm in South Dakota so we definitely have some cold weather in the winter months.
#2
05-07-05, 07:23 PM
a few words
Hi Greebs,
I avoid comments of specific window brands due to potential conflict of interest, but I can still offer a few generic words of advice.
A U-value of .35 is not the best you can find on the market, but it does meet the minimum recommendation for your climate. Depending on how much you are going to spend, I would make sure that I had several competitive bids before making a final decision. I would personally prefer a U-value of about.28 or better, but if you are happy with everything else about the windows - including price - then I would not quibble about a few percentage points. A .35 is not a bad number and is probably a great deal better than what you, or most of your friends and neighbors, have now.
One thing to keep in mind is that the installation of a window is at least as important as the window itself. I have said before, but I will say again that the best window in the world poorly installed is not as good as an average window with a top-notch installation.
Gas fill will get get you a few percentage points of insulating improvement as well, and if the original bid does not include it, then see what they want for that upgrade. The cost of an argon fill should not be that high, maybe $15 a window max, so use that to your advantage and negotiate for it. Some companies charge an arm-and-leg for argon fill, but usually that is because they make their own IG's and are not really very efficient in filling the IGU with the gas...or, they just like a nice profit mark-up.
If you happen to have more specific questions about solar gain or anything else, ask and I, or someone else, will be a bit more specific in those areas.
Good luck with your project.
I avoid comments of specific window brands due to potential conflict of interest, but I can still offer a few generic words of advice.
A U-value of .35 is not the best you can find on the market, but it does meet the minimum recommendation for your climate. Depending on how much you are going to spend, I would make sure that I had several competitive bids before making a final decision. I would personally prefer a U-value of about.28 or better, but if you are happy with everything else about the windows - including price - then I would not quibble about a few percentage points. A .35 is not a bad number and is probably a great deal better than what you, or most of your friends and neighbors, have now.
One thing to keep in mind is that the installation of a window is at least as important as the window itself. I have said before, but I will say again that the best window in the world poorly installed is not as good as an average window with a top-notch installation.
Gas fill will get get you a few percentage points of insulating improvement as well, and if the original bid does not include it, then see what they want for that upgrade. The cost of an argon fill should not be that high, maybe $15 a window max, so use that to your advantage and negotiate for it. Some companies charge an arm-and-leg for argon fill, but usually that is because they make their own IG's and are not really very efficient in filling the IGU with the gas...or, they just like a nice profit mark-up.
If you happen to have more specific questions about solar gain or anything else, ask and I, or someone else, will be a bit more specific in those areas.
Good luck with your project.
