Do Your Homework

There are thousands, yes thousands, of window manufacturers in the USA. Many have been in business for a long time and others started as spin-offs of the older established companies. Before you buy, make sure the company you are dealing with is reputable, solvent and a member of either the National Association of Home Builders http://www.nahb.org/ or the National Association of the Remodeling Industry http://www.nari.org/ Also make sure their windows are tested and listed in the directory of the National Fenestration Rating Council http://www.nfrc.org/

The second most important thing to look for is an EnergyStar rating that qualifies for the Reinvestment and Recovery Act federal tax credit. Qualifying wndows must have a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)and a U-Factor of .30 or less. Every homeowner is eligible for a $1,500 tax credit for installing energy efficient windows, doors and other qualifying products. For more information go to http://www.energystar.gov/

6 ways to increase your homes value

There are many different ways to increase your homes value these days, but here I have compiled a list of six ways you can boost the value of your home:

1. Green thumbs up - one of the simplest and cheapest way to increase your homes exterior appeal is to clean up the landscape.  Any bushes, weeds or dying flowers should be removed or trimmed back.  Get rid of any foliage creeping up the side of the house or overflowing in your drive or walk way.  This simple effort will do wonders for your home's look
2. Speak with accents - an easy way to make your home a better place to live is to change accents like window treatments and rugs with the seasons.  Use darker colors in the fall and winter months and swap them out for lighter colors in the warm months.  It is an easy fix to keep your home looking fresh.  Another trick is to remove those area rugs, as long as the floor is in decent shape, to create the perception of a larger living space
3. Floor it - homeowners often overlook how large a difference new flooring can have on their home.  No matter the material you install, if you choose a lighter color it brightens the entire space and will give it a updated and modern lookS
4. Window shopping - do not over look updating the actual windows.  New windows can save a ton of money on your heating and cooling bills while also updating the look of your home.  
5. Freshen up the interior with a new paint job - a new coat of a lighter color of paint can really make a room, or house, feel like new.  Darker colors are trendy and stylish, but lighter colors really warm up a room and make it comfortable.  A trick to make a place look larger is to paint walls different colors to trick your depth perception.  Another trick is to have bolder colors on the walls of your living room combined with a white ceiling, this gives the effect of making the room look taller
6. Exterior decorating - after you trim the hedges a fairly simple value added technique is to install some exterior decorations.  Stepping stones, walk way lighting, fountains and benches are easy to come by and can really add to your home's appeal.  Get creative and have fun decorating the outside of your house.

What to expect from a replacement window warranty

With the level of technology and research that goes into replacement windows these days there is no surprise that many companies offer warranties on their windows. In a standard replacement window warranty you can expect to get the following coverages (and make sure you do; if the company you are working with does not have all these guarantees, it should be easy to find one that does):

• Glass breakage - this is offered because many windows now-a-days come with double strength glass which makes the window panes more than twice as strong as the old single pane glass.  The warranty should cover any kind of breakage whether it be from moving furniture inside you house or if a rock gets kicked out by a lawn mower and strikes your window.  Acts of god like hurricanes and lightning strikes are not usually covered.
• Parts - there are many moving parts to a window like the balance systems, lock and keeper hardware, vent tabs and tilt latches to name a few.  Make sure these are protected in the warranty
• Labor - some handy men will not warranty labor but larger remodeling and contracting companies will make sure they install the windows correctly the first time allowing them to guarantee nothing will happen because of the installation.
• Frame failure - sometimes the frame of the window will fail because of improper installation, damage during transit, or just because of a manufacturing defect.  
• Seal failure - we have all seen the windows that have the foggy condensation built up between the double panes.  This is cause by the seal keeping the air in between the glass deteriorating either from sun damage or just old age.  
• Transferable - since these windows are usually warrantied for the life of the house make sure your warranty is transferable.  That means if you ever move or sell your house the warranty transfers to the next homeowner; not only does it add extra security to you but also adds a nice selling point if you try and sell your home.

Painting Vinyl Windows: Good Idea or Bad?

Whether or not painting vinyl windows is a good idea or bad, the answer you get depends on who you ask.

If you speak with a rep from a paint store or a painter they will most likely assure that painting replacement vinyl windows is a good idea and will update the look of your home.

On the other hand, when you speak to a window professional or a window manufacturer they will usually advise against painting.  One of the great benefits of vinyl windows is they never need painting.  And currently most of the companies that make these windows are offering 7 or 8 exterior colors to choose from.

Another consideration you need to make if you are thinking of painting your windows is the long term warranties that come with these windows.  The chemicals that come in some paints and primers can have a weakening effect on the vinyl used to make the window which can void the warranty on the frames.

In my opinion I would explore all other options like painting the trim, shutters or other window treatments before I would consider painting the windows themselves.  Vinyl windows are warrantied to never chip, crack, peel or fade and once paint is applied all those great guarantees are thrown out the window.

How to Choose a Contractor

Every time a homeowner decides they want to have a project completed on their home they inevitably come to the question, "How do I know which contractor to choose?"  Follow these steps below to ensure you choose the right person for the job:

1.  Look first to get a referral for a contractor from a friend.  Anyone that has had a positive experience with a contractor will love to spread the word.
2. Every contractor out there has more expertise in some areas than others.  Give yourself the best chance for success by narrowing down your options to contractors that are experts in your desired project.
3. Always make sure anyone that works on your home is licensed and insured.  If you allow someone to work on your home without these certifications you run the risk of having to pay for someone's injuries or having no recourse if the job is done poorly.
4. Get some references from your short list of potential contractors, if possible go and see the work for yourself.  Ask specific questions about the job.
5.  Search online for reviews about the company.  Websites like Kudzu and The Better Business Bureau are a good place to start, but doing a more broad search will give you more info about who you choose to work on your home.
6. Demand a written estimate, if one is not provided DO NOT let this person or company work on your home.  This protects you from unexpected charges and forces the contractor to complete all work that was quoted. 
7. Make sure the contract satisfies all your needs and expectations then sign on the dotted line... and get them to sign too, make sure you keep a copy. 

During the project keep an eye on the workers only to make sure everything is being done within the agreement.  It is much easier to fix something half way through the project than once it is completed.