How To Pick The Best New Andersen Windows For Your Home

If you have decided on Andersen windows for your new home or when renovating, you still must choose those most appropriate for your situation. Style is not the only factor to pay attention to when picking out the new windows you will live with for the years to come. Whatever issues the old windows had must be taken into account. This can tell a story about what elements are most brutal and which areas of your home are the least protected. Andersen windows and others are rated by the NFRC, or the National Fenestration Rating Council, which can help you compare across a common basis the windows you may decide to purchase.

Efficiency Ratings To Help Choose Your Andersen Windows

The NFRC ratings tell how any of the Andersen windows may perform by way of independent testing to determine the energy efficiency, but do not just go with the numbers on a sticker. The label may help you understand how the performance of the window will affect the energy consumption of your home and decide which products work best in your climate.

The five categories which Andersen windows and the rest are rated in are the u-factor, SHGC, VT, AL, and condensation resistance. U-factor measures heat transfer, which lets you know how the window insulates, with a lower number being better. SHGC stands for solar heat gain coefficient, showing how much the window blocks heat from sunlight. AL measures air leakage from air passing through the joints of a window, and lastly is condensation resistance measured from 0 to 100, with 100 being the highest amount of resistance.

Materials Of Andersen Windows

If your old windows are warped, leaking or rotted, the wood was probably damaged because of water intrusion and weather. Wood does require regular maintenance, which must be kept up with if decay is to be avoided. Andersen windows come in all types of wood, such as pine, oak, mahogany, fir, and more, depending on the window in particular. You must make the commitment to the upkeep if getting wood, but many people choose this material for the classic look and high insulation value.

Andersen Windows also come in Fibrex, which is a proprietary material manufactured by the company. It is a composite made from 40% wood fibers, and 60% chlorinated poly vinyl carbonate. The wood fibers are reclaimed from the making of wood Andersen windows. These windows have the same insulating advantages and looks of wood windows, but may hold up longer to the elements, require less care, and can be painted or stained any way you like.

Size And Style Of Your Andersen Windows

Unless you have problems with the functionality of the style of your current windows, it is best to go with the type of windows you are replacing for the new ones. Space problems for the hardware and moving parts may become an issue otherwise, for example, if you replace your double hung windows with Andersen windows that are casement style and require room to swing open. If you are replacing the windows yourself you definitely do not want to change window styles. Andersen windows come in most types, such as double hung, awning, bow or bay, casement, gliding, and picture.

Andersen windows have the advantage of a large line of sizes, so it is likely that you will be able to find ones that fit your current openings. If you have irregular sized windows you must incorporate the higher cost of custom pieces when getting new ones. Andersen windows in custom styles can be a decent option if you only have a few openings that require custom pieces, since you can use the opportunity to have one feature window that is more intricate. Another choice is to alter the opening to make it slightly smaller if that will make a stock size window fit, but this is not ideal since any opening around the window must be insulated and can increase heat loss.

Andersen windows that fit your home's needs can, be an investment lasting decades, so take the time you need to pick the best option possible. Also take time to consider the installation. If you are getting a whole house full of new windows, you may wish to at least budget installation for the second level, or for large pieces of glass, since it can be daunting to do yourself.