What to Expect From a Professional Window Company

When it’s time to replace their home’s windows, many homeowners decide to tackle the job themselves or have their regular, reliable handyman do the work. But that can cause more problems than you’d think — and hiring a professional window replacement company makes better sense for many reasons.

Here’s why going it alone or with a non-professional installer isn’t the best option and what you should expect from the professional window company you hire.

Reasons Why DIY Window Installation Isn’t Worth It

Is it ever worth it to replace windows on your own? The short answer is no. Unlike other DIY home improvement projects, when done correctly, window replacement is a time-consuming and exacting process that requires an advanced degree of skill.

Here are our top reasons for never trying to install a window yourself.

1. Reduced energy efficiency: Windows must have an air-tight fitting to deliver the ultimate energy efficiency. Unless you’ve replaced hundreds of windows, it’s possible your fitting will be slightly off, resulting in drafts and higher energy bills.
2. Reduced curb appeal: A non-professional is more likely not to finish window installations in an aesthetically pleasing way. There’s a subtle art to window installation that can only be mastered through professional experience.
3. Security issues: Improperly installed windows may not close and lock properly, making it easier for intruders to break into your home.
4. Necessary tools: Most people don’t have the tools needed for proper window installation and, if you buy them, you likely won’t need to use them again.
5. Time-consuming: Most professional installers take about an hour to replace a window. DIYers or handymen with little experience will find it takes them far longer to complete the job, including the time it takes to watch YouTube videos.
6. No guarantee: Professional installers offer warranties and guarantees for their materials and labor. When you do it yourself, you have no such protection.

What To Expect From a Professional Window Replacement Company

When you need to install replacement windows, the benefits of hiring a professional to do the job are unsurpassable. And once they’re installed, your home has a beautiful new appearance that should last for decades. When you work with a company like Zen Windows, here’s what you can expect.

• Expert advice from an experienced professional: A company that performs window installations day in and day can help you avoid common pitfalls and obstacles you’ve probably never thought of. They’ll also advise you on the best options for how to stay within your budget and, when it comes to choosing the windows for your project, they’ll guide you on which window styles might work best for your home’s style.
• Professional project analysis and planning: A professional window installer ensures your window replacement project meets your goals, objectives, and expectations. They’re skilled at using their years of experience and expertise to suggest options and alternatives that will transform your home’s appearance and energy efficiency.
• Top-quality products with the latest designs and technologies: A professional window company offers top-quality window brands from companies that continually update their products to incorporate the latest technological advances in building materials and design.
• A proper window installation replacement process: The replacement window company you choose should guarantee each one of your new windows is installed correctly. Installers should be OSI- and LEED-certified, always on time, and communicative during your project.

Why Choose Zen Windows for Your Window Replacement Services

Long-term equality, performance, and satisfaction are a given with a reputable replacement window company. At Zen Windows, we back all our products and work with warranties and a satisfaction guarantee. If a problem arises once your installation is complete, we’re here to get it corrected quickly, efficiently, and properly. Can your handyman say the same?

The Truth About the “Glass Demo”

Anyone installing replacement windows will naturally want the best product for the money, and in the case of windows, this often means the most energy-efficient product. Homeowners want to save money on their long-term energy costs, and low-E glass is one of the ways to do it. That is why the “glass demo” is such a common sales tool for replacement window companies, but it can also be somewhat misleading.

What Is Low-E Glass?

Low-E glass is glass that has been specially coated to block heat-carrying UV radiation. Four manufacturers in the United States make low-E coatings, and the products tend to be quite similar in performance and effectiveness.

What Is a Glass Demo?

In the glass demo, a salesperson will aim a heat lamp at several samples of glass, such as single-pane glass, insulated glass, the competitor’s low-E glass, and their low-E glass. The temperature will be measured on the opposite side, showing how effective each sample is at blocking heat transmission.

Why Is it Misleading?

Most low-E glass performs quite similarly, but the darker the glass is, the more heat and light it will block. During the glass demo, the salesman’s sample is often a darker glass, which will block more heat, but it would compromise the view if it were installed in an actual home. In the demo, however, it does make the product look more effective than competing products.

Low-E glass is designed primarily to block solar radiation from entering your home. This means that it keeps excess heat out in the summer, making your home easier and less costly to cool. In southern climates, this is ideal, as cooling is often more of a concern than heating. Installing low-E coatings on southern- and western-facing windows in these areas can significantly reduce cooling costs. The ability of a low-E coating to block the sun’s radiation is described by its solar heat gain coefficient or SHGC. This number represents the fraction of solar radiation that a coating lets into the home, on a scale from 0 to 1. For greater protection from the sun’s rays, choose a low-E coating with a lower SHGC or as close to zero as possible.

While low-E coatings are great for blocking summer sun, they do very little to stop heat from escaping your home in the winter. In fact, low-E coatings can make it harder to absorb heat from the sun in colder climates, a process called passive solar heating. To balance the performance of your home between the heating and cooling seasons, it is important to choose the right mix of low-E coatings and insulated glass for each area of your home. That way, you can block the summer sun as much as possible while taking advantage of passive solar heating during the winter in cooler climates.

How To Avoid a Glass Demo

At Zen Windows, we strive to offer our customers the best advice possible for their homes and the climate they live in. We feature no high-pressure sales tactics, and we will not make you endure lengthy and potentially misleading presentations about our low-E glass. That’s right — no in-home sales pitch and no pushy salespeople.

We offer a free, no-obligation quote online or over the phone, and we are here to answer any questions you may have about our replacement windows. With our quality products, simple financing options, and lifetime warranty, we make it easy to choose Zen Windows for all your replacement window needs.

Call us today or contact us online to learn which low-E coatings and products are best for your home. Request your free window replacement quote today!

What’s the Real Cost of Replacement Windows?

It’s seldom easy to nail down the costs for any home improvement goods and services. Providers say, “It depends.” It’s understandable they don’t want to commit to a price they can’t deliver — but some do. They give you a price that’s almost too good to be true.

They insist they must visit your home, then offer you products you don’t want or need, and after you’ve spent your time resisting a hard sell, the price changes. They give you a quote beyond your budget. (The original quote was too good to be true, after all.)

It’s annoying, and it’s a hassle. Zen Windows is different.

The Zen Windows difference? Hassle-free quotes and superior customer care. Call or request a free quote to learn more.

How to Understand Replacement Windows Pricing

The national average per-window cost for upgrades is $500/window. Depending on where you live, the cost can be from $200 to $850/window.

Costs vary by region because materials and labor are different within U.S. states. You can use a ZIP code calculator to find median prices for windows. Median prices are “middle of the road” best-guesstimates. (You’ll find lower and higher prices locally.)

The biggest factor in determining a window price is the material from which it’s made. For example, one replacement windows calculator puts the 77375 ZIP code prices from $108 to $302.40 per window for materials only.

Wood is the most expensive material for windows. A wood replacement window can cost $1,000 or more.

Your real estate property value depends on condition and location. Find a Zen Windows professional near your location, and let’s plan your Zen Windows and doors renovation. Your property value will increase while your energy bills decrease. It’s a win-win! Call or request a free quote today.

When You Need Quality and Affordability, You Need Zen Windows

Wood is wonderful. But it’s also higher maintenance and has a shorter shelf life than the other two best materials for replacement windows: fiberglass and vinyl.

Fiberglass windows cost more than vinyl, but they are stronger. They’re just as energy-efficient as vinyl but more eco-friendly. (Fiberglass can be recycled at the end of its lifetime.)

Vinyl windows deliver amazing quality. Our vinyl windows have a lifetime warranty. They’re the most affordable option with advanced features:

• Energy-efficient
• Low-maintenance
• Secure

Replacement windows deliver a measurable ROI (return on investment) for your property. Professionally installed vinyl windows can return as much as 77.5% of your cost. You may also be eligible for tax credits with ENERGY STAR® rated Zen Windows installations.

Installing replacement windows is not a DIY job. If there are damages to your property as a result of a handyman or DIY remodeling project, your insurance company can deny coverage.

Your home is likely your biggest investment. It makes sense to protect it. Call or request a free quote from Zen Windows.

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Should You Finance Your Replacement Windows?

Don’t neglect your home because of replacement window costs. Financing is an affordable way to get what you need. And remember, your monthly energy savings will begin immediately.

• Convenient payment options – Your repayment plan will be easy to manage. You can make monthly payments online, set up auto-payments, or make payments by mail.
• Low-interest rates – Low-interest financing makes it possible to buy the windows you really want.
• Simple application process – It’s easy to apply and get approved for a replacement window loan. Quick credit decisions mean you can move forward with your project sooner.

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This year you can have windows and doors that look great, lower heating and cooling bills, and increase the value of your property! Learn more about financing with Zen Windows. Call or contact us today.