Yes! If your windows are more than 10 years old, you are probably losing valuable heat and/or air conditioning through them every day! How? Windows can lose heat in three major ways: through the glass, around the sides of the window and from conduction that occurs through the window frame. The end result? In the winter, you end up constantly trying to heat the air from the outside! And in the summer, your air conditioning system has to work twice as hard trying to cool it! Today's windows contain insulating, double-paned glass that has been custom-designed to stop hot air from going in or out. In addition, if your windows are custom-made, and not standard sizes, they will be built specifically for the openings in your home. That eliminates air infiltration around the frames. Plus, with the multi-chamber design of vinyl windows and the thermal breaks in aluminum windows, conduction is drastically reduced.

No. Vinyl products contain 10 parts titanium dioxide, which prevents ultraviolet degradation. As is similar with siding, everything fades some over time. Our PVC products will not fade, over the life of the product, to the point in which there is a visible difference between pieces. Lighter colors do better against fading and all the colors we carry tend to be on the light side.

Vinyl will not deteriorate or rot and can basically be shaped into any design. Vinyl will not rust and serves as a great insulator for special windows designs. All joints are sealed air tight. Vinyl is now recognized as the preferred material for windows. Wood swells, warps, rots, cracks, requires painting, can be poor fitting and an energy waster. Aluminum is stable, but a poor insulator. Vinyl has given the homeowner a generation of windows that are maintenance free.

Tempered Glass offers safety, protection and has four times the strength of ordinary glass. Tempered glass is virtually impossible to cut with a glass cutter. There are also new advances in special laminated glass. This glass can take up to 30 powerful hits of a baseball bat before even a small hole is formed.

Your carpeting, furniture, drapes, etc. can be protected using a low- emission glass. This should help with more than 50 percent of the damaging UV light. If you want maximum protection go with laminated insulating, which can filter more than 99 percent of UV radiation.

Without it there would be no barrier between air and water in doors and windows. The stripping makes the window seal air tight, and based on what type of stripping you install, you can greatly improve insulating performance of your windows.

Moving air carries energy. The secret to insulating is to get air as still as possible. Argon and Krypton are heavier than air. These gasses are in the air we breathe and are completely harmless. Their purpose between window panes is to prevent hot or cold conditions from moving the air. Less air movement, better energy efficiency.

They can come very close. Vinyl technologies have come along way, quality wood grain vinyl laminates are very attractive and often match the color of the wood trim in homes, plus you don't have to stain or seal them!

The profile design and methods of assembly determine the strength of a window. Just as beams or roof trusses are designed for specific mechanical loads, so are window shapes. A weak window can flex and reduce the effectiveness of the weather stripping, resulting in air and water infiltration and, subsequently, higher energy costs. A weak window design also requires near-perfect window installation to ensure an effective seal.

The R-value or R-factor of a window is the measure of its resistance to the transfer of heat flow. The higher its R-value, the greater its insulating ability. The U-value is actually the important variable in evaluating windows. The U-value or U-factor is the measure of the window's ability to conduct heat. This is the amount of heat transmitted through the window. The lower a window's U-value, the better the window is at insulating your home.

Energy Star is a US governmental program - administered by the department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency with the cooperation of manufacturers. This alliance has been designed to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels through the education of consumers. The program covers many different types of products. Windows and doors can only carry the Energy Star label if they are tested by an independent laboratory through the National Fenestration Rating Council program and meet specific, predetermined U-value ratings. By selecting Energy Star products, you will reduce your energy costs and help make the environment cleaner.

Low-E stands for low emission. It's a microscopic, metallic coating applied to a surface of glass, that reflects and re-radiates heat energy into or out of a home depending on climate conditions.

There are many reasons for purchasing a window. Energy efficiency, security, beauty, strength and durability to name a few. In fact windows are the most inexpensive room addition available. With them you can open up any room, expand your view, bring in more light and add value to your home.

Installing siding is not a simple "do it yourself job" and is better left to siding installation professionals who have the necessary skills and equipment to do the job right the first time.