The best vinyl replacement windows can help you protect your home from the worst impacts of hurricane season, especially in the Tampa Bay area. Vinyl windows have superior resistance to corrosion from salty ocean air and are plenty strong enough to withstand hurricane-force winds, rain, and other common storm hazards.
But, how can you get the best vinyl replacement windows for your home? While they’re a great option for any home, not all vinyl windows are created equally. When you’re spending thousands of dollars on upgrading your home, you want to make sure that it’s an actual upgrade.
To help you get the best vinyl replacement windows for your home, here’s a quick list of things to look for:
How to Get the Best Vinyl Replacement Windows: Terms to Know
The first step in making sure that you’re getting the best version of any product is learning the basics of that product. This includes things like relevant terminology and how it affects you and your home. For vinyl windows, some of the biggest things to know include:
- AAMA. The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (now the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance or FGIA) is an organization that serves as an independent reviewer verifying that fenestration products meet certain standards and guidelines.
- AAMA Gold Label Certification. An AAMA-issued certification verifying that a window or door meets high standards for impact resistance, reliability, and energy efficiency.
- Air Infiltration. A term for how much air gets through a window (or door) when shut. Lower air infiltration indicates better energy efficiency.
- Butyl. A material that goes inside of a window that has two or more glass panes and an argon gas fill to prevent air leakage and enhance insulation.
- Cladding. A material that covers the exterior of a window frame to protect it from the elements.
- Design Pressure. A measurement of how much pressure a window is rated to handle, expressed as a positive and negative number. The positive number indicates how much inward pressure (i.e. wind blowing on it towards the home) the window can take while the negative number indicates how much suction force it can withstand. Windows measure both since the opposite side of the home from the wind pressure will face a suction force pulling on it.
- Double- and Triple-Paned. When a window has two layers of glass in the window sash, it is referred to as being double-paned. Windows with three panes of glass are referred to as triple-paned. Extra glass panes provide more insulation and protection from the elements.
- Gas Fill. Some windows that have multiple panes of glass may use an inert gas fill to enhance the window’s U-factor, as gases like argon prevent heat transfer better than regular air alone.
- HVHZ-Window. This is the term for a window that meets or exceeds the requirements to be installed in Florida’s two designated high-velocity hurricane zones: Miami-Dade County and Broward County. These windows have to be built for category 5 hurricane conditions.
- Impact Window. This is the term for a window that has been specifically designed and tested to verify its ability to withstand extreme pressure and heavy impacts.
- Low-E Glass. This is the name of a type of glass used in vinyl windows that has a special coating to affect the window’s SHGC rating. In Florida, ‘Solar Control’ Low-E glass is used to reflect away ultraviolet and infrared light rays to keep your home cool.
- Mullion. A piece of material that separates two window panes inside a window frame or connects two separate windows in a single opening.
- PVC. Polyvinylchloride, or the material that vinyl windows are made from. Pure PVC is durable, mildly flexible, and incredibly resistant to corrosion from salt or other hazards that eat away at metals like aluminum, iron, and steel.
- Laminate Interlayer. A sheet of flexible material that is commonly found in impact windows that goes just behind the glass. It flexes with impacts and prevents broken glass from getting into the home when the top layer of glass is broken. Also useful for enhancing a window’s energy efficiency and soundproofing.
- Shims. Small pieces of wood or composite material that are used to level out a window in a window opening during the installation process.
- Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). A measure of how much of the heat of the sun gets through the window. In Florida, you want this number to be as small as possible, since that means less heat is getting in from sunlight (SHGC is measured on a scale from 0 to 1).
- Tempered Glass. Specially made safety glass that breaks into smaller, less harmful pieces when shattered. Typically stronger than normal glass.
- Tint. A colored film or material added to a window to change its coloration or to block visibility into the home.
- Turtle Glass. A glass that has a specialized tint to reduce glare and prevent visible light transfer from the inside of the home to the outside.
- U-Factor. This is a measure of how well a window insulates the home. The smaller this number is (typically between 0.2 and 1.2), the better the window is at blocking heat transfer.
- Weatherstripping. Material that goes around a window to improve its insulation and fill any gaps to prevent air and pest infiltration.
- Window Buck. A ‘frame’ typically made of wood or composite material that goes around the inside of a window opening to give the window a flat, smooth surface to secure to. Sometimes used in particularly rough window openings.
- Window Frame. This is the part of the window that goes around the window sash and secures to the window opening in the wall (or to window bucks installed around the window opening). The parts of a frame include the stool, the sill, jambs, head, casing, and apron.
- Window Opening. The part of the home that the window is installed into.
- Window Sash. This is the name for the part of the window that holds the glass. In addition to the glass, the sash holds various other components depending on the type of window, but commonly includes lifts, grilles, rails, stiles, a movement system (balance, rollers, hinges, etc. depending on the window type), lifts, locks, and stops.
Okay, that’s a lot of terms to get to know, but knowing the jargon can help you better understand what the window installer is talking about when you’re shopping for new windows for your home.
How to Get the Best Vinyl Replacement Windows: Window Types
Now that you know some of the basic terminology, let’s go over the different types of vinyl windows that you can get:
Single-Hung Windows
These windows have two sashes, one ‘fixed’ sash that doesn’t move and one that can move up and down vertically. Very common and often picked for their affordability and simplicity.
Double-Hung Windows
These windows look like single-hungs at a glance, but have two movable sashes that go up and down. More modern designs also have a ‘shoe’ device to let the sashes pivot into the home for easier cleaning.
Sliding Windows
These windows move horizontally on roller wheels for easy movement. Often used in window openings that are especially large since rollers make it easier to move the window.
Casement Windows
These windows swing outward horizontally from the home using hinges and lock in place on an armature mechanism. They provide more air flow when open, since the window glass is moved almost completely out of the way of the window opening.
Awning Windows
Similar to casements, these windows open using a hinge and armature, though on the vertical axis. Because of how they open, they can remain open while still stopping light rain from entering the home.
Picture Windows
These are large, fixed windows that do not open and close. They trade opening mechanisms for extra rigidity and a larger viewing area, making them great for more scenic views.
Bay Windows
These windows project out from the sides of the home. They typically have three windows in the shell: one that runs parallel to the wall of the home and two smaller ones that are at an angle. Good for getting a panoramic view of the area, adding depth to your home’s exterior, and letting in more natural light throughout the day.
Each of the above windows has its own advantages and disadvantages compared to the others that might make them better for your home.
For example, picture windows are great for homeowners who want great views and don’t want to worry about maintenance of moving parts, but they may not be suitable for rooms where the Florida Building Code specifies that you need egress windows (i.e., windows that you can use to escape in an emergency).
Many homeowners prefer double-hung windows for rooms on higher floors because with the tilting mechanism, they’re easier to clean from inside the home.
How to Get the Best Vinyl Replacement Windows: Balancing Energy Efficiency, Durability, and Cost
When you’re ‘window shopping,’ there are a ton of things that you’ll want to consider, but the big three for Florida homeowners are energy efficiency, durability, and cost.
Getting code-compliant impact windows can be pricey. Window prices can fluctuate depending on the type of window you’re getting, the size of the window opening, and where it’s being installed (the higher up the window opening is, the more it will cost as that requires extra labor and equipment compared to a ground-floor vinyl window replacement).
Take a look at each window’s energy efficiency characteristics (U-factor & SHGC), its design pressure rating, and check to see what certifications it’s earned. This can help you find the best windows for your home at the right price for your budget.
Why is energy efficiency so important? Because it helps you save money on your energy bills for years to come. In Florida, windows that insulate your home from the summer heat and block out the sun’s harmful UV and infrared rays can help you keep your home cool without running your air conditioner so hard—meaning less energy used and more money saved every month.
For durability, finding a window that is certified for positive and negative pressures above 50 psf is a good starting point, though some municipalities might require design pressure ratings of 75 psf or more. This is why it’s important to consult with a knowledgeable expert on window installation prior to buying new windows.
How to Get the Best Vinyl Replacement Windows: Shop Around
One of the best pieces of advice for getting a good deal is to shop around! Get multiple price quotes and compare them to find the best company to handle your vinyl window replacement.
Reach out to multiple companies, get quotes, and compare them. Not just on the prices, but on what they’re offering. Be sure to watch out for the warning signs of an unrealistic price quote, such as:
- Abnormally Low Price. As the old saying goes: “If something looks too good to be true, then it probably is.” Some installers might offer an extremely low initial price quote only to tack on ‘unforeseen’ charges later on to make up for the underquoted price they gave initially.
- Math Errors. A price quote should itemize everything with cost breakdowns and totals. Check the cost breakdowns against the total columns and check for any errors, as that could indicate sloppiness on the part of the installer.
- Incorrect Business Information. Make sure that the person giving you a quote for service actually works for the company doing installation! Check the contact information on the quote against what’s listed on the business’ website or their Google business page to verify that the information is correct (some scammers might impersonate other companies to trick you into giving them financial information or paying them outright).
- “Final” Price Quotes Without Inspections. Some companies might offer a ‘preliminary’ price quote based just on the measurements of your windows as a placeholder, but if the quote is supposed to be ‘final’ and they haven’t actually checked your window openings, there’s a high chance that you’ll see some extra surcharges once installation begins to cover ‘unplanned expenses.’
By getting multiple quotes from reputable companies, you can compare them and see what the outliers are. It also gives you a chance to get a broader range of perspectives and information that you can use moving forward.
How to Get the Best Vinyl Replacement Windows: Reach Out to Karoly Windows & Doors!
Want to get the best vinyl replacement windows for your home? Reach out to Karoly Windows & Doors and request a price quote!
We’ll send a window installation expert out to your home to not only measure your window openings and check conditions at the job site, they’ll consult with you about your window options, giving you personalized information and advice to help you get the best vinyl replacement windows to fit your needs and wants.
We’ll even match other window installation companies’ quotes because we’re confident that you won’t find a better deal elsewhere. And if we can’t match the price, we’ll tell you why so you go into your window replacement with full awareness.
Request a quote today to get started!
