Looking for new windows for your home? There is a figurative cornucopia of brands to choose from: PGT Windows, Simonton, CWS, EAS… too many to cover them all in depth in a single blog.
When shopping for new windows, there are numerous factors to consider, such as price, appearance, functionality, durability, energy efficiency, and noise cancellation, just to name a few. Balancing the features and durability you need against your budget can be a challenge.
Having recently compared PGT Windows to CWS, let’s continue to compare window manufacturers by discussing EAS Windows and how they compare to PGT:
EAS vs PGT Windows: Price
One of the first things you probably want to know about an impact window regardless of manufacturer is the window’s price. Installing new windows can be costly, and finding the best price for windows can make it easier to get this important home upgrade completed.
So, what’s the average cost of a window from Eastern Architectural Systems compared to an average PGT impact window? It’s hard to be specific, since prices changed depending on window style, additional options/features, and the installer.
On average, EAS windows are noted to be lower-priced than PGT windows when comparing similar styles of window. Replacement Window Reviews rates EAS as a good fit for “consumers looking for a decent impact window without paying an arm and a leg.”
Winner: EAS is the budget-conscious option… at least in the short term. These windows will have a lower installation cost compared to similar models from PGT.
EAS vs PGT Windows: Curb Appeal
It’s not enough to just have a strong or energy-efficient window… you need a window that looks good, too! The look of your new window should complement your home and enhance its curb appeal, not detract from it! It’s one of the key reasons to use impact windows rather than install storm shutters!
Part of ensuring that your windows mesh with your home is finding windows that have color and material options that match your home.
EAS offers several styles of windows:
- Single Hung Windows in Aluminum & Vinyl
- Casement Windows in Vinyl
- Horizontal Roller Windows in Aluminum & Vinyl
- Picture Windows in Aluminum & Vinyl (Custom shapes available)
- Awning Windows in Vinyl
The colors available for EAS windows vary by type. For example, single hung windows do not list any color options for the frame, but their casement windows have three color options (White, Desert Sand, and Bronze Exterior/White Interior).
Meanwhile, PGT’s impact windows are available in four different frame colors (bronze, white, clear anodize, and black). They also offer a wide range of glass tints to complement any home.
Winner: PGT windows has a larger variety of color options for their window frames, making it easier to find a window that enhances your home’s curb appeal. With fewer color options, EAS may have a harder time matching your home.
EAS vs PGT Windows: Functionality
Another critical question for any replacement window you install is whether the manufacturer offers windows with the functionality you need or want. The victor in this category will be the company that offers the wider variety of windows that are impact-rated.
As noted in the previous section, EAS offers five kinds of impact windows: Single-hung, casement, horizontal roller, picture, and awning windows, per their brochure, though their website also highlights a double-hung window option.
Meanwhile, PGT offers:
- Casement Windows (Picture, standard, and Architectural)
- Awning Windows
- Double-Hung Windows
- Picture Windows
- Horizontal Roller Windows
- Single-Hung Windows
Winner: PGT offers a slightly wider range of window styles compared to EAS. They offer casement window options that EAS does not, which may be helpful for homeowners with window spaces that have a non-standard shape and still want openable windows for them.
EAS vs PGT Windows: Hardware (Locks, Etc.)
The hardware on your window goes a long way to enhancing its functionality and appearance. Both EAS and PGT outsource the manufacture of their hardware to third party vendors.
EAS’ website notes that they partner with four other companies for various components of their windows: Cardinal Glass Industries, Deceuninck North America, PPG Industries, and Sapa Extrusions North America. However, it doesn’t specify what these partnerships do for EAS.
Cardinal and PPG are both glass and glass specialty products companies. Sapa is an extruded aluminum company, and Deceuninck is a design, compounding, tools, and extrusion company.
Winner: Tie. Both companies outsource their hardware, which makes finding replacement parts a bit easier, but also means that the quality control of those components are not being handled ‘in-house’ for either company.
EAS vs PGT Windows: Durability/Impact Resistance
For any Florida homeowner, the durability of your windows matters. With the annual storms that blow through the state, you need tough windows that can take a few hits from flying objects or heavy pressure from strong gusts of wind without breaking.
A key way of expressing the toughness of a window is with design pressure (DP). This is a figure that has both a positive and negative value to represent a window’s resistance to windward (positive) pressure pushing on the window and leeward (negative) pressure that pulls on the window from the other side.
EAS puts specific design pressure tolerances in their brochure for their impact-rated vinyl and aluminum windows. Depending on the specific window, the design pressure of the window can vary from +/- 50 PSF on the low end to +120/-150 on the high end for their largest aluminum impact windows.
PGT windows put out a tech guide providing detailed information about the design pressure tolerances of their products. For their WinGuard line of windows, there are three specific window products that have +/-50 PSF design pressure ratings: the smallest picture window, awning window, and casement window under the non-Miami-Dade NOA-certified windows.
Most of the rest of the PGT line has +70/-110 PSF design pressure tolerances. This is in line with the advertised DP ratings of EAS’ product lines.
Winner: EAS advertises a higher design pressure rating for some of its windows than PGT. However, PGT puts out more detailed and specific information about their windows, including the specific testing standards each product was put through and both companies have comparable average DP ratings. It’s a toss-up.
EAS vs PGT Windows: Noise Cancellation
PGT Windows has done testing to certify that their windows offer up to a 65% reduction in noise from exterior sources like barking dogs and traffic.
EAS, meanwhile, does not make a specific claim about their windows’ noise reduction capabilities in their brochure, making it difficult to make a comprehensive determination of how well their windows reduce noise.
Winner: PGT by default until EAS manages to conduct robust soundproofing tests of their window products.
EAS vs PGT Windows: Insulation Quality (U Factor & SHGC)
Energy efficiency is a key metric for any new window for Florida homeowners. Being able to keep your home cool without needing to run the air conditioner as hard can be a big money-saver. So, you’ll want to examine the energy efficiency statistics of any windows you plan to install.
The two biggest energy efficiency metrics to track are U-Factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC). U factor measures how well the window insulates against external temperatures while SHGC measures how much of the sun’s heat is allowed to pass through the window into the home. Both figures are measured from 0 (best) to 1 (worst).
EAS windows has a Glass Values spec sheet that specifies the U-factor and SHGC values of their windows. For comparison’s sake, we’ll only compare their Bertha window line, which is their line of windows created specifically for energy efficiency.
The lowest U-factor listed for any window in the spec sheet is 0.26 for their “Bertha 176” picture window when it has one of the E366 glass packs. Most of the rest of their “Bertha” window line of products with the E366 glass packs falls between 0.27 and 0.34 U factor.
The glass packs that lack the E366 glass are higher than 0.40 U factor rating, making them unqualified for ENERGY STAR 7.0 in Florida.
The SHGC values of their Bertha line of windows with the E366 glass range from 0.14 to 0.23., Without the E366 glass, the SHGC value of the “Bertha” windows can be as high as 0.60.
According to PGT’s Energy Performance chart, their vinyl impact windows and doors have, when given the Low-E coating and an argon gas fill, have a U factor rating between 0.24 and 0.33—making them all ENERGY STAR 7.0 compliant. Their SHGC ratings fall between 0.15 and 0.33.
Even when air filled instead of argon gas filled, the WinGuard windows with the worst energy efficiency values still have a U factor 0.37 and an SHGC of 0.34.
Winner: PGT because you can get any WinGuard product from their line and know that it’s ENERGY STAR 7.0 compliant. With EAS, you have to be a bit more careful which windows you choose even within their “energy efficient” product line, because they will vary from compliant to non-compliant with Florida’s energy efficiency requirements.
PGT Windows: The Clear Choice!
So, which is best for your home: PGT Windows or EAS Windows. Given the choice between the two, any of our in-house installation technicians would choose PGT Windows over EAS.
While EAS windows are more affordable for the homeowner on a budget, the cost difference isn’t large enough to overcome the advantages in consistency, energy efficiency, and curb appeal that PGT’s WinGuard line of products offers to consumers.
However, for homeowners looking to upgrade a lot of windows at once or on a tight budget, EAS windows are an acceptable option—if you exercise caution when picking out your windows to ensure that you’re getting the right windows from EAS to meet all of your impact and energy efficiency requirements.
Need to replace the windows in your home? Reach out to Karoly Windows & Doors to request a quote for service today! Whether you need to enhance your home’s energy efficiency or secure it against the next big storm, we have the perfect window and door solutions for you. All of our installations are backed by our Platinum Standard Lifetime Guarantee, so you can rest easy knowing you can rely on the windows we install!
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