Door and Window Plus

You probably already know why you want new, energy-efficient, low-maintenance windows in your home. The only question is, what type and brand of windows should you invest in? In this section, Door & Window Plus will help you answer this question by covering the following topics:

Window anatomy & glossary
Window styles
Construction materials
Warranty comparison
Installation considerations

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Cladding: A material (often aluminum) secured to the exterior faces of wood windows to create a more durable, low-maintenance surface.

Frame: The outside member of a window unit that encloses the sash. Composed of side jambs, head jamb, and sill.

Glazing (pane): The glass panes or lites in the sash of a window.

Grid: Ornamental or simulated muntins and bars that don't actually divide the lites of glass. Thin pieces of aluminum can be placed between the glass panes of a double-pane system or can attach on the inside of the window to create the appearance of windows made with smaller panes of glass, known as "divided lites."

Insulating glass (IG): A combination of two or more panes of glass with a hermetically sealed air space between them, which may or may not be filled with an inert glass. Low-E insulating glass comes with a special low emissisivity coating to restrict the flow of radiant heat.

Lite: A single frame of glass in a window or door.

Sash: The moveable framework into which glass is set. It slides in the frame of the window in grooves provided in the frame and is composed of stiles (sides) and rails (top/bottom).

Sill: The bottom portion of the window frame.

Weatherstripping: Metal, plastic, or felt strips designed to seal a window sash and frame to prevent air and water leakage.


Picture/ Geometric A fixed window that cannot be opened or moved. Designed for breathtaking views without obstruction	Casement Provides maximum ventilation with generous viewing area.	Horizontal Slider Most popular window style. Provides good ventilation, is easily operated, and easily maintained.	Single/Double Hung Good for a more traditional look or taller windows. In single hung windows only the bottom sash is movable, while in double hung they both move.	Awning Often placed over or under picture windows for ventilation.

Window construction materials

Wood windows are the most energy efficient; they are still the best insulation framing can offer. Wood is structural, so less is needed--which means less frame and more view. Wood windows also retain more resale value. Nothing adds as much elegance as wood--and there are also wood/aluminum clad windows that offer all the beauty of wood inside without all the maintenance outside.

Energy-efficient vinyl windows offer insulating performance almost equal to wood. They are low maintenance; they'll never need paint and won't flake, peel, or chip. At half the cost of wood windows, they allow you to stretch your investment or add more natural light to your home. They come in a wide variety of shapes, styles, and colors to fit your needs and wants, and most of the products we carry include a Manufacturer's Lifetime Guarantee.

Fiberglass windows are the next generation of window technology. As energy efficient and low-maintenance as vinyl, but structurally strong like wood, fiberglass offers the best of both worlds. Fiberglass windows also come prefinished from the factory, but can be repainted any color to match the changing look of your home. Fiberglass windows cost about the same wood windows.

Window warranty comparison

Note: Nuances in the individual manufacturer warranties not represented in this table. Tarnish of metal finishes are generally not considered a defect. Please check with your sales consultant for warranty details; always ask to see the window warranty. Door & Window Plus, Inc., is not reponsible for any changes in warranty or errors in the information provided.

Manufacturer	Vinyl Warranty	Labor Warranty	Parts Warranty	Glass Breakage	Screen Warranty	Transferability
Anlin	Lifetime	10 years	20 years	n/a	n/a	20 years
Amerimax	Lifetime	20 years except glass breakage	Lifetime	Lifetime - no labor	Lifetime	Lifetime
Atrium	Lifetime	10 years	10 years	n/a	n/a	Lifetime
CertainTeed	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	n/a	n/a	20 years
Comfort Design	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime		Lifetime
IWC	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	n/a		not transferable
Jeld-wen	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	n/a	Lifetime	10 years
Marvin	10 years	10 years	10 years	n/a	10 years	not transferable
Milgard	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	n/a	1 year	10 years
Pella Thermastar	Lifetime	2 years	10 years	n/a	n/a	not transferable
Polybau	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	n/a	n/a	not transferable
Simonton	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime
Superior	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	1 year	10 years
WindowMaster	Lifetime	Lifetime	Lifetime	n/a		10 years

Installation considerations

New windows can be installed two ways: nail-on method or the retrofit method. The California market is dominated by installations of the retrofit variety.

A retrofit installation does not completely remove your old wood or aluminum window from your home. In this method, only the sashes are removed, the old window frame is left in the building, and a new retrofit window is inserted into the existing opening. This method has the following advantages: quick installation, no stucco damage to repair and no painting to perform. However, you do lose a few inches of daylight, and the new window frame sits inside the old window frame. This method makes up about 95% of all our installations.

A nail-on (or new construction) installation begins with the complete removal of your existing windows, including the surrounding stucco. Then a new window is screwed on to the wall studs. Flashing paper is then applied to the outside and new stucco patched. You will need to find a painter to touch-up and paint the interior drywal and exterior stucco. This process is the most time-consuming and expensive installation method. Most people chose this process if they have leaking windows or if they want to maximize their daylight area.