Windows

Upgrading your windows has many long-lasting benefits for your home both functional and cosmetic. From upping your home’s value to improving your home’s energy efficiency, lowering your heating and cooling bills, upgrading your home’s style, and increasing its safety from unwanted intruders. Unfortunately, good quality windows can be an expensive investment that many Toronto homeowners just can’t afford in this recovering economy.

With many discount windows scammers out there all too willing to take advantage of desperate homeowners, it’s difficult to know where to turn for cheap deals that won’t break the bank. After all, you don’t want to be left with a poorly insulted or badly constructed window that turns your home into an igloo come winter.

There are an almost overwhelming number of factors to consider when buying windows – from styles to glass type to installation to insulation – and it’s difficult to know where you have room to compromise and where you really should not. After 15 years in the business, the experts here at Toronto Doors and Windows know a thing or two about how to sniff out a good window replacement deal. Read on to discover how you can get better quality discount windows for less.

Six Tips for Finding the Best Deals on Discount Windows

1. Go With the No-Names

Many name brands charge more even for their lower-quality windows because they know they can get away with it. People are drawn to familiar names, especially those that are usually associated with quality. Often, better deals can be had when you go with the no-name windows. No-names will usually give you higher-quality discount windows for a lower price.

2. Shop Out of Season

When windows are open all day and night during the balmy summer, many homeowners often forget about them completely. It’s only when it’s the middle of January and they’re huddled up in layers of blankets staring at their heating bill in horror that they stop to think that maybe, something should be done. If you’re looking for insulating windows that will lower your energy costs and improve your home’s insulation, the hottest day of the summer is often the best time to shop. Window companies are more likely to have massively discounted sales when their products are not in high demand.

3. Compromise on Special Features

Energy efficiency may be the biggest buzzword in the window industry at the moment. Make no mistake, energy efficiency is important in these days of melting polar ice caps and sky-high utility costs, but sometimes, it’s best to compromise on just how far you need to go. Although triple pane windows are the most insulating option on the market today, many homeowners opt for double pane windows that are less expensive but still energy efficient. Another great way to save is to only install triple pane windows on the north side of your home to withstand the coldest winds or to opt for cheaper argon gas in between panes rather than krypton.

4. Stick with the Tried-and-True

While bow and bay windows with seats and ornate embedded Victorian window grills are gorgeous, they’re decidedly not the best option for a family on a budget. The cheapest window options are those old standards: casement, sliders, double-hung, and fixed windows. Although not the most aesthetically adventurous, these common styles are classic and can easily be personalized with a little paint or interesting curtains or blinds. While they may not be as fancy, your new discount windows will still look far better than your old panes.

5. Buy Vinyl Windows

These days, vinyl doesn’t refer to those old records collecting dust in your basement, but to inexpensive and good quality vinyl windows. While wood is classic and fiberglass is high-tech, neither material factors in while buying discount windows. Vinyl windows are completely affordable, surprisingly durable, require little maintenance, are great insulators, and can be painted to look just as stylish as the rest of them.

6. Always Negotiate

If you’re really in a jam, the best way to get discount windows is to negotiate the price with the company. Could you get a lower price if you buy a certain number of windows? How about if you hire them to do the installation? Every window company expects their customers to negotiate, and are more than likely relieved when they don’t. You should always counter offer with a price that’s lower than what you’d actually be willing to pay. Hopefully, you and the windows company will find that sweet spot of compromise somewhere in the middle.

Still wondering where to get the best deals on discount windows? Stop by Toronto Doors and Windows to browse our extensive window selection, ask for expert advice on cost saving, and receive free estimates on window installation.

As the old saying goes, if you take care of something, it will last longer. This is just as true for the vinyl windows in your Toronto home. Your quality vinyl replacement windows are built to last a long time anyway, but factors like weather can have an effect on their life expectancy. Just like the vinyl siding on a house, vinyl clad windows need regular cleaning and inspection to ensure that they are still in good shape to keep doing their job right. That job, of course, is to provide lighting and ventilation for your Toronto home, as well as provide a satisfactory thermal barrier to insulate inside from outside.

The Dos and Don’ts & vinyl windows

• Don’t use abrasive cleaners. These can not only damage the vinyl cladding on your windows, but also the seals that keep your windows airtight.
• Don’t use strong chemical cleaners, like engine degreaser or oven cleaner, as these will also damage the material of your windows.
• Don’t use anything that will scratch, gouge, or otherwise damage the windows to clean them. This includes razor blade scrapers or steel wool.
• Don’t try to clean your windows with any type of high-pressure water sprayer like a power washer. This high water pressure can damage the seals or even lift the vinyl cladding, causing loss of seal, or corrosion to the underlying metal components.
• Don’t lubricate your windows with any type of oil-based lubricant, such as WD-40, because they can attract dirt.
• Don’t attempt to paint or lacquer your vinyl windows.

In attempting to take care of your windows, the last thing you would want to do is shorten their lives.

• Start with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth.
• Refer to your manufacturer’s paperwork or manual for the approved cleaning methods.
• Use a silicone based spray lubricant, if lubrication is necessary.
• To safely clean screens, use the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
• Stick with a regular, over the counter, ammonia based window cleaner for the tough spots.

If you do have some tough spots that need extra attention, try a little hydrogen peroxide, again applied with a soft cloth, to clean away spots, then re-clean the window in the traditional manner. Note, you don’t want to leave any residue that may contain substances that will corrode the vinyl cladding. Using a power washer to clean your replacement vinyl windows, in most cases, will void the manufacturer’s warranty. Your windows are not designed to withstand the levels of water pressure your power washer can produce, and losing a seal on a multi-pane window can produce fogging between the panes.
If you feel your windows need a little more than just Windex, a regular household surface cleaner like Fantastik or 409 can help, but don’t be tempted to use anything with even the mildest abrasive agent, like SotfScrub, because even minor scratching will do permanent, irreversible damage. Furniture polish, cleaners containing organic solvents, nail polish remover, paint thinner and chlorine bleach are potentially damaging to the vinyl surface as well, so don’t take unnecessary risks.

Vinyl Windows: What Works and What Doesn’t

If you are thinking about painting the vinyl trim on your replacement windows, don’t do it. Paints and varnish can weaken the vinyl cladding, causing it to lift away from the metal, exposing it to the elements, causing corrosion on parts that were never meant to see the light of day. Keep in mind, most types of paint will not adhere to vinyl or plastics anyway, and will blister, flake and peel, making your windows look worse, instead of better.
Using a paint scraper, steel wool or heavy duty cleaning pad like Scotchbrite may scratch the glass or the vinyl. A nice gouge in the seal around the glass may cause “seal failure” which not only fogs the window and voids the warranty, but completely defeats the window’s energy efficiency. These windows are designed with two or more panes of glass with an inert gas between them to prevent conduction of heat or cold from one side of the window to the other. With your home’s heating and cooling bills hanging in the balance, don’t make any hasty decisions about cleaning them.
You will also want to keep the tracks clean to prevent dirt and debris from causing unnecessary wear, or clogging the tracks. A stiff bristled nylon brush, along with some soapy water, will get these tracks clean without much fuss. Remember, if you believe these tracks need some lubrication, stick with silicone based lubricant spray that won’t attract dirt the way petroleum based products do.

Keep It Sweet and Simple

Your vinyl windows are specifically designed to be low-maintenance, and easy to keep clean. Don’t over-think the cleaning process when a little soapy water will work just fine. It is always a good idea to consult your manufacturer’s paperwork or warranty information when you have questions regarding the care and use of your vinyl replacement windows, and if you have a question that isn’t covered, don’t hesitate to look for a toll-free number to call. Most manufacturers include contact information for this exact reason.
If you think your vinyl window has sustained damage from some other source, call the manufacturers immediately to help determine the best course of action. Your vinyl replacement windows aren’t cheap, and if there is a problem that may be covered by the warranty, you will want to get it taken care of as quickly as possible. Remember, it’s all about making your vinyl replacement windows last as long as you can, so don’t cut corners or look for shortcuts. Honestly, the easiest thing you can do is, while watering the lawn or spraying down the vinyl siding, give your windows a quick spray with the garden hose. This will work better than you might expect. And also remember if you are interested in vinyl windows for your Toronto home or office, call Toronto Doors and Windows. We’ll be happy to help!

Get your vinyl windows from Toronto doors & windows – call now!

 

There are several reasons why people in the Greater Toronto area need replacement windows, and each case is as individual as a snowflake. Some homeowners, during the planning stages of a remodel or renovation, will decide replacement windows will add value, stylish looks, and increased energy efficiency to their project. A growing family with young children may decide that their family room needs to be brighter and more open and look to replacement window solutions to achieve this goal.

For the myriad reasons Toronto homeowners look for replacement windows, there are just as many, if not more, options for them to consider, and the selection process can be mind-numbing. One thing that is fairly straightforward to understand, would be the few types of installation options that go with window replacement. With few exceptions, every replacement window project will fall into one of these installation categories, and as you might expect, each has its unique advantages.

Replacement Window Options in Toronto

When replacing windows, there are only three main types of installation used. Full frame replacement/installation, pocket solution, and swing-out sash replacement.

• Full Frame Replacement – Most commonly used when changing the size or shape of the window.
• Pocket Solution – Quickly and easily replace the key parts of the window, without disturbing the interior or exterior trim.
• Swing out Sash – Replaces the smallest amount of the window assembly, without disturbing the frame, interior, or exterior trim.

Full frame replacement is the right choice when you intend to change the size or shape of a window. The existing window is removed, all the way down to the bare studs. Interior and exterior trim and siding are removed and, depending on the requirements of your new installation, the hole can now be re-cut or reshaped. When preparation is complete, the entire window assembly is placed into the new framing, and secured with a nailing track along the outer edge. Now, all interior trim and exterior siding and trim can be re-installed.
Pocket Solution installation is a less invasive method of replacing windows, in that the existing frame remains intact, and only the actual window assembly is replaced. As long as you intend to keep with the existing size and style of the window, this is an affordable and easy replacement window solution. The bracket trim of the old window is removed and the window properly cleaned and prepped, then the new window assembly is just lifted into place within the old frame, and secured by re-installing the bracket trim. It really is that easy.
Swing out Sash window replacement solutions are the least invasive of all, and besides accurate measurements, are a snap to install. The old sash (just the framed glass portion of the window) is removed and the existing frame and window track are cleaned and prepped. The replacement window is then simply lifted into place and settled into the existing track, then the whole assembly is re-secured.

Quick, Easy Window Replacement in Toronto

So many more factors will affect your window replacement decisions for your home in the Greater Toronto area than just the right installation for your needs. A huge selection of styles and materials, colors, and especially energy ratings. Your new windows can be ordered in a variety of frame styles and virtually limitless colors, making for a very challenging buyer’s decision, but when it comes to energy efficiency, this is where the data can become downright confusing.

The energy efficiency of your new windows can make a huge difference in your heating and cooling costs – according to Energy Star, it can be up to 15 percent – and while you have those windows all taken apart, it is always advisable to inspect the exposed areas for insulation and make sure everything is properly sealed with caulk and weather stripping. Your new windows may be top-rated for energy efficiency, but that won’t mean anything if air is simply leaking around it.

Window shape, trim style, color, configuration, and features will all affect your final choices, just as well as price, but rest assured a friendly, expert window replacement specialist can walk you through all the options to narrow down your choices into something a bit more manageable. When you’ve chosen the style, color, trim style and features of the new windows, it may be a good idea to talk with your window replacement guy about the window’s configuration.

Configuration, in essence, refers to how a window functions in regard to opening and closing. Other basic features become standard with certain types of installation, but the configuration you choose will have certain advantages or disadvantages to bear in mind.
Casement windows are one-piece windows that swing open from the side, while awning windows do the same, but swing from the top, creating a sort of glass awning when open. Hopper windows swing out from the bottom. All of these window configurations offer good energy efficiency, because unlike sliding windows, the window is pressed into the frame when closed, effectively sealing the entire assembly.

Hung, and double hung, windows slide in a track within the window’s frame, and generally allow a certain amount of air leakage that can affect the efficiency rating of the window. Double hung windows are convenient, because each separate sash slides up and down for more airflow options and easier cleaning and maintenance. Sliding windows are basically hung windows turned sideways, like a glass patio door, and have the same air leakage issues to consider as hung windows.

For obvious reasons, fixed installation, or “set” windows, are among the most energy efficient, because the do not open. There are usually a few different places in your Toronto area home where you could use this type of window to help with your heating and cooling bills.
Whatever replacement windows you decide on for your Toronto home, remember to call the qualified, knowledgeable specialists at Toronto Doors and Windows to help you make the right choices for you.

Call Toronto doors & windows today for replacement windows in Toronto

 

Your Toronto home is an investment, and anything you can do to save money is going to help you in the long run. Energy efficient windows are an easy way to do just that. The right windows can save you up to 15 percent on your energy bills. So just what makes an energy efficient window work to save you all that money? Here’s a little crash course.

What Makes Energy Efficient Windows Work for Your Toronto Home?

Energy efficient windows all do basically the same thing. They insulate the inside of your home from the outside. How well they accomplish this task is indicated by an efficiency rating, which is a number listed on the packaging. Your replacement window professional can help you understand what these numbers mean, and help you choose the right windows for your home or office.
Some of the numbers to look at when choosing the right energy efficient windows for your application are –

• U-Factor – This is the rate that your window transfers heat from one side to the other. The lower this number is, the better.
• SHGC – This stands for solar heat gain coefficient, and represents the amount of solar energy transmitted through the glass in the form of radiant heat. Again, the lower the better.
• VT – Visible Transmittance indicates how much visible spectrum light is allowed to pass through the glass of your windows.
• LST – Light to Solar Gain is a ratio between SHGC and VT and provides a gauge of how efficient a window is at transmitting daylight while blocking heat gain.

Energy Star claims the right energy efficient windows can lower your energy bills by 7 to 15 percent, which means your windows should be able to pay for themselves over time. Taking advantage of a window’s particular properties can make a big difference as well. For example, in passive solar applications, the south facing windows in a home are intended to aid in heating the home during the winter months. This same concept will help your energy consumption if you use windows with a higher SHGC that will allow more solar heat into your home in the winter. Overhangs or awnings over these windows will cut down on solar heat transmission in the summer.
Visible transmittance is important for your home application where your main window concern is natural lighting. Your home’s various rooms will have different lighting needs, some of which may be met most of the year with natural light, so the right VT windows in the right places will also be useful to you.
Light to Solar Gain rating will be the most important factor to consider for the summer months with regard to the rooms receiving the most natural light. These areas of your home will be brighter in the summer, but a good LST will prevent unnecessary heating.

The Right Energy Efficient Windows for the Job

As you can see, there are a great number of things that will go into choosing the right energy efficient windows for your Toronto home, and these factors may be slightly different for each different area and application of your house as well. The way energy efficient windows are constructed also affects how well they do their job, so be ready to ask pertinent questions before you make your final selections. Again, a qualified window replacement expert can help you make these decisions.
The construction and material of the window’s frame is a detail that affects the window’s U-Factor, because this is the place where the window can conduct the most heat. Glass is not particularly conductive in its own right. Most energy efficient windows are framed in aluminum or other metal alloy which is then vinyl coated to reduce the conductivity.
Besides its inherent non-conductive tendencies, the panes of the windows themselves can be coated in various compounds that either reduce visible transmittance, raise the insulation quality or provide additional solar heat gain coefficient to the windows.
Multi-pane applications basically sandwich an inert gas, like krypton, between the layers, producing non-conductive “dead air” space that virtually stops heat conduction entirely. Multi-pane windows generally have a higher U-factor and lower SHGC. These are among the more expensive windows on the market but, generally speaking, they are well worth the price.
Of course, one very important point to remember is, you can spend a fortune on the most energy efficient windows on the market, taking the time to hand pick every window for your home, making sure it will be the best one for that particular application, and none of this will do you any good if they are not properly installed. The windows must be properly sealed with caulk when they are placed in the walls, and quality weather stripping should be used as well.
And you should also put a little thought into the operation of these energy efficient windows. Some places around your home will be perfectly suited to windows that don’t open at all, while others may need to be used for lighting and ventilation during the warmer seasons. There are several different applications to consider here too. Casement windows are hinged along one side, and swing outward when they open, while awning and hopper windows do pretty much the same thing, except they swing out from the top and bottom respectively. These types of windows are more efficient than others because, the window is pressed firmly against the frame when closed, so there is less air leakage.
Sliding and hung windows are the more commonly recognized types that raise and lower, or in the case of sliding windows, open like a patio door. These generally allow a lot more air leakage, and are less energy efficient.
So it’s obvious at this point that a lot of different factors will influence your choices when selecting the right energy efficient windows for your Toronto area home. When you are ready for assistance choosing your energy efficient windows, call the pros at Toronto Doors and Windows, and we’ll be happy to help.

Call us today for your Toronto energy efficient windows needs