The Qualities of the Best Replacement Windows on the Market – Part 1: The Materials

The Qualities of the Best Replacement Windows on the Market – Part 1: The Materials

October 04, 2017

The key to a high-quality window is the material it’s made of. Windows not only need to be durable enough to withstand any type of weather conditions, they must also be aesthetically appealing.  Fibrex, a window frame material, is touted as one of the best available materials on the market today ., When coupled with low-e glass, Fibrex ensures  lasting and efficient window units.

Part 1: The Materials

What is Fibrex?

Fibrex is a composite window framing material exclusively manufactured and used by Andersen Windows and Renewal by Andersen. While it is a relatively new material that is made up of 40% wood fiber and 60% thermoplastic polymer, Fibrex has proven to be stronger and more energy-efficient than vinyl, and has the ability to block energy transfer, as well.

Fibrex frames are highly durable and come in different options to match your home’s style. Some other benefits include:

  • does not peel or flake, making repainting unnecessary.
  • does not expand, contract or warp when exposed to changing weather conditions.
  • resists fungal growth, does not decay and will not rot like wood.

Low-E Glass: Why It Matters

A high-quality window should also be fitted with low-e glass to make it energy-efficient. Low-e glass prevents infrared heat and UV rays from passing through the window. During summer, less heat from the sun passes through the glass, thus saving on cooling costs. In winter, less heat is transferred from the home, which saves on heating costs.

Although the major benefit of low-e glass is its energy-efficient properties, the material also has other advantages to offer, such as enhanced safety. Since low-E glass has a thin transparent coating, it will not shatter into bits even when hit by a hard object, making it somewhat similar to the windshield glass on cars.

Little Things Matter, Too: Hardware and Accessories

The two major materials of a window are the frame and glass, but windows also feature hardware and accessories — and a quality window certainly would not be complete without high-quality accessories. Always make sure that any hinges, handles and locks are made of a reliable metal, rather than cheap plastic material.

When searching for quality windows on the market, make sure that whatever window you choose has — at the very least — the  properties mentioned above. Regardless of your design choices, if you’re looking for windows that will last for years throughout  any type of weather conditions, then always make top-quality frames, glass and accessories your priorities.

In the next post, we’ll take a look at the features that replacement windows should have. Stay tuned!

 

Hear From Our Customers

This was a great crew to work with. Both the original install manager we worked with (Jay) and the install team (Daniel, Mason, Tony, Ethan, and Jose). Everyone was very professional and knowledgable. They answered all my questions and the end result on the house is great. In 3 days they replaced an old bay window with a new bay window, a set of french doors on the patio with a sliding patio door, and our old front door with a new front door and storm door.

Jason and Brett did an awesome job installing our doors. We had separate installers a month earlier for our windows who also did a fantastic job. They were all very professional and cleaned up almost better than the area looked before the installation! Since these were both jobs that took more than one day the installers were great at keeping us informed on the status of where the project was at along the way.

I cant express how happy we are with choosing Andersen for our window installation. Our sales representative was knowledgeable with product and answered any questions we had without hesitation. I did also fill out a survey that was sent in an email, but sadly I failed to personally name the two gentlemen that performed the actual installation. Barrett and Francisco were our guys, and let me tell you, they were outstanding!!! They did Excellent work and were professional as well as efficient and made this a smooth, none evasive process for us. I strongly recommend this company and these installers to anyone in need of windows!!! My husband and I could not be more pleased we chose Andersen for replacing our windows!!!

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