Are you a San Diego homeowner who has been wanting to replace your old windows and doors with new ones? Are your old windows and doors difficult to open, or do they no longer lock as they should? Can you feel the heat and cold coming into your home through the glass or through gaps around them?
You may be wondering if it really matters which brand of replacement windows and doors you have installed in your home. After all, many of the windows and doors sold in San Diego look pretty much the same. Many have vinyl frames and two panes of glass. They all claim to be “energy efficient.” Most of them come with some sort of warranty. So, shouldn’t you just choose the cheapest windows and doors you can find and call it a day?
Not necessarily.
The level of quality in the windows and doors sold in San Diego can vary quite a bit. Although they all look great in stores or in showrooms, the cheaper windows and doors can start to break down after only a few years when exposed to UV rays and other elements—especially the salty air, if you live near the coast. Cheaper windows can also experience seal failure, which will negatively affect the insulating abilities of the windows.
In addition, higher quality windows and doors have a good amount of technology built into them that is not always readily apparent to the untrained eye. They will have things like multiple layers of low-E coatings on the glass to help keep out the heat and cold, a special gas (like Argon or Krypton) in between the two panes of glass, sound suppression technology, vinyl frames that are infused with titanium dioxide for added strength and durability, and more.
The key to choosing the best windows and doors for your San Diego home is to get beyond the generic claims of “quality” and “energy efficient” that every window and door company makes. Fortunately, there are standardized metrics in the window and door industry. The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) tests many of the windows and doors on the market and rates their performance with regard to their insulating properties, air leakage, and condensation. The NFRC label, which you will find on almost all windows and doors on the market, provides you with an easy way to compare windows and doors in San Diego.
Another way to compare products is to work with a knowledgeable and honest window and door expert in San Diego. A company like BM Windows in San Diego has made it their mission to educate San Diego homeowners on windows and doors in an effort to provide them with products that best meet their needs and fit within their budgets. BM Windows owner Michal Bohm says, “There are so many similar-looking products on the market that it can be overwhelming to many homeowners. Part of what we do is help homeowners compare products. We are honest with them about how various windows and doors will perform in their homes and how they will hold up long term. As much as we want to make a sale, we also want our customers to be happy with their purchase from us. The best way we know to do that is to provide them with honest, helpful information, and great service.”
As far as the brands of windows that Bohm recommends, he says, “Anlin and Monte Verde windows and doors are great choices for San Diego homeowners. Both of those brands make solid windows and doors that are energy efficient, durable, and come with great warranties.”
