Newspaper
Windows
Today’s News-Herald
In the wilting desert heat, even window frames can sag.That’s why I recommend that homeowners buy windows that are made from wood, but covered on the exterior side of the frame with durable aluminum.
Aluminum-clad wood windows have wood interior frames that you can stain or paint to match the color of your room. But on the outside, you never have to paint them. The aluminum comes with a permanent enamel coating that saves you the trouble.
It’s true that wood exteriors are beautiful, but they tend to deteriorate under the punishing Arizona sun.
That’s doubly true for vinyl windows. If you live in the desert, a vinyl window will “smile” at you in no time—that is, the metal will begin to sag and bow, like a smile.
At that point, the window will be the only one smiling.
If you’re ready to replace your old, inefficient windows, these tips might help you as you shop.
- The latest window creations are made from fiberglass, which has a low expansion and contraction rate, so it performs well in the desert.
- Buy a window with two panes of glass instead of one (“double-glazed” rather than “single glazed”). Double-glazed windows are twice as energy-efficient as single. Triple-glazed windows are even more efficient, but they’re so expensive it can take 10 years or more to recoup their cost in energy savings.
- In between each glass pane in a double-glazed window is a thin air space that acts like an extra layer of insulation. Look for a window with an air space that’s at least 5/8 of an inch thick. Air spaces of more than an inch don’t make a window more efficient.
- Decide if you want the manufacturer to fill that air space with Argon gas, which is even more efficient than air as an insulator. Keep in mind that the gas isn’t a permanent filler; it slowly leaks out over time, so eventually, your air space will be filled with nothing but air.
- Make sure your new windows feature a “low-E”—for low-emissivity—coating. That helps keep your heated air in the house when you’re running the furnace on chilly evenings.
- A newer version of the “low-E” coating is called “southern low-E,” and it’s an even better choice for us because it helps keep the heat out of the house when the weather is warm.
- Look for the Energy Star label, which proves that the window meets rigorous energy-efficiency standards set by the federal government.
Rosie Romero has been in the Arizona home-building and remodeling industry for 35 years. He has a radio program from 8 – 11 a.m. on Saturdays. Tune in by visiting www.ktar.com, or call in by dialing (888) ROSIE-4-U. For more do-it-yourself tips, go to www.RosieOnTheHouse.com.
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