Windows and Doors

Exterior Renovations LLC has partnered with Milgard windows and doors company to provide our clients with the greatest selection of windows and doors available at the best price. Buying direct from Milgard means we can provide you with a top quality window without the middleman. All Milgard windows and doors come with a lifetime warranty. After making your decision on what type of windows you like, one of our professional installers will be there to expertly install the windows. You can be assured that your home has quality windows that will last you and your family a lifetime.

Five steps for selecting a window

• Frame type: Which frame is right for you – Fiberglass, Vinyl, or Woodclad?
  


• Styles and configurations: Each window has a specific purpose or advantage. For example, horizontal sliders are popular for their ease of use and contemporary style. Or perhaps a picture window for maximum visibility is to your liking. You can also combine different styles, shapes and sizes of windows to create a unique look.
  


• Glass and Grids: the glass you choose is as important as the frame it’s in. the right glass can control the sun’s heat, reduce harmful UV rays that fade carpet and furniture, and can even lower your energy bills. Optional grids can create a distinctive look for every room.
  


• Hardware Options: All Mligard window hardware is tailor made for our systems, so you can select a design that’s ideal for you. All of our window hardware meets, or exceeds, the strictest forced entry codes – providing safety and security for your family year –round.
  


• Specialty Windows: Looking to add a signature touch to your home or want more natural light to brighten your surroundings? A specialty window, such as a dramatic bay or bow window, may be just what you’re looking for.

Components
Windows and doors are compromised of many different components, each performing a key function. Below is a glossary of components:
	Head : The main horizontal part forming the top of the window or door frame Jamb: The main vertical parts forming the sides of a window or door frame Sill: The main horizontal part forming the bottom of the frame of a window or door Frame: The combination of head, jambs, and sill to form a precise opening in which a window sash or door panel fits Glass: A framed sheet of glass within a window or door frame Grilles: Any bar that divides window or door glass. Also called a muntin, grid or windowpane divider. Sash: A single assembly of stiles (sides) and rails (top and bottom) made into a frame for holding glass. Glazing: Occurs when the manufacturer hermetically seals two panes of glass together, leaving a small airspace between the two.

New Construction Vs. Replacement

New Construction windows are generally used in new construction projects where siding and trim haven’t been installed. All typically have a nail fin to secure the window to the wall. When homes are built, the framing is likely constructed of wood studs. The nail fin rests against the outside of the stud, and nails or screws are driven through the holes in the fin. All other exterior materials are then applied and butted up to the frame of the window or trim.

New Construction windows can be used in a replacement project. The exterior materials, such as window trim (if it exists), siding, stucco, or flashing, are removed, exposing the wood stud. The new window is then installed as it would have been when the home was built. Exposing the original studs also allows your contractor to see potential damage (typically rot) or home settling that may have occurred. The damage can be repaired, and the new window installed with proper insulation to minimize air infiltration between the new window and the studs. As you can imagine, this method can be more time consuming so often costs more than other replacement methods. In most cases, interior trim also has to be removed thus needing replacement.

Replacement (Retrofit) windows have been developed as a labor and cost cutting alternative. Typically the method of replacement window used in the Midwest is a “block frame” or insert replacement window. This is typically found where wood windows are in place, and the exterior is siding or brick. In most parts of the country, the block frame window is simply a new construction window frame with the nail fin removed. In this method, the sashes “guts” of the windows are removed, leaving the existing frame behind. A new “block frame” window is installed inside the existing frame and “butted” into the existing jams. The exterior wood is typically then “cladded” in an aluminum wrap. Proper inspection will need to happen to ensure there’s been no damage to the studs and there is proper insulation and flashing before using this type of window.

Window Styles

There are many styles available in windows and doors. These many styles can be used in combinations of the same window, such as a bank of casement windows, or you can mix it up, such as a picture window flanked by two casement windows.

No one home window and door is perfect for every application. Some are more suitable for capturing light or fresh air. Others lend themselves well to designing with shapes, using a variety of windows to make an interesting configuration.

Whether considering windows and doors for replacement or new construction, you will probably discover that you need different types. Below is a list of many of the common windows and doors used today.

• Single Hung Window: Traditional in appearance, slides vertically, reminiscent of old style sash windows.
  


• Double Hung Window: Traditional look and performance – both top and bottom sashes open
  


• Horizontal slider window: Popular for satisfying bedroom egress requirements and for easy opening over counters and sinks
  


• Picture Window: Maximizes a view. Combine with one or more operating windows for ventilation.
  


• Arch Window/Radius window: Creates dramatic effects and makes a striking door transom because of the curve.
  


• Casement window: Excellent ventilation with no rail to obstruct views. Use in banks or to flank picture windows.
  


• Awning window: Hinged on the top to tilt outward and to enable ventilation even during bad weather.
  


• Garden window: Brings sunshine, outdoor views and air into your kitchen. Perfect for plants and herbs.
  


• Bay Window: Provides a focal point to formal rooms and adds a feeling of spaciousness.
  


• Bow Window: Similar to a bay window, but composed of four or more windows joined at equal angles to form a more even curve.
  


• Skylight: Lets the light pour in from the sky and is a great way to went attic rooms.
  


• Sliding Door: An affordable, space saving way to bring in the view.
  


• French Style sliding door: Traditional look, but with spacing saving design and operation.
  


• French door, In swing: Traditional look and performance with panels that swing in.
  


• French door, out swing: Traditional look and performance with panels that swing out.

Energy efficient windows and doors

There are several components involved in the making of an Energy efficient window and door. Most will have at a minimum: Double pane insulated glass, Heat Resistant (low E) glass coating, airtight frames, and energy star rating.

An energy efficient window is a synergy of its components. With Milgard windows and doors, they call this the “three dimensions of energy efficient window design” Here’s what you should look for in each of the three dimensions: glass, spacer and frame.

• Frame: One of the important considerations you need to make is frame material. Two of the more energy efficient frame materials are vinyl and fiberglass. They do a particularly good job of reducing heat transfer and contributing to insulation value. Your ultimate decision on which of these to use may be based on aesthetics and cost. In making your selection, be sure to look for vinyl or fiberglass frames that have been specifically engineered for performance. For instance, both can be designed with chambers within the frame that enhance strength, noise reduction and insulation value.
  


• Glass: Dual-pane designs use an air – or – gas filled space between two panes of glass. This insulates much better than a single pane. Special Low E-coating on the glass blocks infrared light to keep heat inside in the winter and outside in the summer. It also filters damaging ultraviolet light (UV) to help protect interior furnishings from fading. Most dual pane windows will have an Argon gas fill between the panes
  


• Spacer: A spacer keeps a windows dual glass panes the correct distance apart for optimal airflow between panes. Too much or too little airflow can affect the insulating glass efficiency. The design and material of the spacer also can make a difference in the ability to handle expansion and contraction and thus reducing condensation. Most traditional aluminum box spacers use desiccant and sealant to divide two panes of glass and help ensure energy efficiency. Desiccant is a drying agent that is placed inside the panes of glass in a double or triple pane window, to absorb any moisture that may get between the glass panes. With Milgard’s EdgeGard MAX they have taken the worries of expansion, contraction, and condensation out of the equation with an advanced all foam design. With this all foam design, Milgards spacer now has the ability to expand and contract with the dramatic changes in temperature with a much less chance of seal failure or stress cracks. Milgards EdgeGard MAX all reduces noise transfer up to 18 percent over all traditional metal spacers!

The last element of energy efficient windows and doors is typically measured in U-Factors and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). These two are usually determined through a combination of the frame and glass.

U - Factor

Most people are familiar with R-Value in terms of insulation in walls and ceilings. R-Value is a measurement of a products resistance to heat loss; therefore a product with a higher R-Value means it has a higher resistance to heat loss.

Windows are very different from insulation in walls and ceilings. Windows let the light in and allow people to see out, and they interact with their environment in ways that insulation does not. They react to outside air temperatures, sunlight, and wind, as well as indoor air temperatures and occupant use. Windows are strongly affected by solar radiation and the airflow around them. R-value does not accurately reflect this interaction. Therefore, the window industry measures the energy efficiency of their products in terms of thermal transmission or U factor. U- factor measures the rate of heat transfer through a product. Therefore, the lower the amount of heat loss, and the better a product is at insulating a building.

The biggest difference between U-factor and R value is that U-factor measures the rate of heat transfer (or loss) while R-value measures the resistance to heat loss. R-value is a measure of conductivity.

A product with high conductivity will transfer heat quickly, like a hot pan on the stove or a single pane of glass on a cold day. U-factor, on the other hand, takes into account more than conductivity. It also is affected by the airflow around the window and the emissivity of the glass.

Emissivity is the ability of a product to absorb certain types of energy (specifically infrared) and radiate that energy through itself and out of a room. A product with high emissivity, such as one pane of clear glass, will transfer over 84 percent of the infrared energy from a warm room outside to the cold air. The lower the conductivity and emissivity of the glass, the lower the rate of heat loss and the lower the U-factor. Typical U-factor ratings in most windows and doors generally fall between .20 and 1.20.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient is the measure of a fraction of solar radiation admitted through a window, door, or skylight – transmitted directly and/or absorbed, and subsequently released as heat inside a home. The lower the SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits and the greater shading ability. A product with a high SHGC rating is more effective at collecting solar heat gain during the winter. A product with a low SHGC rating is more effective at reducing cooling loads during the summer by blocking heat gained from the sun. Therefore, what SHGC you need for a window, door, or skylight should be determined by such factors as your climate, orientation, and external shading.

Choosing a Low E coated glass will help improve both the U-factor and SHGC by deflecting heat to its source both inside the home and out.

For more information, please visit anyone of the following websites for more information.

www.milgard.com
www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/windows.html
www.nfrc.org – the facts about windows and heat loss