Vinyl Window Installation Guide

Windows are the eyes of the home, but over time they wear down, giving way to air leakage, cracks, and gaps. When this happens, a home may not be able to perform the important task of retaining energy. A loss of heat in the winter and air in the summer means higher energy bills, and the added cost of replacement windows.

It used to be that the majority of older homes were constructed using single pane windows. Today, manufacturers have fine-tuned the craft of vinyl window fabrication and created a more operable, energy-efficient product. In fact, most of the windows they make nowadays come with easy-to-install instructions for a do-it-yourself job that takes less time than you think.

If after inspecting your windows for major repairs, you find that you only need to add vinyl window inserts, here are a few basic tools to get you started.

Here’s what you’ll need to complete the task:

• Pliers
• Tape Measure
• Caulk and caulk gun
• Level
• Pry bar
• Utility knife
• Chisel
• Measuring tape
• Screwdriver
• Shims
• Replacement window

Start by measuring each of the windows in your home. Many vinyl windows are custom built, so if they don’t fit, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to return them. Aside from that, when vinyl windows fit properly, you reap the benefits of optimal energy savings and easier installation.

Step 1:  You’ll need to figure out the window’s width. Measure the width between the side jambs at the top, middle, and bottom. To figure out the height, measure from the top jamb to the sill. 

Step 2:  Remove the interior stop, sash, and parting stop.  You may need a pair of pliers to pry the lower section loose. If you find that the upper sash is stuck, use a chisel to loosen it. 

Step 3:  Once that’s done, it’s time to install the window. You’ll notice that the opening of the window jamb will be a little larger than your replacement window.  This space will allow you to make any necessary adjustments. It takes precision to get the frame perfectly square while making sure the sides are straight. Shim to make the window level. Once everything is lined up, tighten the screws gently to avoid warping and nail, or glue shims into place.

Step 4: Pack insulation into the area between the window and frame to lessen the chance of air escaping.

Step: 5 Spread caulk around the exterior opening between the new vinyl window and the window’s opening.      

Properly installed, vinyl window replacements can help you save thousands of dollars over the long term while keeping your home energy efficient.

About Value Windows and Doors

Value Windows and Doors specializes in vinyl replacement windows of the highest quality at the most competitive prices. If you’re looking for beautiful, energy-efficient windows at a fraction of what you’ll pay anywhere else, make Value Windows and Doors your choice. Visit our site at: valuewindowsdoors.com

Vinyl Windows Yellowing – Why It Happens

Vinyl windows are a popular feature in many homes today, both old and new. Their beautiful design characteristics, clean lines, and energy efficiency make them an attractive choice for many homeowners.

While new vinyl windows can give your home a crisp, fresh look, those once pristine white frames can begin to fade and turn yellow over time. You consider changing the color, but quickly remember that vinyl is a plastic that can’t be painted. Because vinyl is made from a material called Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, its chemical make-up doesn’t adhere well to paint. In some cases, you could void the warranty by painting over your vinyl windows, unless there are manufacturer-specific instructions for doing so.      

Quality Matters

You may be wondering why your vinyl windows began changing colors in the first place. There are several reasons why this begins to happen. Not all vinyl windows, though they may look very similar, are created equal. If your windows were manufactured with a lower quality resin, which may contain smaller amounts of titanium dioxide or pellets (a recycled material), you’ve probably experienced some change in color.  The polar blue coloring added to some frames have a tendency to yellow over time.

Different materials are used to fabricate PVC such as chemicals, fillers, plasticizers, and pigments. When used in PVC, the quality of these materials can make the difference in a window that is low-grade or one of higher quality.  When the manufacturer uses better-quality ingredients, the window is better able to maintain its original color.

Other Factors that Determine Vinyl’s Color-Keeping Ability

Another reason for vinyl windows yellowing is the integrity of the plastic. Some manufacturers use a virgin-only vinyl which they heat in order to extrude the frame. It is then cut and re-melted to extrude any scraps. Each time the material goes through this process, the integrity of the vinyl is compromised.  Extreme temperatures weaken the vinyl leaving it susceptible to UV infiltration.                                    

It’s important to make sure the manufacturer of the frames you are considering uses pure vinyl virgin resin. Companies that make premium windows often use stabilizers and impact modifiers to strengthen the frame and the pure painter’s white color ensures that your vinyl windows maintain their cast for years to come.               

About Value Windows and Doors

A premier manufacturer of vinyl windows and doors, Value Windows and Doors provides first class products at prices you can afford. We are dedicated to bringing our clients innovative designs and high-quality craftsmanship. Get the best value in premium vinyl windows and doors at Value Windows and Doors.

Related articles

• The Benefits of Vinyl Windows

Vinyl Windows vs. Wood Windows

Windows can be a source of beauty, light, and natural air. In addition to being a necessary facet of the home, they can also provide a dramatic addition to its style and architecture.

Depending on whether you need to find replacement windows or simply want to improve the overall appearance of your home, it’s best to choose windows that not only meet your needs, but suit your budget as well.

Vinyl Replacement Windows

Vinyl windows can be an inexpensive choice when you need to replace wood windows that are old and drafty. You should also consider replacing your windows when:

1. They stick
2. There is broken glass
3. The let in too much air
4. They won’t stay open on their own

In order to maintain the original structure of the home or building, your wood windows may only require simple repairs.  Because many people prefer the historic ambiance wood windows provide, there are inexpensive ways to preserve what they already have.

Economical and Environmentally Friendly

 

The options that many window companies offer are endless. Gone are the days when “replacement windows” meant ripping out the old window and installing something newer and more expensive. Now, you have the option of changing the glass and sash, while leaving the frame intact. Technology makes it possible to have energy-efficient windows that save you money, without all of the hassle involved with replacing each unit.

If you are looking for window replacements, vinyl is a material that is not only half the cost of wood, but also durable, non-corroding, and energy-efficient. Vinyl windows were initially produced around 1970, when smaller companies began making various sizes of replacement windows available, whereas manufacturers of stock wood windows could not.

Read this article to learn about benefits of vinyl windows.

Factors to Consider: Strength, Resilience, and Insulation

 

Today, vinyl windows are made, in large part, from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is a popular, maintenance-free material. Because it’s made from a substance that’s paint-resistant, it’s manufactured in white and other colors that coordinate well with neutral-colored home decor.

Not all vinyl windows are created equal. Various compounds are used when fabricating vinyl that determines the long-term performance of the window. Additives like Titanium Dioxide create heat-resistance, while windows frames with heat-welded joints provide resistance to temperature stress.           

Wood, on the other hand, is lighter than vinyl, strong, and effective at insulation. Wood windows can also be fabricated in a number of shapes and profiles and is paint-friendly, making it a popular choice among homeowners. Even today, the conventional look of wood continues to accommodate many types of architectural designs.

About Value Windows and Doors

Value Windows and Doors is a leading manufacturer of quality vinyl windows and doors. Our superior level of customer service and efficient, affordable products make Value Windows and Doors the best choice for additions or replacements for your home.     

Vinyl Windows and Energy Efficiency

The benefits of energy efficiency should be pretty obvious to most of us. But it’s always helpful to be reminded of some of the reasons why conservation of energy is important and how we can lower our carbon footprint from the comfort of our own homes.

Conservation is Key

Energy efficiency means, in a nutshell, that you use less energy to do the same job. The windows in our homes are thermal holes. During fabrication, there are many types of materials and processes that manufacturers use to not only help insulate your home, but to reduce the amount of energy that’s lost.

By purchasing vinyl windows that are energy efficient, you play a very significant role in conserving our resources. The average home loses about 30% of its heat or air-conditioning through non-energy efficient windows.

Long-Term Investment

While the out-of-pocket cost might initially be greater when installing energy-efficient vinyl windows, you save money over time because your home requires a less expensive heating and cooling system. You also spend less in maintaining and replacing windows and doors.

Today, many manufacturers that produce “energy-efficient” windows must meet certain criteria in order for their product to be ENERGY STAR qualified.

ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program that was established in 1992 to promote energy-efficient products and practice, reduce greenhouse emissions, and help consumers save on energy bills.

To meet ENERGY STAR’s rigorous governmental standards, vinyl windows must be:

1. Manufactured by an ENERGY STAR partner
2. Independently tested and certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)
3. Have NFRC ratings that meet the guidelines set by the Department of Energy (DOE)

When fabricating vinyl windows that qualify for the ENERGY STAR designation, manufacturers use different methods of technology, which include:

1. High-grade framing materials to help insulate and lower the transfer of heat
2. Dual panes with a gas-filled space for energy efficiency
3. Low-E (Low thermal emissivity) glass made with certain coatings that reflect infrared light to help a home retain heat in the winter and circumvent heat in the summer
4. Warm Edge Spacers to keep a window’s glass panes the proper distance apart

In this day and age, there are many ways to improve energy efficiency, from technological advances in manufacturing, to the installation of energy efficient vinyl windows in our homes.

We each play a part in reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions we produce every year. The conservation of energy today means a lower carbon footprint tomorrow.

Other than being energy efficient, vinyl windows have a number of other benefits.

About Value Windows and Doors

From the beginning, Value Windows and Doors has produced durable vinyl windows and doors.  A commitment of uncompromising quality and service, in addition to providing first class products, has always been the hallmark of Value Windows and Doors.

Experience the difference that high-quality, energy efficient windows and doors can make in your home today.

The Benefits of Vinyl Windows

Energy Star

Depending on your personal design needs, you may find that vinyl windows are the best solution for your home.  Remarkable energy efficiency, singular ability to regulate home temperatures, and a great price-point are only a few of the benefits of vinyl.

Low-Maintenance and Energy-Efficient

Many homeowners who decide to invest in vinyl windows for their homes find that it’s a low-maintenance material with a sharp, clean look. In fact, manufacturers often laud the fusion-welded construction of vinyl, which means no painting, peeling, or corroding. 

Some newer brands have even claimed the coveted ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR is the national symbol for energy efficiency and comes backed by the U.S. government. The purpose behind the ENERGY STAR label is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, offer consumers a way to find energy-efficient products, and help them save on energy bills.

Aluminum is another material that is rigid, durable, and long-lasting. Many vinyl window manufacturers offer aluminum windows either separately or as a reinforcement to vinyl. Some manufacturers also specialize in vinyl windows that have been tested for rotting, cracking, fading, and yellowing.

Popularity of Vinyl

Because vinyl is made from Polyvinyl chloride or PVC, it has become not only one of the most common applications for windows, but one of the most highly produced plastics in the world, second only to polyethylene. Residential vinyl window sales make up over half of the market share.

Another great benefit of vinyl windows is that they provide a bevy of options for any home interior. If you’re looking for inexpensive replacements, but want to explore different shapes and colors for your windows, then vinyl is the product for you.

And the List Goes On…

Besides having great aesthetic appeal, vinyl seals the home from heat and cold, it offers spectacular noise reduction, and paired with a double-sided pane glass, it makes for even more energy saving for the home. There’s also no need to worry about sanding or painting when your windows start to collect dirt or dust; simply wipe clean with soap and water.

A few of the other valuable attributes of vinyl include double-insulated glass, no condensation or aluminum oxidation, burglar resistance, and it is the #1 rated window in the U.S.

Of course, there are other components that work in conjunction with each other which allow for optimal performance of your vinyl window. Some companies offer enhanced hardware which adds to the life of the window, allowing for effortless operation and maintenance of your product.

About Value Windows and Doors

Value Windows and Doors a premiere manufacturer that specializes in the fabrication of vinyl windows and doors. Also offering wood and iron products, Value Window and Doors guarantees all of its products are certified by NFRC, and AAMA, and ENERGY STAR.

Get the highest-quality windows and doors, leading designs, and first class customer service when you make Value Windows and Doors your  replacement choice.