Five things Arizona homeowners need to know about buying windows

It’s the time of year when you start wondering if your house would be a lot cooler all summer if you replaced your 25-year-old windows. But you hesitate because buying windows

But you hesitate because buying windows seems so complicated, in addition to being very pricey. ere are five things to remember to make your window shopping much easier.

Here are five things to remember to make your window shopping much easier:

1. Your old windows will not last forever

How do you know if you need to replace them? If you are always struggling to open and close them, hearing

If you are always struggling to open and close them, hearing too much outdoor noise when you’re in the house, seeing daylight shining around the perimeter of the windows and finding dust on window sills, you should think about replacing.

2. New windows will help pay for themselves

According to surveys done by Remodeling Magazine, replacing 10 existing windows with insulated, low-E coated windows is a job that can pay off up to 70 percent of its value when you sell your home. The return you get in the desert can actually be bigger than homeowners get in other areas of the nation.

3. Buy double-glazed windows with at least a 5/8-inch space of air or argon gas between the two panes

The air or gas serves as an insulator to keep hot outdoor air from getting indoors and cool air from escaping to the outdoors.

4. Choose windows with a low-E coating on the glass

Low-E — or low-emissivity coatings — are thin, see-through coatings of silver or tin oxide that let light come through the glass but not heated air.

5. Don’t buy triple-glazed windows

Triple glazing will be slightly more energy efficient, but it will cost a whole lot more. The payback in energy savings can take more than 10 years to make up for the difference in price.

We recommend triple-pane only when trying to quiet a busy street or loud neighborhood as they are very good at making a quieter home.

My ideal window is one that has a wood frame on the inside and aluminum-clad wood on the outside. That type of window is more expensive, but is also the most beautiful.

Wood windows do not conduct heat and the wood can be painted whatever color you like. If the wood is wrapped in aluminum, it will not deteriorate as quickly.

In the past, I’ve discouraged homeowners from buying vinyl windows because they conduct heat and deteriorate due to the heat from the sun. But today’s vinyl windows are a lot more sturdy and attractive.

However, if at all possible, buy aluminum-clad wood. I’ve recommended Pella Windows and Doors for years, so be sure to give them a call as well.

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