Replacement Window Frame Materials

When to replace your windows

IRS Issues New Guidance on tax Credit Requirements

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Replacement Window Frame Materials

June 24, 2009

Window frames are available in a variety of materials including aluminum, wood, vinyl, fibrex, and fiberglass. Frames may be primarily composed of one material, or they may be a combination of different materials such as wood and vinyl. Each frame material has its advantages and disadvantages.

Aluminum. These days aluminum is primarily used in commercial applications and rarely for residential, except for items like basement doors. This is because the strength aluminum provides is not needed when
dealing with the typical size of a residential window. Aluminum will transfer heat, meaning it will get cold when heat retention is needed during the winter, and will transfer cold when you’re trying to maintain cool air during the summer months. In a commercial situation rigidity is needed for very large windows and aluminum must be used at the expense of energy efficiency.

Wood. Wood produces higher R-values, are unaffected by temperature extremes, and are less prone to condensation, but they require considerable maintenance in the form of periodic painting. If wood frames are not properly protected from moisture, they can warp, crack, and stick.

Vinyl. Vinyl windows are made primarily from polyvinyl chloride (pvc), which offers many advantages. They are available in a wide range of styles and shapes, have moderate to high R-values, are easily customized, are competitively priced, require low maintenance, and mold easily into almost any shape.

Fiberglass. Fiberglass is relatively new and not yet widely available. They have the highest R-values of all
frames; thus, they are excellent for insulating and will not warp, shrink, swell, rot, or corrode. Fiberglass frames can be made in a variety of colors and can hold large expanses of glass. Some fiberglass frames are hollow; others are filled with fiberglass insulation.

Fibrex. Fibrex material is a blend of wood fiber and specially formulated thermo-plastic polymer. This unique window material is made from reclaimed wood fiber from the Andersen Window Corporation’s 65 acre
manufacturing operation in Bayport, Minnesota. Fibrex combines excellent strength, insulation properties and provides low maintence.

For more information, click here.

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Charlotte, Cheasapeake, Cleveland, Columbia, Jefferson, Mobile, Raleigh, Windows, Winston-Salem | Leave a Comment 

When to replace your windows

June 23, 2009

There are a few determining factors that will let you know when your windows need to be replaced. Listed below are signs that you should watch for to make sure that your windows remain effective.

* Condensation or frost buildup
* Drafts- If you can feel air coming in through a closed window, your windows need replacement
* Window needs Support to Stay open- If you use a book or wood to prop open your windows, you’re windows should be replaced
* Candles do not stay lit near a closed window- Although you may not feel the draft, this could be a sign that your weather stripping is gone.
* Appearance- If you are unhappy with the appearance of your windows or they show signs of deterioration, they should be replaced.

To get a free, expert opinion, click here and arrange a no-obligation assessment.

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Charlotte, Cheasapeake, Cleveland, Columbia, Energy, Jefferson, Mobile, Raleigh, Windows, Winston-Salem | Leave a Comment 

IRS Issues New Guidance on tax Credit Requirements

June 18, 2009

Government

The Internal Revenue Service issued an advance notice this week outlining documentation requirements that window and door manufacturers must provide to homeowners looking to claim energy efficiency home improvement tax credits under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act.

According to the notice, an Energy Star label is no longer acceptable for exterior windows and skylights, as the IRS had allowed for products purchased prior to June 1.

Notice 2009-53, specifically, outlines how manufacturers will verify their eligible products, and provides guidance for taxpayers seeking to claim the credit. In short, the notice states the conditions under which taxpayers can “rely on a manufacturer’s certification.”

In the case of an exterior window, skylight or door (other than a storm window or storm door), the manufacturer’s certification must state that the exterior window, skylight, or door has a U factor and SHGC of 0.30 or below.

“A manufacturer that certifies to a taxpayer that a component is an eligible building envelope component or that property is qualified energy property must retain in its records documentation establishing that the component or property satisfies the applicable conditions,” the notice states.  “In the case of an exterior window, the manufacturer must retain a record of its National Fenestration Rating Council rating.”

The notice also states, “Taxpayers can no longer rely on an Energy Star label in claiming the § 25C credit for exterior windows and skylights placed in service after the enactment of the ARRTA. Similarly, an Energy Star label does not establish that a product is qualified energy property. The product must meet the definition of qualified energy property in § 25C.”

While Energy Star labels are no longer appropriate documentation, the announcement highlights the recent transition period in which Energy Star-rated products would qualify for the credit: “In the case of amounts paid or incurred before June 1, 2009, for property placed in service after February 17, 2009, taxpayers may rely on: … An Energy Star label for exterior windows and skylights, rather than on a manufacturer’s certification statement, in claiming the § 25C credit, if the window or skylight is installed in the region identified on the label.”

Posted by tmadej | Filed Under Charlotte, Cheasapeake, Cleveland, Columbia, Energy, Jefferson, Mobile, Raleigh, Windows, Winston-Salem | Leave a Comment 

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