Review of windows

Why Trust ConsumerAffairs. Why trust ConsumerAffairs? Best Rated. Most Reviewed. Highest Rated. ZIP Code. Show all. Extra caulking and weatherstripping can help reduce drafts and leakage by eliminating gaps between the window sash. Passive solar design windows are designed to collect solar energy and trap natural sources of heat and light so homeowners don't have to rely solely on heaters or lights.

Usually, this information can be found on a sticker attached to the window or even online. Protection against storms Exterior storm windows and hurricane windows are designed to enhance the energy efficiency of existing windows while also withstanding damage during harsh weather conditions. Special glass: Storm windows use extra-strength glass to reduce the risk of breakage during a violent storm.

The window frames are typically made of aluminum, vinyl or fiberglass. Multiple tracks: These windows have multiple tracks and layers so the glass is reinforced and you can open different parts of the window, adding greater flexibility.

Built-in screens: Most storm windows and hurricane windows have built-in screens that prevent insects and debris from entering the home when the window is open. Noise reduction There are specially engineered windows that can dramatically reduce noise from outside. These windows are popular in urban areas, neighborhoods near airports and other locations where there's a lot of traffic and noise. Some windows can even be fitted with filters that can be set to block out certain noises and let in others.

Inserts: Inside-mount window inserts cover the window sash and block out most noises. They also help insulate the window, keeping heated or cooled air inside.

Laminated glass: Laminated glass has a layer of plastic in between the glass panes, which helps block out noise. This type of window is also known as a soundproof window. Triple-pane windows: Built for superior energy efficiency, triple-pane windows also do an excellent job of dampening exterior sounds. Home security Different types of windows can be used to help keep your home safe and reduce the risk of break-ins. Security doors: Security doors are made of reinforced steel and set into welded steel frames.

These heavy doors are virtually impossible to cut through and are used to secure rooms where valuables are stored. They are often fitted with multiple locks. Reinforced glass: Placing reinforced glass in the windows makes it harder for people to break the panes to get into the house.

This glass may also have multiple layers. Window bars: Steel bars on windows can deter intruders from breaking and entering a home. The bars can be customized to fit the home's decor and architectural style. Customization It's important to many homeowners to be able to customize doors and windows to fit their personal preference and style.

Mix and match: Homeowners can choose from a variety of products and install different products in different parts of the home. Style packages: Some window or door installers may offer a series of products that are meant to emulate a particular style. Expert help: Some window or door companies may provide designers to help homeowners determine which products best meet their stylistic needs. For low-budget windows, the warranty length may be shorter and limited to certain features on your window.

Types of windows Windows come in many different shapes, styles and sizes. Double-hung windows: With two sashes that slide up and down independently, double-hung windows are the most popular type of residential window sold today. Casement windows: Popular on contemporary-style homes, casement windows crank open and are particularly well-suited for hard-to-reach installations, such as in front of a kitchen sink.

Bay windows: These windows project from the house at an angle to provide wide-angle views and architectural interest. Bow windows: Projecting out from the house in a gentle arch, bow windows provide a panoramic view of the outdoors. Picture windows: Picture windows are stationary, non-openable windows that add great views and aesthetic value.

Hopper windows: Tilt-in hopper windows are typically installed in basements and crawl spaces. The narrow sash locks at the top and tips in toward the interior when unlatched. Replacement window costs The average cost to replace windows varies based on a number of factors, like the type and style of the window and the price of installation. Windows FAQ What is the average cost to replace windows? Are vinyl replacement windows any good? Vinyl replacement windows are popular because they cost less than other options, are energy efficient, require little maintenance and can handle the elements.

Vinyl is also available in different colors, shapes and sizes. What are the best windows to put in a house? Appearance and function are both important when choosing windows for a house. Homeowners should consider these factors: Window style Frame material Energy efficiency Window glass Window cost and budget Window manufacturer and installer Window warranty What kind of windows are most energy efficient?

Energy-efficient windows reduce heat loss in cold weather and lower heat gain in your home during warm weather. Make sure your windows are professionally installed so they operate with peak energy efficiency. Are replacement windows worth the cost? Yes, replacement windows are worth the cost if you can afford them, especially if your windows are showing signs of aging. Plus, you stand to recoup a sizable amount of the replacement cost when you sell your home.

What are the different types of windows? There are more than a dozen different types of windows that you can install in a home. The most popular types include: Single-hung: The bottom panel slides up and down. Double-hung: Both top and bottom panels slide up and down. Awning: A hinged panel at the top swings outward.

Casement: A hinged panel on the side swings outward. Sliding: One or more panels slide horizontally. How do you know if your windows need replacing? The area near the window is drafty.

Your energy bill has suddenly increased. The window has a rotting frame, chips or damaged glass. You hear a lot of noise from outside when the window is closed. Interior furnishings are fading. How to buy exterior doors Not all doors are made alike, and there are a variety of materials and styles of doors to consider before you make a purchase.

Metal doors are a great option for homeowners in colder climates, while wood or fiberglass doors are better suited for homes in warmer climates. Types of doors Exterior doors Exterior doors are typically installed in the front and back of your home. Some common types of exterior doors include: Wood-panel doors Solid-core flush exterior doors Stave-core doors Fiberglass exterior doors Glass exterior doors Steel exterior doors Interior doors Interior doors are installed in doorways.

Common styles of interior doors include: Solid wood interior doors Solid-core interior doors Hollow-core interior doors Medium-density fiberboard MDF doors Laminate interior doors Glass interior doors.

Doors FAQ Is steel or fiberglass better for an entry door? Both steel and fiberglass are good materials for front doors. Steel is a highly secure, affordable, low-maintenance option. Fiberglass doors are generally more weather resistant, energy efficient and customizable. What is the best material for sliding glass doors? Sliding glass doors come in a variety of materials, including wood, vinyl, fiberglass, steel and aluminum.

Choose a material based on look, energy efficiency, durability, amount of maintenance required and cost. Apple's OS X moved to a similar free-to-upgrade model around the same time. Except for system builders, the idea of paying separately for a computer operating system is basically extinct.

The list of compatible PCs is frankly a little narrower than I would have expected. It's that last one that gets tricky for some people, especially on cheaper laptops.

If you've got a CPU older than a seventh-gen Intel Core series we're up to 11th-gen now , you might be in trouble. There are workarounds for installing Windows 11 anyway, but proceed with those at your own risk. If there's one thing that immediately stands out about Windows 11 , it's this: The start menu and taskbar are now centered on the bottom of the screen, rather than aligned to the left by default.

Yes, that's the single biggest visual and interface change you're going to see on day one. Sure, there's plenty more going on underneath, but it feels like this UI shift is there mainly to let you know there's something new and different going on under the surface. And there is a good deal going on in Windows For casual or mainstream users, you're unlikely to notice much of it, though there are some standout upgrades worth noting.

One of the big selling points of Chromebooks, which run Google's ChromeOS, is that most Chromebooks can run just about any Android app, from phone-centric favorites like Instagram to mobile games. Microsoft is adding similar functionality to Windows 11 , both to compete with Chromebooks and to forge greater bonds between Windows PC users and Android phone users, just as Macs and iPhones are inexorably bound.

It's going to be previewed sometime in the coming months, so I wouldn't expect it to be added as a fully baked feature until some time in That's a shame, because easy access to Android apps was probably going to be the biggest single practical change in Windows 11 for most people. Sure, there are plenty of other ways to do this , using an app like Bluestacks or even the Your Phone app from Microsoft, but it's not simple enough for everyday users. Easily organizing a bunch of open windows so you can see and access them when you want -- and hide them when you don't -- is handy once you get the hang of it.

The ability to snap windows into preset slots on the desktop has been around for a while now, but the new Snap Groups and Snap Layouts offer a few new ways to wrangle your windows. By hovering over the "maximize" button on the top right corner of most windows, you'll get a pop-up showing a bunch of layout options.

Minimize these apps, and you can pop them all back up again in the same exact spots, by hovering over any of the snapped window icons in the task bar. Web browsers, system tools and many other random programs did, but programs such as Photoshop and Steam did not hovering over their maximize buttons didn't offer the snapping options pop-up menu.

If you have a gigantic monitor, use multiple monitors or need several thinly sliced web browser windows open at once, it can be handy. On a laptop screen, you're generally not looking at one or maybe two windows at once. Multiple desktops are a common MacOS feature, and a good way to keep multiple facets of your digital life organized.

For example, you can keep all your work apps -- email programs, browsers, video conference apps -- on one desktop, and all your gaming apps on another. Like on a Mac, you hot-swap between them, it's really just a change in how your open apps are visualized. You can actually do that in Windows 10 as well, but it's a pain. In Windows 11, Desktops have their own taskbar icon by default, and creating and organizing multiple desktops is even easier than on a Mac, which is not something you'll hear very often.

Every gadget-maker loves widgets, defined in consumer tech terms as small icon-like apps that usually sit in a group somewhere on your device's UI. Reinforcing members can be included inside the window, in various window components, or in-between window units. Reinforcement is often necessary for very large window units, but can also indicate that a smaller window unit may have been made poorly, as small windows should not need reinforcement. Wood reinforcements may also indicate poor construction as they compromise the energy efficiency of the window.

Similarly, metal reinforcements conduct heat, which also inhibits the energy efficiency of the window. Look for a window that is constructed from thick walls and does not require the use of reinforcements except for with large applications, where the use of reinforcements is unavoidable.

A quality window has a high degree of rigidity without the need to add additional reinforcement. Compression seals are used to protect against drafts and keep rain and other elements from entering the home. They are placed between the sashes and frames of a window.

For sliding windows, weatherstripping is used, and for casement or awning windows, bulb seals are used. High-quality windows will feature three seals, while low-quality windows might only have one or two seals. Quality seals are made from Santoprene rubber, which acts as an effective insulator. It is a durable material and will keep a window properly sealed for many years. On the other hand, cheap seals are made from PVC, which breaks easily and will lose its sealing power after only a couple of years.

For many homeowners, energy efficiency is the most popular selling point for replacement windows. The National Association of Home Builders NAHB listed home energy efficiency as the second most likely quality to influence a purchase decision behind community safety. As different climates require more or less insulation from the sun, performance criteria varies from region to region.

In addition to measures of heat transfer and sun-blocking, the NFRC tests visible transmittance, air leakage, and condensation resistance. An NFRC label will not, on its own, indicate a good or bad window. See the table below for help interpreting the NFRC label when comparing multiple energy efficient replacement window options.

Low emissivity, or low-E coatings are thin and transparent coatings that increase the energy efficiency of replacement window glass by reflecting heat while still allowing light to enter. The effectiveness of low-E coatings and their ability to regulate the temperature inside a home are shown on the NFRC label, so pay close attention to the values when comparing multiple products. Insulated glass makes a home more energy efficient through the use of multiple panes and an insulating medium.

Double-glazed refers to a window that uses two glass panes, while triple-glazed refers to a window that uses three glass panes. The panes are separated along their edges by foam or metal spacers, and the space in-between is filled with an insulating medium, such as air, argon, or krypton gas, that works to slow the transfer of heat through the window.

In summary, energy efficiency is a desirable characteristic for most homeowners when looking to purchase new replacement windows. Lastly, remember that there are additional fixtures that can be added to replacement windows to further reduce energy usage in the home.

To learn more about additional ways to improve the energy efficiency of replacement windows, see the section on improving energy efficiency below. Another important thing to look for, as a buyer, is whether the company that sells or manufactures the window offers installation. Several companies that offer replacement windows also have professionals available to install the new windows. Even for homeowners who are capable of performing the replacement on their own, paying the company who produced the window has benefits.

Aside from saving time and effort, professional installation usually includes warranties that protect the homeowner from the cost of damages that result in faulty installation. Warranties vary in their coverage and might only be valid for a certain amount of time. How a warranty is defined can also vary across manufacturers. For example, the term lifetime can mean different things depending on the company, but most commonly refers to either the life of the owner or the expected lifespan of the window.

With that in mind, here are the most common types of available warranties:. The coverage that a warranty will include also differs between manufacturers. Be mindful of any exclusions the warranty may note. All of the companies listed in this guide score well across these categories and have received strong reviews from their customers. Replacement windows vary significantly in price depending on the type of material, style of window, method of installation, and other factors.

The cost of replacement windows varies drastically depending on a number of conditions. Some of the most influential factors that affect the cost include the material, style, and installation. Other factors that have an impact include the location in the house, window size, and energy efficiency rating. Fortunately, government incentives and local rebates can help reduce the cost associated with the purchase of replacement windows. In addition to influencing the look, performance, durability, and required maintenance of replacement windows, material is one of the main factors that determines the cost.

Aluminum windows are generally the cheapest, while wood or materials that give a wood-like appearance, such as fiberglass or composite, tend to be much more expensive. The table below summarizes the range of costs for popular window frame materials. Another key decision when selecting replacement windows is determining which window style or styles to use throughout a home.

Keep in mind that window styles requiring a high level of skill to install can increase the installation time and labor costs. The table below summarizes the range of costs for popular replacement window styles not including labor. After picking out the right replacement windows, a homeowner must decide on a method of installation: hire a professional contractor or DIY do-it-yourself.

The cost of labor is greatly influenced by the window size, style, complexity of the installation, accessibility to the installation site, and overall time required to install the replacement.

In addition, labor costs more in expensive urban areas than in smaller, less expensive locations. One way to reduce the cost of labor is to replace many windows at once.

While most homeowners do not have the necessary skills required to install replacement windows, some will want to tackle the project themselves. Those that do have the skill set should read installation guides to help simplify the job. Set a realistic schedule to read through the guides and perform the work before tackling replacement window installation.

The cost of purchasing and installing new replacement windows adds up quickly, especially when replacing all of the windows in a home at once. However, rebates offered by the government as well as local utility companies do exist to help lower the cost associated with purchasing replacement windows.

Rebates can ultimately save a homeowner hundreds or even thousands of dollars when buying new replacement windows, so be sure to look into these incentives before making a purchase. In addition to the material, style, and method of installation, several other factors influence the cost of replacement windows.

Depending on the location or room in the house where replacement windows are necessary, the price of labor can vary. For instance, installing windows on a second-story floor is more expensive than installing windows on a ground-level floor. Likewise, larger windows will be more expensive than smaller windows due to increased material costs and longer installation times. Windows that are double- or triple-glazed and contain insulating gasses are also more expensive than single pane windows with less insulation.

Finally, any unforeseen structural deficiencies that make the job more time-consuming are going to increase the overall cost of replacement windows.

Below is a list of the best replacement window companies with reviews of their product offerings, costs, available styles, installation options, warranties, and more. Each of these companies rates highly on all of these factors. Andersen is the most searched for replacement window company. They have extensive style and material options with different levels of energy efficiency, security, and quality to meet the different needs of all homeowners.

Here is a summary of the different series of windows offered by Andersen, listed from most to least expensive:. Andersen offers premium, high-quality replacement windows, but also has low-cost options that are still great quality. Once a buyer chooses the material and style that best suits their needs, they can choose between a number of glass options that Andersen offers, which are suited for different environments and needs.

For example, Andersen offers Sun Glass, which has a subtle tint to block out sunlight, for warmer southern climates while its PassiveSun and Triple-Pane options better handle temperatures in cooler Northern climates.

Additionally, Andersen has a HeatLock coating that can be added to most glass options for additional efficiency. Andersen makes windows in any of the popularly used materials: wood, vinyl, composite, aluminum, and fiberglass. Here is a summary of where Andersen makes use of each material:.

Andersen makes windows of every popular style, meaning buyers can choose between single-hung, double-hung, casement, awning, projection, sliding, picture, or custom specialty windows.

Not every style is available in every series, however, so buyers should check to be sure that their desired design will work with their preferred series. Andersen also allows buyers to design fully custom windows to be built and delivered by Andersen.

They also offer smart home solutions and security options for their replacement windows. Andersen is one of the most popular window and door companies in part due to their commitment to great service for their customers.

Reviews from around the web generally show outstanding reviews from their customers, and the experts at J. Power have found similarly high levels of customer satisfaction.

Renewal by Andersen took the top spot in J. Windows and Patio Doors Satisfaction Survey, with an out of 1,, while Andersen came in fifth with a score of Compared to their biggest competitor, Pella, Andersen windows are slightly more affordable and provide a similar level of quality.

However, given the variety of options available through Andersen, costs may go higher, particularly for series like the A Series, E Series, and Series.

In contrast, buyers who are looking to save should target more affordable Andersen options like the Series or Series.

Renewal by Andersen is a division of Andersen that provides full-service installation to Andersen customers.

Andersen provides a great tool on their website for finding retailers and installers of their windows. This tool even lets buyers search retailers by the specific collections and features they offer. For homeowners who want to install Andersen windows themselves or use a different local contractor, Andersen also provides instructions for installation on their website and with the windows at the time of purchase.

Andersen offers a robust warranty for their windows, which covers failure caused by faulty craftsmanship and failure of window materials. Specifically, their warranty covers glass, wood components, wood composite components, hardware, weatherstripping, blinds, insect screens, and exterior painted or anodized aluminum surfaces. Andersen warranties are also transferable in the event that you sell your home. And if Andersen or one of their retailers installs the windows, they offer a separate warranty to cover failures caused by improper installation.