Windows Doors & More, Inc

Shopping for Replacement Windows in North Carolina

When replacing wood double hung or casement windows, you have 2 main options to consider:

• Pocket Replacement Windows – remove only the sashes and the jamb liners of double hung windows. For casement type windows only the sash and hardware are removed leaving the frame and trim intact.
• Full Frame Replacement – involves removing all parts of the old window including trim and sills.

In the history of replacement windows in NC, 30+ years ago, vinyl window manufactures discovered that you could remove the sashes of the very old wood windows and insert a window into that existing space called the pocket. These windows were  typically used in homes built before 1950. It seemed like a very good way to save not having to remove all of the frames and trim. Many of these homes of this era had plaster walls and lead paint. Removing the frame and trim was a large undertaking; it was just a whole lot easier to pop in a pocket window providing there was no water damage to existing frames and trim. Today there are many companies with all types of windows competing for the pocket replacement business.

In the past 50 years wood windows have been built and installed differently than windows installed before 1950. They typically used a brick-mold exterior trim not a flat stock type and in time the window weights were no longer needed .

These windows may or may not have lead paint to preserve the wood. After 1978 lead paint was banned for obvious reasons. Many of the homes in North Carolina from the 80’s through the early 2000’s used builder’s grade wood windows. Because they were low cost windows and looked good at first, many builders in the Triangle Area used them exclusively in the homes they built, and many of them went with M&W windows. There were others, pretty much the same low quality. Many pocket replacement companies in the triangle area figured out that they could use the same pocket windows they used on the old homes.

These are the issues with using these pocket replacement windows on homes built from the 70’s through the 2000’s:

1. Many windows in this era are narrow to start with and adding a whole window frame into the existing frame reduces glass size and grill proportions.
2. You leave rotten and moldy wood in place.
3. Covering existing wood trim/frames with capping or wrapping only intensifies mold issues. (See Replacing Windows in Chapel Hill article for pictures and more info on this issue)
4. You are unable to provide a drip cap behind the siding,
5. Many windows in this time period do not have insulation between the wall studs and window frames.
6. Many builders used fiberglass insulation around windows in later homes. Fiberglass is ineffective as a window insulator. Check Dept. of Energy website for more info.
7. If your windows have settled and are out of square, inserting a window into that space will not fix the problem.
8. You cannot determine if there is water damage to the wall structure.
9. The frames, sills and trim will eventually rot, leaving more work to deal with later.
10. The appearance of your home will be changed, look at the neighbors who have done pocket replacements; the original architecture has changed.
11. The pocket window installations starts to look weathered after a few years, power washing capping or wrapping is out of the question, PVC coated aluminum trim coil typically used for wrapping/capping attacks dirt, then algae and mold will form soon after.
12. The pocket window installation totally relies on caulk for sealing, no flashing or siding penetration included.

 

This is a 10-year window at best, so why spend a lot of money for a temporary incomplete installation? Many pocket replacement companies charge as much as full frame and they push for the window quality not the installation.

Full Frame does not have any of these issues, sometimes it costs a bit more more and painting of trim is involved but 5 years from now you’ll be glad you went with the full frame method, knowing you will not need to address window issues again.

 

Many window shoppers consider the energy efficiency of many products before deciding to purchase them. Energy efficient windows and doors can make a dramatic impact on energy savings. Let’s look at your options when considering energy efficient windows. Checking a windows U-factor helps in determining energy efficiency.

U-Factor measures the rate of heat transfer and tells you how well the window insulates. U-factor values generally range from 0.25 to 1.25 and are measured in Btu/h. ft² °F. The lower the U-factor, the better the window insulates.

Another important consideration for energy efficiency is SOLAR HEAT GAIN CO-EFFICIENT

The SHGC is the fraction of incident solar radiation admitted through a window, both directly transmitted and absorbed and subsequently released inward. SHGC is expressed as a number between 0 and 1. The lower a window’s solar heat gain coefficient; the less solar heat it transmits. This is really important in the southern part of the US. A good number for this would be .19 or lower.

Many factors come into play when considering a windows energy efficiency.

Glass type and number of panes, typically a 2 pane system filled with argon gas and low-e coatings will meet the needs of folks living in North Carolina.

Materials used in the windows construction will also determine the conductivity of heat or cold transfer into a home. Aluminum or steel windows would conduct the most energy, where as Vinyl windows filled with foam would conduct the less energy.

There are many good window options out there.

This is 50% of the equation!!!

 

INSTALLATION IS AS IMPORTANT AS WINDOW QUALITY

When we talk about replacement windows in existing wood windows, there are 2 main options to consider:

Pocket replacement vs. Full Frame replacement

Check out my article ”Replacing Double Hung Windows”.

Photo 1 shows a pocket replacement frame inside an existing wood window frame. Note the lack of insulation around the openings, most builders in this area used no or a little fiberglass insulation around the frames prior to 2006.

Fiberglass insulation only works when installed in the batt foam, compressing it around a window is no better than cotton.

Pocket replacement windows do little to help with air infiltration around frames.

Investing large sums of money into some perceived high end pocket window is foolish in my opinion.

If your going to use the pocket method don’t waste a lot of money on the window, it is just a temporary solution at best, and may even be detrimental to the structure of your home if you allow wrapping or capping of existing wood frames.

See the “Replacing Windows in Chapel Hill” article below for more info on that issue.

FULL FRAME REPLACEMENT IS THE BEST CHOICE

Removing the entire window, frame, sills and trim is the only way to insure a tight seal between the window and the existing wall framing, see photo 2 showing low expansion window foam used to seal the new window, this combined with proper flashing will out last any pocket installation by many years and your new windows will make a real difference in energy efficiency.

For the most energy efficient solution, use full frame installation with any high quality window for best results.

I often am asked, what are the best replacement windows? My response is pretty much the same for most folks.

1st question I ask is, what do you need architecturally? Do you need to match the look of your current windows? Do the grills or mutins need to match? Is the color of the new exterior important? Vinyl windows can not meet all of these requirements, then we look at fiberglass or wood clad, or even all wood replacement windows.

Pocket replacement windows or partial replacement radically changes the exterior appearance,

2nd question is how much energy efficiency do you desire? Certain materials work better than others,

3rd question is, what is your budget? Replacement windows can sell for 300-1800.00 each,

4th question is which installation method is best for your home, my rule of thumb is if your home was built after 1950. The best installation method is full frame replacement, see other sidebar articles for more details.

Remember there is no such thing as a good cheap window!! The better the look, the more energy efficient = more cost

Call us today for a free consultation.

In Cary NC the windows and doors are as diverse as the people who live there.

The windows that have given homeowners the most problems have primarily come from builders grade wood windows used in homes from the 1990’s through early 2000’s.

These wood windows are of poor overall construction, top that with inferior wood that is not resistant to mold and decay and you have a serious problem I want to educate you about.

Ok, you have these wood windows, what should you do?

Before you talk to a smooth talking salesperson, who sells the latest and greatest window!!

Learn your options; first thing I like to teach folks are the installation options for their new windows.

See replacing DH’s in article on same page, for detailed installation methods.

Then we discuss window options, we are an independent window and door contractor.

We are not going to recommend a product based on financial gain for us, we recommend the best product and installation for the job. Please see our reviews on Angie’s list, they tell it all.

We also use our own employees, no subcontractors, 35 years’ experience in the building and remodeling trades. I am a licensed general contractor.

We can handle any issue that may arise, including structural damage, siding, sheetrock, that may result from these windows leaking water into your homes walls.

Also check us out for any other home improvement project you may have.

 

Poor Quality Windows & Improper Installation

For years builders and building suppliers have been selling and installing M & W wood, aluminum and vinyl clad windows in the Raleigh area. Now, homeowners are facing real challenges in dealing with these builder grade windows. Most of the issues are related to water infiltration into the structure of these homes having these windows. Combine that with improper installation, lack of flashing and improper or no vapor barrier and you have a real recipe for disaster.

We have found water penetrating in these window openings, especially in the M&W windows made from 1990 through 2006. In fact there are class action lawsuits for the very same reason.

If left in place these windows are causing, and will continue to cause, structural damage to your home! Inserting a window into these existing frames, also known as pocket replacement, will not correct or allow you to discover the potential water damage within the walls and framing. If you allow a person selling you this type of window to wrap or cap the exterior with a product called trim coil then you will trap the moisture in the window frame and inside your walls (see replacing windows in chapel hill for windows that have been capped). Notice the mold and fungus growing out of the frame from under the capping!! Some of these windows are only 6 years old! The worst part of capping is that you cannot see what is going on under it!! This is also true for windows with vinyl cladding, or wood windows covered with vinyl at the factory.

Brier Creek Homeowner Alert!

Most of the homes in the Brier Creek Country Club have these vinyl clad M&W windows!! Most of them have water damage especially those windows exposed to the weather, bay windows, first floor windows that are located under a second story window, windows on gable walls, any windows not covered by porches or overhangs. If you are concerned squeeze the bottom frames to check if there is give. The frame should be hard and not move when pressure is applied.

Plygem Corporation purchased M & W a few years ago inheriting this issue, now they are trying to service the windows that may still be under warranty. Their solution to the problem does little to fix the issue, they recommend replacing the bottom sill. This does nothing to address the side frames which are also damaged and most importantly is does absolutely nothing to repair the structural damage created by these leaking windows. Or stop the water leakage. 50% of the problem in BRIER CREEK is the installation!!! Modern building practices recommend vapor barriers applied over the homes sheathing. The windows need to be installed into this vapor barrier. Many builders mistakenly tape over the bottom installation fin, sealing any water that may leak from the window!! This water stays in your walls!! Wood and water do not mix anywhere, especially in our climate. Moist wood leads to insects, termites and other vermin infestation; let’s not discount mold, mildew and fungus. This is what happened at Brier Creek and other areas around the triangle that have M&W vinyl clad windows that were improperly installed.

 

Solution!

The use of solid vinyl windows has eliminated the leaking issue of the cladding however, the use of cheaply made vinyl windows is creating a new set of issues…this will be addressed in a future article.

Do you have these windows in your home? Have someone look at your windows, preferably not a pocket replacement window salesman as they will not have the correct product, resources or experience to deal with this serious issue in your home. Settling for a quick fix or Band-Aid approach, will only waste your money and potentially expose your family to mold and other issues in the near future.

To correctly rectify this you will need to totally remove, inspect and replace ALL pieces of these window and surrounding frame. At Windows, Doors & More Inc. we are experts in the full-frame replacement method and a NC licensed General Contractor.   We are here to help, please contact Todd Gillespie for more information. 919-460-6565, or email through the contact form on our website, all estimates are no pressure, informative and reasonable.