The Best Replacement Windows to Cut Energy Costs

When you replace the windows in your home, you can nearly always expect to decrease energy costs because old windows tend to leak and lack important energy-saving features that come with new windows. Still, not all replacement windows are created equal. They come in different materials, such as wood, vinyl, and fiberglass. These three materials are actually some of the most energy-efficient available, with fiberglass windows leading the pack. Learn more about this material and what makes fiberglass the best replacement windows out there.

About Fiberglass Windows

Of all the window materials available, fiberglass is the newest. Aside from energy efficiency, fiberglass windows provide plenty of other benefits:

• Beauty: This versatile material can be designed to mimic the look of wood windows, which are often desired for their warm appearance.
• Durability: Fiberglass is very strong since it’s composed of similar materials used to make car bumpers.
• Virtually maintenance free: Other window materials (wood in particular) require periodic maintenance to preserve their appearance and energy efficiency. With fiberglass, you don’t ever need to worry about maintenance.
• Affordability: Fiberglass is priced roughly between vinyl on the cheap end and wood on the expensive end. It’s a great compromise when it comes to affording the best replacement windows, especially because their energy efficiency helps pay for themselves over their lifetime.

What Makes Fiberglass Windows Energy Efficient?

Numerous factors contribute to the energy efficiency of these popular windows:

• Less degradation: Compared to wood, fiberglass windows experience far slower degradation. If you have wood windows and have ever noticed your energy bills rise suddenly, this could mean the wood frames have begun deteriorating. Warped, cracked wood windows allow air to infiltrate, which makes you less comfortable and forces your energy bills up as well. Fiberglass doesn’t suffer from warping or any other shortcomings of wood.
• Prolonged lifecycle: Vinyl windows have problems of their own. This material is more likely to age badly and show blemishes after exposure to high heat, soggy conditions and freezing weather. As the windows age, they seal less tightly, making them less efficient. Fiberglass is a more durable material and offers peak performance throughout its entire lifecycle.
• Holds its shape: A window that fails to hold its shape is a major source of air infiltration in your home. This drives energy bills higher and makes the home drafty and uncomfortable. Fiberglass windows aren’t prone to losing their shape. In fact, they contour to the building materials around them and fit firmly in place for decades.
• Other advanced features available: Fiberglass windows may come with multiple panes of glass filled with krypton or argon for improved insulation. Tinted coatings also help keep UV rays out so your home is easier to cool during summer.

To receive fiberglass window quotes for your Denver-area home, please contact 5280 Exteriors today.