FAQs

Ask these eight questions about products and services from the window replacement companies you are considering. This will help you make the right decision for you and your home.

1. What are the window frame and sash made of?

Renewal by Andersen: Sashes and frames are made of Fibrex®material, a unique composite of wood fibers encapsulated by thermoplastic polymer. This "engineered" material is unique to Renewal by Andersen windows.

2. Tell me how that material compares to other sash and frame materials? Thermal expansion? Stiffness? "Pressure resistance"? Thermal conductivity? Decay?

Renewal by Andersen: Fibrex® material combines the strength, insulating capability, and stability similar to wood, with the low maintenance features of vinyl. This material is stronger and much more dimensionally stable than vinyl extrusions, yet is virtually impervious to rot or decay.

3. What type of glass do you use?

Renewal by Andersen: High Performance LoE® glass is standard in all Renewal by Andersen windows. This glass is double pane, with argon blend gas in the insulating space, and a special microscopically thin metallic "silver" coating on the inside layer of the outside pane of glass. Low conductivity stainless steel spacers with dual sealants fuse the panes together to lock in the argon blended gas.

4. Do you have the right style of window for my home?

Renewal by Andersen: Each window is custom manufactured to precisely fit the opening of the old windows in your home. Renewal by Andersen windows are available in double-hung, casement, gliding, awning and picture window styles and in combination to meet your home's look and style. Fibrex material is available in white, sandstone, Terratone®, and can be painted any color you wish. An interior stainable pine veneer is available for the window sash and frame if you wish to match your new windows to existing interior wood finish.

5. What is the energy efficiency of the whole window? May I see the NFRC* label for your window product?

* National Fenestration Rating Council, organization providing product ratings for the window industry. Entire window performance is measured by U-factor. The lower the U-factor, the better the insulating quality of the window.

Renewal by Andersen: The U-factor on Renewal by Andersen windows is typically 6 to 20% better than the comparable vinyl or wood frame window. All Renewal by Andersen windows and doors display a NFRC label stating U-factor and Solar Heat Gain information for that particular window type. A Renewal Sales Consultant will be happy to detail U-factor for the specific window style you are considering.

6. Are your windows Energy Star* certified and labeled? * Energy Star is a special program created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy to identify energy-saving products.

Renewal by Andersen: All Renewal by Andersen windows and doors carry the Energy Star certification label for all three-temperature zones in the continental United States. To qualify, products must be 40% more efficient than common building codes, and reduce energy bills by at least 15%.

7. How can you assure me of the durability of your entire window? What about warranty?

A word about warranties. Lifetime warranties are the current rage in the replacement window industry. Many companies that have been making windows for only 10 of 15 years offer lifetime warranties on every window they sell. We have experienced an unprecedented 10 years of economic good times. Should the economy take a downturn, how many of those companies will be around to honor their warranty? The Andersen Corporation has been manufacturing windows since 1903. The saying goes, "the warranty is only as good as the company behind it." Ask "what if?" questions about each warranty you review.

Renewal by Andersen: The unique combination of Fibrex material and High Performance LoE® glass creates a very sturdy, durable window. Renewal by Andersen windows use the same glass technology found in Andersen new construction windows, and carry the same TRANSFERABLE warranty (20 years on glass/10 years on sash/frame), PLUS a two year warranty on labor.

8. What do I want in a replacement window?

This is a questions for YOU to answer for yourself. Window replacement is a big investment, and one you'll live with day in and day out for as long as you own your home. Think about the importance of appearance, performance, and durability before you choose.

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