If you have just bought your dream older home, chances are that it still has single-paned windows. One of the smartest home upgrades you can make is having double paned windows installed as a first remodeling project.
Much has been written about the energy saving advantages of double-paned windows, but did you also know that they provide better sound insulation as well? That means your neighbors don’t have to struggle through your oldest child learning to play clarinet, and you don’t have to hear the new puppy they bought howl through the night!
Many newer windows also offer what is called low e; which filters the light spectrum in such a way that faded carpets, window coverings, and furniture should be a relic of the past.
If you do have double-paned windows, are they aluminum? The first double paned windows introduced to the market were metal framed, which can gap and allow moisture in between the panels. They end up have a “fog” inside that is impossible to remove. Ideally, double-paned windows should be framed with wood, vinyl, or fiberglass.
If you live in a colder area, purchasing slightly more expensive windows filled with argon gas provides a greater level of insulation.
Vinyl windows come in a variety of grades and prices – for the most part, higher-end Jeldwen windows look great and are cost effective.
A higher-end window company with a great selection of types and styles is Milgard. The Bay Area source that we use for both is Able Glass, which is located in Santa Clara and offers both sales and installation services.
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