Buying replacement windows shouldn’t be made without proper thought and research. Since, buying new windows is an investment in your home’s property, doing it right the first time is certainly ideal. Investing in new windows has many benefits such as it improves your overall comfort, reduces your energy bills, and adds value to your home. How to choose the window style that’s best for your home? When choosing window replacement, there are many things you should consider. Here are 4 things you should look for when buying new windows:

1. Which Material is Best?

It is important to consider where you live, the age of your home, and the location of your windows within your home before choosing a material for your replacement windows. The most common materials for replacement windows are wood, vinyl, aluminum, and fiberglass. Vinyl is a great option because it insulates well and requires less maintenance and no repainting. Wood is the most common material. It offers the most variety in look and is the sturdiest, but it does require some maintenance and repainting. Fiberglass is more on the expensive side, but they are a lot stronger than vinyl windows.

2. Double, or Triple Pane Glass?

Double pane windows will reflect 90% of energy and only allow 10% to pass through. Triple pane windows will cost approximately 15% more than double pane windows. However, they are worth the investment because they are better insulated. Triple pane windows will reflect 97% of energy and only allow 3% to pass through.

3. What is R-value?

R-value is a measure of the resistance of the glazing to heat flow. Basically, it refers to the energy efficiency of your windows. The higher the value, the greater it’s insulating power. Double pane windows can go up to an R-value of 4 and triple-pane windows can range from an R-value of 5-7.

4. What is U-factor?

U-factor measures the rate of heat transfer through a product. It indicates how well your window conducts non-solar heat. The lower your window’s U-factor, the more energy-efficient it is. U-factor considers airflow, conductance, and the heat radiation or reflection of the glass. The values range from a U-factor or 0.20 to 1.20.