How to keep from freezing in the winter and baking in the summer...
Monday, March 29, 2004
Do you ever think about your windows? I have, and it's not because I'm shallow or don't have a life. It's because I live in Minnesota, or should I say "Extremasota." Temperatures can easily drop way below 0 and spike all the way past 100, all in the span of a few months.
So what? you say. Well, if your house is like mine (about 15 years old), its siding and trim have seen better days. I'm not going to take the blame, of course. The former owner must have had something against a paintbrush. And then there are the windows.... probably OK when they were new, they are made out of wood, and have gotten stubborn about opening and closing, not to mention locking and unlocking! And even though we had a relatively mild winter, it seems like we’ve had more than our share of drafts, causing my furnace to cycle on and off way too often.
To make matters worse, the outside is peeling (even though I spent $$$$ on getting the house professionally painted 5 years ago), especially the windowsills. Inside, the windows were once stained a pleasant medium-dark oak, but now they are in dire need of sanding and restaining, especially on the south side of the house where the sun has done its thing.
So you're saying..."Mike, what's the big deal? Get out the ladder and refinish those windows!" They don't call me "The Lazy Homeowner" for nothing...there are other ways, such as getting those drafty, peeling windows replaced with something much more attractive and energy efficient.
One company's windows caught my eye recently, Renewal by Andersen. They make their replacement windows out of an innovative composite called Fibrex® material, which is 40% wood and 60% polymer. Designed specifically for the needs of homeowners like me looking for a no-maintenance product, the Fibrex material combines the strength and stability of wood with the low-maintenance aspects of vinyl. Good-bye painting and staining!
Renewal by Andersen offers either window inserts or full frame replacement windows, depending on what you need. Of course, Andersen Windows has been around for 100 years and Renewal by Andersen takes a consultative approach to their replacement business. They have a representative come out to the house, take some measurements and can give you a firm quote immediately. If you decide to go ahead with the job, the installers take care of everything from disposing of your old windows to vacuuming the carpet afterwards.
My kind of company! My house has simple double-hung windows, but Renewal by Andersen offers casement windows, awning windows, gliders, picture windows, and even a good variety of specialty shapes. It's amazing how new windows can alter your home's appearance dramatically, and really make it seem new again. Plus, you can add grilles to coordinate with your decor.
After spending many years touring multi-million-dollar showhomes in my work as a TV spokesperson, it's nice to know you don't have to be rich to afford the benefits of high-tech windows. One of the benefits of getting new windows is the high-performance Low-E coating on the glass. This amazing technology is actually able to keep your house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and also filters ultra-violet rays that can damage carpets and furniture.
And last but not least, if I ever sell my home, the window warranty is fully transferable to the new owner. For more information visit: http://www.renewalbyandersen.com.
So what? you say. Well, if your house is like mine (about 15 years old), its siding and trim have seen better days. I'm not going to take the blame, of course. The former owner must have had something against a paintbrush. And then there are the windows.... probably OK when they were new, they are made out of wood, and have gotten stubborn about opening and closing, not to mention locking and unlocking! And even though we had a relatively mild winter, it seems like we’ve had more than our share of drafts, causing my furnace to cycle on and off way too often.
To make matters worse, the outside is peeling (even though I spent $$$$ on getting the house professionally painted 5 years ago), especially the windowsills. Inside, the windows were once stained a pleasant medium-dark oak, but now they are in dire need of sanding and restaining, especially on the south side of the house where the sun has done its thing.
So you're saying..."Mike, what's the big deal? Get out the ladder and refinish those windows!" They don't call me "The Lazy Homeowner" for nothing...there are other ways, such as getting those drafty, peeling windows replaced with something much more attractive and energy efficient.
One company's windows caught my eye recently, Renewal by Andersen. They make their replacement windows out of an innovative composite called Fibrex® material, which is 40% wood and 60% polymer. Designed specifically for the needs of homeowners like me looking for a no-maintenance product, the Fibrex material combines the strength and stability of wood with the low-maintenance aspects of vinyl. Good-bye painting and staining!
Renewal by Andersen offers either window inserts or full frame replacement windows, depending on what you need. Of course, Andersen Windows has been around for 100 years and Renewal by Andersen takes a consultative approach to their replacement business. They have a representative come out to the house, take some measurements and can give you a firm quote immediately. If you decide to go ahead with the job, the installers take care of everything from disposing of your old windows to vacuuming the carpet afterwards.
My kind of company! My house has simple double-hung windows, but Renewal by Andersen offers casement windows, awning windows, gliders, picture windows, and even a good variety of specialty shapes. It's amazing how new windows can alter your home's appearance dramatically, and really make it seem new again. Plus, you can add grilles to coordinate with your decor.
After spending many years touring multi-million-dollar showhomes in my work as a TV spokesperson, it's nice to know you don't have to be rich to afford the benefits of high-tech windows. One of the benefits of getting new windows is the high-performance Low-E coating on the glass. This amazing technology is actually able to keep your house warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and also filters ultra-violet rays that can damage carpets and furniture.
And last but not least, if I ever sell my home, the window warranty is fully transferable to the new owner. For more information visit: http://www.renewalbyandersen.com.
