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Winter is in full swing here in northern Indiana! With dropping temperatures, falling snow, and high winds, many homeowners are experiencing significant drafts and heat loss coming from their windows. This not only makes being at home less comfortable, but also leads to significantly diminished energy efficiency.
What many homeowners don’t realize is that this is a solvable problem, even during the harsh winter months. While many home improvement projects can only be completed during warmer days, windows are able to be replaced year round.
When it comes to window replacement, there are many options to choose from. There are many local window contractors that offer replacement services, there are nationwide companies that also offer these services, and there are big box stores where homeowners can go to purchase their new windows. In this article, we’ll be exploring each of these options and explaining the pros and cons to each.
Custom Built vs. Mass Produced Windows
When it comes to window production, there are several options to choose from – each with varying levels of cost and quality.
Big Box Stores
The big box stores typically mass produce large quantities of stock windows. These windows are generally vinyl and are made to fit the most common openings in a home. The benefit to this approach is that, due to mass production, these windows are typically the least expensive you can find and may be just what you need to fill the openings in your home.
While big box windows meet the needs of some homeowners, they are not without drawbacks. As mentioned above, these windows typically come in very specific sizes and while that may work for most openings, it often doesn’t work for all of them. Additionally, these windows are usually not the highest quality and will likely need to be replaced again in a relatively short timeframe. While big box vinyl window prices are a huge benefit, the quality and convenience diminish the true value that a homeowner will get.
Nationwide Companies
Nationwide window replacement companies often mass produce some typical sizes, but also produce custom vinyl replacement windows as needed. This approach allows these companies to save their customers money on standard sizes, while still offering customizations that meet the needs of each homeowner. They generally offer a wider variety of finishes and custom options that allow each homeowner to create the exact look that they want for their home.
Although they generally offer higher quality materials and more customization options, nationwide companies are also large corporations with large marketing and other overhead budgets. As a result, their prices are usually significantly higher than big box stores and local contractors. The quality is there, but homeowners are usually stuck with paying higher prices to meet the needs of these companies.
Local Companies
Many local window replacement contractors customize each window to fit the exact needs of the homeowner. With the same level (or oftentimes a higher level) of customization that a nationwide company offers, these contractors provide a middle ground between the two options mentioned above. The quality of products and installation is significantly better than what you can find at a big box store for a lower cost than what you can expect from a nationwide company. These companies are also committed to serving their customers with a higher level of service because they are a part of the same community.
When a homeowner chooses to work with a local window contractor, the biggest setback is that the lead times of these companies can sometimes be longer than those of nationwide companies. Due to the customization process and the workload, homeowners may have to wait a little longer to get their project finished. However, the products and level of service provided are usually worth the wait.
Installation
Improper or rushed installation leads to issues with even the highest quality products. When selecting windows for your home, it’s important to consider not just the quality of the product, but also the quality of the installation.
Big Box Stores
When ordering from a big box store, homeowners typically measure their own windows, order the sizes accordingly, and then either install the windows themselves or have a team from the store complete installation. Although some homeowners understand the fine details of taking these measurements, many don’t realize that these measurements need to be taken in a specific way to ensure a proper fit. This often leads to sizing issues and stress for the homeowner.
Nationwide Companies
These companies usually send an experienced professional to the home to take proper measurements and provide them to the production team. This ensures that the windows will be sized correctly and installers won’t have any issues when completing the project. Both the person taking the measurements and the installers will have experience and training to make sure that each window is perfect for the opening that it will fill.
Local Companies
With a local window company, homeowners will get the same level of training, professionalism, and experience that they would experience with a nationwide company, but often with the addition of a more personalized experience. Typically these companies are easier to communicate with and will take more time to ensure that each customer is well taken care of. Again, a local company will be able to provide the level of professionalism that a nationwide company has, while still staying closer to the prices that a big box store offers.
Warranty and Protection
While nearly all windows come with a warranty, the levels of protection that a homeowner experiences can vary significantly. One of the biggest differences is actually not on the product warranty, but on the workmanship warranty.
Big Box Store
Most big box stores offer warrantied window products. These warranties protect homeowners from problems with the products themselves such as seal failure, hardware failure, or glass breakage. Additionally, these stores usually offer a workmanship warranty of some kind, but they are usually only valid for a short time. A 1 year workmanship warranty is typical for these kinds of stores, meaning that if there is a defect with the installation of the product, homeowners have a year to submit a warranty claim. After that, the only option is to purchase a new replacement if the issue is significant enough.
The other thing for homeowners to consider is that there are many stipulations that must be met in order to keep product warranties in place. This is especially important when a homeowner plans to install windows on their own. If even one of these conditions isn’t met, it usually voids the entire warranty.
Nationwide Companies
Nationwide window companies usually offer extensive product warranties, but their workmanship warranties are usually only slightly better than a big box store. 2 years is a typical length of time for one of these warranties. While this is a more reasonable amount of time, homeowners should be aware of this limited timeframe.
Local Companies
There are a wide variety of different warranty offerings from local window contractors. These can range anywhere from no warranty at all to a lifetime warranty. For instance, here at Professional Roofing Solutions & Construction LLC, we offer lifetime workmanship warranties on all of our window products. We do this to add an additional layer of protection and security for our customers and to hold ourselves to a high standard when it comes to installation. When working with a local company, it’s important to ask and understand exactly what their warranty covers, the length of time it is good for, and how the warranty claim process works..
Long-Term Cost and Effectiveness
Replacing windows in a home can be a big project and there are many factors to consider. However, one of the most important elements to homeowners is and should be the long-term cost savings and effectiveness of the products they choose.
Big Box Stores
The upfront vinyl window replacement cost at a big box store will almost always be the lowest that a homeowner can find. As mentioned above, these companies mass-produce their windows so they are able to offer their products at a low price point. While homeowners are able to enjoy lower upfront costs, the long-term savings and effectiveness of these products is a significant drawback. Without the professional measurements, custom size options, and level of quality that other companies provide, these windows are less likely to greatly increase energy efficiency and more likely to fail after a short period of time, leading to the need to replace them again sooner than you should have to.
Nationwide Companies
Typically, these companies will give homeowners the largest initial investment. They will be expensive upfront, but will save customers more money in the long-run. Because these companies provide well trained and knowledgeable staff for measuring and installing, products with better insulation and custom fit, and more extensive warranties, homeowners can expect greatly increased energy efficiency and security in their homes. While the prices are typically high with these companies, homeowners truly benefit over time.
Local Companies
When it comes to custom replacement windows, these companies will generally land somewhere between the two options above in terms of upfront cost. They are more expensive than big box stores initially because of the customization and quality aspects of their products, but less expensive than a nationwide company thanks to smaller overhead costs. These companies offer products that will raise a home’s level of energy efficiency, eliminate draftiness, and provide a personalized experience that meets the needs of the customer. Long-term, homeowners can expect significant savings on energy bills when working with a local contractor.
Conclusion: Which Option Is Best?
When deciding which option to pursue for replacement windows, there are many factors to consider and each option comes with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. The decision ultimately comes down to what is most important for the individual homeowner.
Big Box Store: For DIYers and Price-Conscious Shoppers
As we’ve mentioned above, big box stores offer the lowest price for new windows. Homeowners can save money upfront by choosing this option, but they should be aware that they are sacrificing the level of quality that they can get elsewhere. Additionally, if a homeowner wants to install windows themself, a big box store is typically the easiest option to get windows quickly.
Nationwide Companies: For Customers Who Want High Quality, Professionalism, and “The Name”
Along with offering professional service and high-quality products, another benefit of nationwide companies is that many of them have recognizable names and reputations that go along with them. For customers who want to do business with large, established companies and that are willing to pay higher prices for premium products, these companies can meet every need.
Local Companies: For Customers Who Want High-Quality, Professionalism, and a Personalized Experience at a Lower Cost
Local window contractors offer a blend of the benefits from each of the options above. They often provide well-trained and skilled window measurement and installation, premium and customized products, and personal service at a fraction of the cost of a nationwide company. The products and services you experience with these companies is typically on par with a nationwide company and will provide a better, more effective long-term solution than what a big box store can provide.
Need New Windows in Your Home?
At Professional Roofing Solutions & Construction LLC, we provide an effective local option for window replacement. We take pride in training our team well to ensure that they handle every interaction and project with a high level of professionalism. From initial measurements to final installation, you can depend on us to handle your project effectively and efficiently. Our products are second to none in quality, customization, and efficiency. And our customers enjoy Energy Star ratings, lifetime warranties, and an experience that caters to their needs and their wants.
If you need windows in your home, we would love to help you! Whether it’s sliding window, picture window, or double hung window installation, we can help you create your dream look for your home and save you money long-term. Please call us at (574) 551-7663 or contact us here to get started with your free inspection. We’re looking forward to meeting you soon!
