Industry Terms to Understand When Shopping for Windows and Doors in San Diego
Every industry has terminology that is unique to that industry, and the replacement window and door industry is no different in this regard. As a consumer, you don’t need to know or understand every industry term related to windows and doors, but there are a few that would be helpful to at least be familiar with as you shop for replacement windows and doors for your San Diego home.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
Just about every window and door product on the market is evaluated by the independent National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). This third-party organization tests various aspects of replacement windows, including their energy efficiency, the amount of natural light they allow in, and how well they protect your home from drafts.
For San Diego homeowners, the NFRC rating that they should pay the most attention to is a products Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). According to the NFRC website, this rating “…measures how well a product can resist unwanted heat gain, which is especially important during summer cooling season. The lower the number, the less you’ll spend on cooling.”
In other words, installing windows and doors with low SHGC ratings will insulate your San Diego home better, allowing you to use your air conditioner less frequently. Comparing the SHGC among various brands of replacement windows is a great way to compare apples to apples when the energy efficiency of your home is important to you.
Retrofit/Replacement Windows and Doors
If you have an existing home in San Diego that needs new windows and doors, what you are likely looking for is retrofit or replacement windows and doors. Retrofit and replacement are interchangeable terms that refer to products that are installed in the same spaces as a home’s current windows and doors. Installing retrofit or replacement windows and doors allows homeowners to enjoy all of the benefits of upgraded windows and doors with as little cost or hassle as possible. This is because with retrofit windows and doors, there is no costly construction that needs to happen prior to installing them, and no repairs needed to the surrounding walls (interior or exterior) after the new windows and doors are installed. The old window and door units are simply removed, and the new ones are installed in their place. For a professional window and door company, the installation process can be as fast as a single day for an entire house full of windows and doors!
Lifetime Warranty
You probably think you have a good understanding of what a lifetime warranty is, but this term has some very specific qualifications when it’s used in the window and door industry. Specifically, the term “lifetime” refers to the period of time that the original purchaser of the windows and doors owns the home. If you want a warranty that is transferable to the home’s next owner, you will need to purchase windows and doors with a double lifetime warranty.
It is also important to understand that the manufacturer’s warranty only applies to the products themselves. If the product is defective, the manufacturer’s warranty will cover it. What a lifetime product warranty won’t cover is any mistakes made during the installation of the windows and doors. In fact, improper installation could even void the manufacturer’s warranty altogether!
What you want to look for, in addition to a good manufacturer’s warranty, is an installation warranty provided by the company that is installing your windows and doors. This can be difficult to find, but companies that offer this do exist, such as BM Windows, which sells and installs replacement windows and doors in San Diego.
