Before You Buy Replacement Windows, Know What the Quote Leaves Out
Use this Midwest buying guide to compare products, installation, warranties, pricing and financing before you sign
WHAT SMART HOMEOWNERS COMPARE
A Low Price Can Hide an Expensive Installation
Two quotes can look similar while covering very different products, glass packages, installation methods, flashing, trim, warranties and financing costs.
Before signing, require the exact product line, NFRC ratings, installation method, water-management details, warranties, cash price and total financing cost in writing.
Compare More Than Brand Names
Product, Glass and NFRC Ratings
Material names and product-family brochures do not prove performance. Compare the exact product line, whole-window U-factor, air leakage, condensation resistance, glass package, hardware and warranty.
Installation Matters More Than Marketing
A moderately priced window installed correctly can outperform a premium window installed poorly. Ask how the sill, sides and head are flashed, how the cavity is insulated and how the interior air seal is completed.
Insert Installation or Full-Frame Replacement?
Insert installation is appropriate only when the retained frame and sill are dry, square and structurally sound. Full-frame replacement exposes hidden damage and allows proper flashing when leakage, rot or distortion is present.
COMPARE THE COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
WINDOW STYLES
Casement
Offering Fantastic views and the most ventilation of any window style
Double Hung
Deemed the most common window style with various Levels of efficiency.
Slider
The perfect blend of style and affordability
Bay, Bow & Garden Style
Transforming any room into a spacious retreat.
RED FLAGS TO AVOID
Quote Omits Installation Details
Caulk alone is not a flashing system. The proposal should explain sill flashing, perimeter insulation, exterior water management and the interior air seal.
Payment-Only Financing Pitch
Compare the cash price, financed price, APR, term, finance charge and total payments. Deferred interest is not the same as true 0% APR.
Same-Day Discount Pressure
A legitimate proposal should withstand careful comparison. Do not sign merely because a discount supposedly expires today.
Compare Cash Price and Total Repayment
Financing is not automatically bad, but the monthly payment is not the total price. Ask for the cash price, financed price, APR, term, finance charge and total of payments in writing.
Office: 124 E 18th Street Milan, IL 61624
Call 563-940-5990
Email:[email protected]
Site: Acriexteriors.com