4 Features of Energy-Efficient Windows
Windows are not only architectural elements of your home; they can also help drive your utility cost down. With the right materials, your windows can help lower your cooling and heating bills. Your trusted window installers from Renewal by Andersen® of Alaska list four features of energy-efficient windows. 1. Frame Wood is the go-to option for many homeowners who want to preserve the Old World look of their living space. This material, however, is prone to rot, which isn’t good news if you’re looking for a long-term solution. As an alternative, people have switched to vinyl. The downside is that it doesn’t insulate, unlike wood. To get the strength of wood and the low-maintenance feature of vinyl, switch to unconventional composite materials like Fibrex®. This material combines the best features of vinyl and wood, giving you the best of both worlds. 2. Glass Most replacement windows nowadays come with low-emissivity (low-E) glass. It has a special coating that blocks certain amounts of ultraviolet rays that can heat up the interior without tarnishing the view. This is good news if you want to keep your home cozy without pushing your HVAC system to work twice as hard. 3. Double Glazing Double glazing is the use of two panes of glass to create a buffer zone, which provides a better barrier against the outside temperature than single-paned windows. 4. Gas Fill Window manufacturers use inert glass to fill the space between double-paned windows. Argon is one of the most popular gas fill used in many replacement windows today. It provides insulation, which can keep your home comfortable and thermally efficient. Turn...Update Home Security With New Doors
According to the FBI’s 2016 Uniform Crime Report released earlier this year (It takes a while to collate and interpret data), Alaska was found to be the most dangerous state in America that year. There were 804 violent crimes per 100,000 Alaskan citizens. That rate included 52 murders per 100,000 people and 409 adults per 100,000 were imprisoned. This is unfortunate and alarming news. But it gets a little worse for us here in Anchorage: we were declared the state’s most dangerous city. The most dangerous city in the most dangerous state in the USA. That’s a pretty hefty title, and not one any of us should be proud of. Suffice to say, home security is becoming a higher and higher priority in Alaska, and Anchorage in particular. We want to help you with that. Secure, Provia entry doors While we pride ourselves mostly on our windows at Renewal by Andersen of Alaska, we also offer a wide range of doors as well. In particular, our Provia entry doors provide not just all the weatherproofing and insulation you come to expect from a Renewal by Andersen backed product, but high-quality security features as well. Fiberglass Provia entry doors come with three locking mechanisms that all engage and disengage with a single motion. This gives the door two benefits: firstly, the door seals tighter to the frame than normal. Secondly, and more importantly, it provides superior security to your home. http://youtu.be/m07eu4rHhro?t=1m5s Provia explains the locking mechanisms on their fiberglass doors. Renewal by Andersen of Alaska also provides Provia steel doors as well. These come with a 24 gauge steel plate...The Cost of Not Getting the Right Windows in Anchorage
As we finally say goodbye to winter, ask yourself: how much did you feel the cold in your home? Did you find yourself avoiding the areas around your windows? Was the area around them noticeably chillier than the rest of the house? And how was your power bill? Lots of Alaskans think that a window letting in cold air and a creating chilly zone is just a natural part of living in the state. It’s definitely something a lot of people have grown up with and gotten used to. But it doesn’t have to be that way — really, it shouldn’t be that way. Too many people in Anchorage put off the idea of getting their windows replaced. It’s more convenient for them to just deal with — and complain! — about the cold than to do something about it. And there’s the obvious upfront expense of paying for replacement windows that can discourage many people. But have you stopped to think about what the cost of not getting the right windows in Anchorage actually is? We’ll use an example of a customer we had. Years ago a couple who lived near Westchester Lagoon asked us for a quote on some new windows. We never send a quote on a job sight-unseen, so we arranged a meeting, did an in-home diagnosis and consultation, and presented our pricing to them. The homeowners said they’d get back to us. When we did finally hear from them it was about a year later. The couple had found someone who was willing to beat our price substantially to complete the project. They thought they’d got...
Window Grille Patterns for Every Home
Many homeowners are looking for a way to make their windows stand out even more. By adding decorative grilles to your windows, you can create a bold statement for your living space. Renewal by Andersen® of Alaska, one of the leading window installers in the area, shares some window grille patterns that match your home’s theme. American Farmhouse This type of home is popular for its traditional yet simple design. It has a classic, vernacular look that’s perfect for those who want to emphasize functionality. To add character to this home design, you can use Colonial grille patterns that emphasize your double-hung windows. You can choose how many squares to add to each sash, depending on your preference. Craftsman Bungalow Craftsman bungalow homes first emerged in the early 20th century. They have exposed rafter tails with a combination of materials like bricks and asphalt shingles. Casement and double-hung windows with two vertical grilles often grace this home style. The farmhouse grille pattern is perfect for this home style because of its straightforward design. Georgian-Federal Style With its symmetrical facade, Georgian-Federal homes can sport the Colonial grille pattern well. That’s because of its theme that revolves around classic proportions. Double-hung replacement windows are often embellished with multiple-square grille pattern to give them a unique appearance. Prairie Home Windows are an important design element for this type of home. It uses long bands of windows and trims to evoke the prairie landscape. Its windows are also often unobstructed, with grilles only running along the side to frame the glass. Entrust your window replacement project to Renewal by Andersen of Alaska. We...
Improve Your Home With Renewal by Andersen®️ of Alaska
Welcome to Renewal by Andersen®️ of Alaska’s blog. Here, you’ll learn all about the latest trends and developments in the window and door industry, plus handy tips. As one of the top door and window installers in Anchorage, we aim to help homeowners make more informed decisions about home improvement projects. This way, you can maintain more beautiful, comfortable and energy-efficient home. About Renewal by Andersen®️ of Alaska Since 2015, we have been providing Alaska homeowners with high-quality solutions to their home improvement needs. Our commitment to client satisfaction sets us apart from other contractors. Here are some of the distinctions we’ve earned: Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited Business, with an A+ Rating Best of Houzz 2016 Service Award Angie’s List 2015 and 2016 Super Service Award ENERGY STAR®️ Partner of the Year Award 2017 Big 50 Remodeling Award from Hanley Wood and Remodeling Magazine Retailer of the Year Award from Andersen®️ Renewal by Andersen Homeowner Satisfaction Award 2015 The Best Replacement Windows and Doors Renewal by Andersen of Alaska offers the highest-quality window and door options available today. Our windows come in a wide selection of styles, from classic double-hung and casement windows, to sleek picture and gliding windows. All our replacement windows are fully customizable with your choice of color, hardware finish and grille pattern. What truly sets them apart is the advanced materials we use in the manufacturing process: Fibrex®️: This composite frame material exclusive to Renewal by Andersen combines the best features of other framing materials, such as wood’s strength and excellent insulation and vinyl’s low-maintenance nature. Because of Fibrex’s durability, we can build windows...
Replacing Entrance Doors in Anchorage Alaska
In life, first impressions are almost always based on appearance. This goes equally for your house and home, and the first thing people see up close when they visit your home is your front door. You want it to look good, make a good first impression — and be functional, energy-conscious, and secure. That’s a lot to ask, so if you’re thinking of replacing entrance doors in Anchorage, Alaska, where do you start? Choose a Style First Obviously, you want your door to be secure and work properly. But really you first need to know exactly what type of door you want. Will your entrance door be a single or double? Glass or no glass? If you want glass, how much, and in what style? Do you want glass on either side of the door as well? These questions are important because they’ll guide the materials used to construct the door. This, in turn, will determine the overall cost you can be expected to pay to make the door. Once You Have the Style, Choose the Right Brand Not all entrance doors are made equal. Especially somewhere cold like Alaska, you need to ensure that it’s weather sealed and properly insulated. A solid or hollow carved piece of wood might look inviting, but it probably won’t be enough to keep you warm and safe indoors. ProVia doors are designed to provide the security and insulation needed for Anchorage’s harsh climate. The frames are made of either steel or fiberglass. They’re filled with insulation material to keep the winter months warm and the summer months cool. You might be thinking...Cold climate windows & doors
Climate-resistant building materials are a must when renovating a home. Freezing temperatures will distort, dry out, shatter, and otherwise destroy many things. And if your doors and windows aren’t suited to the cold, you’ll burn hundreds and thousands of dollars on heating bills. So what are the best cold climate windows & doors for your Alaskan home? Let’s find out. Best Cold Climate Doors for Alaska There are three primary considerations for your cold climate door: insulation, weather sealing, and a sturdy material that won’t warp in the cold. Steel and fiberglass are ideal building materials for doors as they’re less likely to warp and become damaged by extreme temperatures. They can be filled with thermally efficient insulating material to provide a much-appreciated respite to your heating bills over winter. ProVia doors are excellent examples of cold weather doors. Their steel or fiberglass frames are packed with excellent insulating material. Their weather seals are the best on the market, designed to withstand the harshest environments. You can even get ProVia doors with large glass sections without compromising on insulation or weather resistance and can style them to suit any home. And, of course, they’re excellent, sturdy, secure doors to ensure the safety of your family at home. Best Cold Climate Windows for Alaska Here’s the short version: For the best cold weather windows in Alaska, you’ll want double pane windows with SunSmart glass and a Fibrex frame. Why? Double pane glass provides additional insulation to your home. Glass itself is a poor insulator and will let heat in and out fairly easily. Double pane glass creates a pocket of gas between the glass that acts as...What’s the Best Window for Alaskan Weather?
Alaska is renowned for its nature. Part of that is its infamous winters of blistering cold temperatures and lengthy stretches of almost pure darkness. If you’re renovating a home in Alaska, you want to pay special attention to choose the best window; it could be the difference between ongoing power and repair costs, and a wallet and environment-friendly investment. You might be asking, is there really that much of a difference between windows? The answer is a very simple yes. Too many homeowners don’t pay enough attention to what their windows are constructed with and get complacent. If you have the wrong window, you could be spending hundreds of dollars more a year than you need to be. So, what should you be looking for in your windows? Choosing the Best Window for Alaskan Weather Firstly, if your home was built with single pane windows, it’s either very old or made by someone who was more concerned with saving money than making an Alaska-friendly house. Single pane windows are terrible insulators. Alaska, as we said, is renowned world over for its winters. They’re some of the coldest and harshest on Earth. Choosing The Best Window Coating for Alaskan Weather From freezing winters to the blaring sun in summer, Alaskans and their windows have a lot thrown at them over a year. The ideal glass coating should act as an insulator, block harmful UV radiation, and not spoil those remarkable Alaskan views. SmartSun glass coating ticks these boxes. It’s also formulated to be easier to clean than plane glass or other glass coatings, making maintenance a breeze. Whether it’s a deluge of rain or...Vinyl Windows Alaska: Yes or No?
Vinyl is a popular material for window frames. It’s affordable, it’s low maintenance, and it’s easy to clean. But, like any material, it has both its pros and its cons. This can be particularly noticeable somewhere like Alaska, which can experience extremes of weather throughout the year. So the question is, vinyl windows Alaska: yes or no? We go over the pros and cons and suggest an amazing alternative below. The Pros of Vinyl One of the most attractive things about vinyl is that it’s about the cheapest option. It’s substantially more affordable than aluminum or wooden frames, for example. Maintaining vinyl frames is generally much quicker than wood and aluminum as well. It’s less prone to staining and most marks can be easily wiped off. However, as you’ll see in the cons, there are some upkeep considerations to keep in mind. Vinyl is a very good insulator for a window frame. It’s far superior to, say, aluminum, which has a much higher thermal conductivity rating. That means it’s easier for heat to transfer through aluminum, letting cold in and heat out. Last, but not least, is that vinyl has a very slim profile compared to other materials. This gives you more glass area and thus more light into your home. The Cons of Vinyl Remember how we mentioned some maintenance issues? One of the biggest problems, especially when considering vinyl in Alaska, is its tendency to sag. This affects darker colored vinyl frames in particular, as they absorb more heat over time. Since vinyl has a very low warping temperature, it will deform quickly and leave gaps around the...
