Going Green with Windows Plus

Windows Plus takes going green very seriously and works diligently with manufacturers to promote the most energy efficient products and the cleanest and safest systems. Here are how some of our manufacturers are supporting the environment and how we are passing this on to you when you are making critical changes in your home.

Windows Plus has worked with Gorell Windows & Doors for over a decade providing homeowners with superior vinyl replacement windows and doors. Gorell recycles most of the materials that enter its factory. Gorell does not cut down trees to make its products and employs minimal energy in its production processes. Gorell is listed with Green Spec in its directory of green building products.  And, for the 6th consecutive year, Gorell was nominated the Energy Star Partner as designated by the Departments of Energy and the Environment Protection Agency. www.gorell.com

Windows Plus works with Vytex Windows for residential and commercial projects. Vytex is a local manufacturer in Laurel, Maryland that focuses on designing and developing products to accomplish great energy efficiency and environmental cleanliness.  In fact, Vytex is a window manufacturer at the cutting edge of energy-saving technologies. Vytex offers homeowners the Envirosealed ™ energy-efficient eco-friendly window that serves to improve the overall environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Envirosealed ™ Windows are constructed to ensure excellence and pass on impressive savings each year to the consumer in energy costs. www.VytexWindows.com

Windows Plus focuses on providing the best education to the homeowner so that you can feel comfortable in making improvements in your home. We recognize that the choices you make in your home are a big investment and that making an informed decision is very important to you and your family. Windows Plus offers Insulated siding with Fullback Technology ™ - insulated siding is a tremendous mechanism for heightened energy-efficiency and is a green product qualified by Energy Star. Insulated siding is “breathable” and proven to improve air quality and reduce mold, mildew and bacteria in the home.

On these products and many more, contact Reg or Tom at 703-916-8372. And, as always, many thanks for your continued business. You are our very best asset.

Designer Garages Add Storage & Versatility

Windows Plus offers homeowners designer garages with finished walls, floors, cabinets, trim and accessories. This additional space gives you a great solution to your storage needs with added versatility and creativity. Think about hanging your bikes and tools, or perhaps your golf clubs and tennis raquets. A designer garage allows you to free up floor space and give you a neat, contained area for your supplies in a secure way.

In addition to improving the exterior of your home with windows, doors and siding, give some thought to completing the look with a designer garage. With many colors and options available for walls, floors, cabinets, trim and accessories, this designer system is easy to maintain. The walls require no painting and have a UL94 V-O fire rating; the 12″ x 12″ floor tiles are interlocking, ventilated to allow for airflow and drainage, resistant to mold and stains, built tough to withstand heat, cold and humidity and overall very durable. The cabinets adjust to your needs and are open back so you can maximize the wall space behind them.

Call Reg or Tom at 703-916-8372 to learn more about how you can create your extra room today. Why not get everything up off your floor and out of the way so you can enjoy your space?

Beware of Tax Credit Misinformation

Most of you have heard by now about the various tax credits under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that a homeowner can claim for certain purchases made during tax years 2009-2010. In many cases, the credit relates to a one-time purchase made during combined tax years. But, we caution you to have enough knowledge about these credits so that companies don’t take you for a ride.

We have witnessed representatives from companies tell consumers that their products “qualify” for the tax credits. It would appear that this tactic is used just to get a sale, when in fact, consumers may not be purchasing tax-credit eligible products. The most important element to your peace of mind is to be sure you are aware of the requirements and to do this, you can just check with energystar.gov/tax credits. Not all EnergyStar(tm) products qualify for the tax credit, but keep in mind that EnergyStar ™ products provide measurable efficiency results. Certain manufacturers also provide rebates and incentives with their products, so it pays to do your homework!

Also, you do not need to purchase a report to know what is available to you as a homeowner. You do not need an “energy usage report,” as some contractors might tell you, to learn about ways that you can enhance your home’s value and live in the most energy-efficient way. We recognize that many homeowners today are very savvy about energy and know how to protect energy usage at home, as it has become a way of life. We recommend that you be sure to know your contractor and who you are dealing with up front so that you can be assured of excellence in service and products and can count on reliable follow-up.

Windows Plus is here to help you with your home improvement needs. Contact Reg or Tom at 703-916-8372 and see how Windows Plus can assist you with these critical changes today. You may count on us, our 20-year history in the industry, our technical knowledge and our fair and honest services. We may just be more than what you expect. www.Windowspls.com

What is Condensation?

Condensation, “The process by which a gas or vapor changes to a liquid.” The American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition, 1993. You may recall this definition from chemistry class, but now that term takes on a whole new meaning for you in your home. At Windows Plus, we get phone calls frequently at this time of year from homeowners who are dismayed by the condensation on their windows. “What can they do?” they ask. “Why does this happen with my new windows?” they question. And, although it may seem logical to you that your windows would be the reason for condensation, the fact is, barring a seal failure, they simply are not. To the contrary, energy-efficient windows prevent the moisture from escaping to the outside.

Windows provide the clear surface on which you will notice moisture. Condensation first forms on glass because glass surfaces have a lower temperature than other areas in the home. For example, when you see moisture on the bathroom mirror after a steamy shower or on your glass of soda, these surfaces are not the cause of the condensation; rather, they merely reflect the existence of moisture. You will notice that the inside or the outside of your bathroom window may “sweat” due to the differences in the temperatures. Moist air joins cool dry air = condensation.

You may notice more condensation in your home after you install energy-efficient products because the materials used in these products are intended to keep the cold air on the outside. Naturally, by keeping the cold air on the exterior, these same products will keep the warm air on the interior. We have heard homeowners say that they did not have any condensation with their old windows. Well, this is probably true because the older windows allowed for a great escape of moisture and cold – surely you remember they were drafty? Remember how cold you felt inside your home? There were no barriers to block the exchange of air in the home. That was the problem.
What to do, you ask to reduce condensation? It all has to do with controlling the humidity factor in your home. When you have excess humidity inside, it is going to show up on the coldest area of a wall, that is usually the windows. As the inside air becomes warmer and comes into contact with the colder glass, moisture forms. With your new energy-efficient products, your home is sealed tighter, thereby retaining more humidity – it cannot escape. But, you can control the level of humidity by taking a few steps.
Your goal is to increase the ventilation in your home and control excessive humidity. You can: 1) open fireplace dampers to let moisture escape; 2) ensure that the louvers in your crawl spaces and attics are open; 3) turn off humidifiers and other devices that have humidifiers; 4) be sure to vent clothes dryers and gas burners to the outside; 5) always use exhaust fans when cooking, doing laundry and in the bathrooms during showers and baths; 6) take time to air out your home several minutes a day – open a window or door briefly; 7) keep plants in a sunroom or in any room that is used less frequently during the winter.

Should you worry about condensation? You probably will only experience any window condensation during times of extreme temperature differences. During winter, you will see condensation on the inside; during the summer, you will see it on the outside. Occasional condensation causes no significant problems and is normal. But, if you see condensation in between the two glass panels, this signals a seal failure and in that case, you will need to replace the glass. If you have too much moisture inside your home you will notice this during the winter and summer months. More serious signs of moisture show up with cracked or peeling paint, rotting wood, and fungus or mildew growth – all indicate problems that need to be addressed by a contractor.
If you have questions about your home and would like to talk with one of the company owners, call Reg Wayland or Tom Camarca at Windows Plus – 703-916-8372.

How to Clean your Windows

Take a look at this short tutorial on window cleaning techniques:

Supporting Our Community

Windows Plus makes it a regular practice to stay involved in community service and activities. The company sponsors Safety Fairs and Crime Prevention Days for the Fairfax and Prince William County Police Departments, conducts home security presentations for Neighborhood Watch Associations and works with government agencies to educate employees on safety and security in the home. As a result of its work in the communities over the last decade, the owners of Windows Plus, Reg and Tom, have been recognized by local crime prevention associations as industry leaders in the sales and marketing of intruder-resistant windows and doors.

In most areas, crime is on the rise and one of the most popular points of entry into the home is through the windows. Sometimes burglars can enter the home due to sheer carelessness through unlocked windows. This, of course, can always be prevented by taking time to check all locks. But, burglars can also gain entry by breaking the glass panes with ease. In a matter of seconds, an intruder can hit the glass panes, thereby shattering the glass, enter the premises , remove items and leave before being detected.

Windows Plus offers a product to homeowners that has proven to help deter crime, one that will discourage intruders at the very least: laminated glass. The manufacturers that Windows Plus works with offer products with double or triple insulating glass. These systems are high performance products designed to provide greater comfort, thermal efficiency, UV-rays protection and most importantly greater security.  Laminated glass can take repeated hits from any burglar’s tools and after many tries, at the most a small hole may form. But, a burglar only has a few moments to make entry and leave and laminated glass just simply does not offer that possibility.

Installing laminated glass on all of your windows may not be necessary, but Reg and Tom will help homeowners make the right decisions for any home improvement changes so that the greatest security and efficiency may be reached. When you are ready to make significant changes in the appearance, comfort and security of your home, give Windows Plus a call at 703-916-8372. We are ready to make your community a greater place to live!