Ready to swap out your aging windows with more durable, attractive and energy-efficient ones? With so many manufacturers to choose from, finding the best windows for your home is the first and most important step you’ll make. One brand worth considering is Sierra Pacific Windows, a family-owned forest products company with one of its bases located right here in the Midwest.

Standard models include:

• Casement
• Awning
• Double Hung
• Horizontal Slider
• Direct Glaze
• Bay and Bow

Every replacement window should be viewed as an investment in your home and your family’s well-being. And there are many reasons Sierra Pacific products might be the solution to your needs. For one thing, you want to know your new windows will stand the test of time. What that means is that every feature, bit of glazing and cladding of your replacement window must be built to withstand even the most extreme elements throughout every season.

Where the Wood in the Window Frames Comes From

In order to trust in the quality of a product, it helps to know a little bit about where it comes from. Sierra Pacific’s windows, siding and other products can stand the test of time because the materials come from land owned by the company itself. Using top-grade timber from the country’s northwest region, Sierra Pacific oversees its sawmills and the process of assembling milled pieces into world-class windows and doors in their manufacturing facilities.

What Makes Sierra Pacific Windows Uniquely Durable

Before settling on a brand and model of replacement windows, it’s also helpful to know more specifically how they are designed for longevity and performance. For example, the exteriors of Sierra Pacific’s clad wood windows are fully encased in heavy-duty, extruded aluminum that’s twice as thick as roll-form cladding. You’ll appreciate this aspect when the next hailstorm hits.

While slightly more expensive to manufacture, most of the company’s anodized collection is powder coated for surfaces superior to those using ordinary liquid paint. This process results in:

• Greater surface hardness
• Scratch resistance
• Color retention

How Else Do Sierra Pacific Windows Protect Your Home?

What gives your home extra protection is the woods’ thermal superiority, which is due in part to being treated and protected against insects and moisture. The windows’ high-performance glazing further protects against weather and environmental conditions. As a finishing touch, their insulated glass and polymer structural foam spacers dramatically improve the products’ energy efficiency, reducing seal failures that are often caused by the typical metal spacers.

Select the Type of Window You Need Installed

Choosing among highly customizable models makes the task of replacing your windows that much easier. Sierra Pacific provides various window models, all of which achieve high energy-efficiency ratings. Three popular examples are:

1 Double Hung Windows

This high-performance model has:

• An easy-tilt sash for effortless cleaning
• A concealed wood jamb liner (similar to their high-end windows)
• A vast array of performance and design options

Its innovative snap-lock design means there are no visible screws or fasteners on the interior of the window.

2 Awning Windows

These are a great choice when you want fresh air from an open window – even when it is raining. Like all H3 windows, the awning features a solid wood interior, an extra-strong vinyl base frame, and advanced window technology at an affordable price.

3 Casement Windows

These H3 casement windows provide top-to-bottom unobstructed views and swing open 90 degrees for great ventilation and easy cleaning. Their clean lines, smooth operation and top-of-the-line Encore folding handles make them a favorite of homeowners across the country.

A Harris Exteriors Expert Will Help You Install Your Top-Rated Window Replacement

When sorting through the various brands of windows available, it’s important to select replacement windows that are designed with both the aesthetics and advanced technology to get the most return on your investment.

That’s why you should talk to a specialist at Harris Exteriors who can examine your existing windows to make sure you are taking the right step for your home. Our team will evaluate your needs and walk you through every step of the installation process.

Harris is known for providing unparalleled customer service and quality craftsmanship for clients throughout the greater Chicagoland area. Contact Harris Exteriors to set up a consultation with a member of our team today!

So your windows have gotten up there in age, and are now starting to show they no longer function like they did when new. In the summer they don’t keep the cool air in, and in the winter they let the warm air out. This draftiness has now worn your patience thin. So you decide to invest in new windows. However, one could have a fairly good idea on what windows they wish to have in terms of looks, but may not know what may work best in terms of function, or energy efficiency.

Windows can be functional, and they can also be stylish, so it is important to understand the different types, and what they do, so you can then make a knowledgeable decision which will best suit your needs. There are windows which slide up and down, some swing in, some swing out, and some even slide. The possibilities are almost endless regarding what you want your windows to do, in function, and in appearance.

Types Of Windows

There are multiple different types of windows. It is, however, crucial that you are properly informed about the different types so you can make an educated decision, suiting you and your home to the best of its ability for years to come.

Double Hung- These are fairly neat since they not only have the ability to move up and down at one pane but can do it at both, due to the fact that the panes are separate from each other, thus allowing a large amount of versatility in a wide range of applications.

Casement- If you are the person who wishes to be heavily energy efficient, this may be the style of window for you. Casement Windows open in a crank motion and swing out of the home, actually acting as a guide to help direct any fresh air into the home.

Awning- These are somewhat similar to the “Casement”, style of window discussed previously. These still swing out of the home, much like the Casement Window, but swings vertically, instead of out. They retain the crank style mechanism and can lock into place.

Picture & Transom- These are quite possibly one of the more opulent styles of windows. They are commonly characterized by their tall stature, whilst employing a variety of different designs in order to suit your needs. They are often quite large and are best suited in a living room, or something comparable.

Sliding- These types of windows are single-handedly providing the largest amount of glass area based on their size. However, they also can slide open, thus their naming. This type of window provides absolute massive airflow into the home.

Bay and Bow- These are the type of windows which utilize a singular pane in the middle, and two flanking it at an angle, allowing them to jut in, forming the name earning “bay”, shape. These are easy to consider when one is trying to fill a very large opening.

Energy Efficient Windows

We all like spending less, which is why it is a good idea to take energy efficiency into account as a factor when deciding on your next window. When shopping for windows, it is often wise to look out for the “Energy Star”, sticker. This means that it is in fact certified by the Energy Star program, which is managed by the Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Department of Energy. For products to receive this certification they need to meet a certain grade of quality. This includes all the parts and hardware being tight-fitting, and the seals letting minimal air through, sometimes through the use of double panes, which are gas filled in between one pane and the second.

Replace Your Windows With Harris Roofing, Siding, Windows, and Doors

If you have any concerns with your windows, please contact us online or call us at 630-883-5367, and we at Harris Roofing, Siding, Windows, and Doors would be glad to be of service.

Well-Established Illinois Residential Roofing Contractor Earns an Unlimited Roofing License

Harris Exteriors & More proudly announce its roofing expansion to include commercial and industrial properties. The State of Illinois has issued Harris Exteriors an Unlimited Roofing Contractor License. An unlimited roofing license is made available to contractors whose roofing business is unlimited in nature and includes roofing on residential, commercial and industrial properties. Now homeowners, building owners and property managers can partner with Harris Exteriors & More to contract on any roofing replacement project.

About Harris Exteriors:

Harris Exteriors & More is a full-service exterior contractor specializing in roofing, siding, windows, doors, soffit & fascia and gutter replacement. They offer high-caliber craftsmanship, products, outstanding customer service at competitive pricing. Harris is a BBB accredited business with a “A“ Rating and they proudly support the industry through member affiliations in NARI, CAI, CAA, and ACTHA.

For more information on Harris Exteriors & More, please call Phil Davis, President at (630) 372-7310.

What is a storm chaser?

Storm chasers are companies that follow severe weather from area to area, completing home repairs (generally roofs and siding) that are damaged by hail and wind. They collect homeowners’ insurance claim checks in payment for their services, complete the work (often shoddily) before moving on to the next storm ravaged area. Here in Chicago, we are prone to hailstorms, and storm chasers generally quickly follow any such event. They generally go door-to-door in storm damaged areas, and may advertise themselves as insurance recovery experts or specialists in insurance restoration. (The term “Storm Chaser” can also be used to describe a person who follows storms in order to research, photograph, or simply experience a weather phenomenon. This type of storm chaser is entirely different and is not of any concern to a homeowner!)

Why are storm chasers bad?

The first step of a storm chaser is to ask the homeowner to sign a contract allowing their company to negotiate with homeowner’s insurance company. By signing these documents, homeowners may be waiving their right to any decision making regarding their repairs or replacement. They also lose control over the insurance settlement, and the entire check of the payment may legally need to be signed over to the storm chaser- regardless of the quality or quantity of work completed. The homeowner may lose some control over materials used, leaving the storm chaser free to cut corners in order to increase their profit. Most importantly, warranty repairs can be very difficult to obtain as most storm chasers leave the area as soon as the storm “plays out.” These companies are generally gone long before warranty issues arise. The company is certainly not going to return from Florida or Ohio to repair a problem with their work. To make matters even more difficult, some storm chasers lease local company names so the appear to be local. Once they complete their work in the area, they leave. The local company is then responsible for the warranty work. Of course, the volume of warranty work is often so great the local company ends up out of business, leaving the homeowner with problems.

Storm chasers are also very damaging to the local economy. They deprive local contractors of business and decrease the number of resources you have when your roof suddenly springs a leak. By employing a local contractor to complete your repairs, you are helping to employee local Chicagoland workers.

How to spot a storm chaser:

Storm chasers usually:

Come door to door and try to get you to sign something immediately
Use high pressure sales tactics
Offer you a “Free Roof” or “Free Siding” or offer a way around paying a deductible (this is insurance fraud!)
Have out-of-state license plates or drivers license (and YES! you can & should ask to see a drivers license to verify identity.)
Are unable to produce recent, local references (or references from before the storm date)
Are unable to produce local supplier references (always check references from a potential contractors’ suppliers. If suppliers aren’t paid in a timely fashion by a contractor, they can legally place a lien on your home)
Have no proof of manufacturer certifications (large manufacturers offer their own certifications to established legitimate contractors. Look for GAF-Elk Master Elite Contractors, GAF-Elk Certified Contractors, IKO Shield-Pro Plus, CertainTeed 5-Star Contractors)
Are unable to produce a roofing license and certificate of insurance with the same identification information. A legitimate local company should show you an IL Roofing License and a Certificate of Liability/Workers Compensation both issued in the same name. If the names don’t match, you may not be protected.
Are unlisted, have unsatisfactory ratings or have complaints filed against them with the Chicagoland Better Business Bureau. You can look them up at http://chicago.bbb.org/