Comments for Solar Glass http://www.solarglass.com Our business is windows and doors. Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:56:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Marvin or Integrity’s Fiberglass Frame, Wood Interior Window (Wood Ultrex) – How to Choose by Integrity Windows – Best In Class Durability! - Solar Glass http://www.solarglass.com/2011/05/02/marvin-or-integrity%e2%80%99s-fiberglass-frame-wood-interior-window-wood-ultrex-%e2%80%93-how-to-choose/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Integrity Windows – Best In Class Durability! - Solar Glass Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:56:55 +0000 http://www.solarglass.com/?p=1255#comment-14 [...] we have posted, we are big fans of Marvin’s fiberglass window line, Integrity Windows.  We were therefore delighted to read Integrity’s announcement that their finish [...] [...] we have posted, we are big fans of Marvin’s fiberglass window line, Integrity Windows.  We were therefore delighted to read Integrity’s announcement that their finish [...]

]]> Comment on R5 vs. R3.33 Windows by Gwenael Hagan http://www.solarglass.com/2009/06/22/r5-vs-r333-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Gwenael Hagan Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:25:36 +0000 http://www.solarglass.com/?p=218#comment-9 I am obviously biased toward Marvin and Integrity. You are right about total window unit and air infiltration is not discussed enough. All windows are tested for this important value but not all test results are disclosed. Marvin and Integrity have them on their websites. Breather tubes do regulate pressure as a window moves up in altitude. However, once the genie (argon or other gas) is out of the bottle, it ain't coming back. Now some companies place a balloon over the breather tube and suggest that the gas from the balloon will go back into the window... Convinced?? Vinyl does have an important place in the market. Our point is that the combination of our semi-arid climate and high altitude compromises the life cycle of vinyl. We routinely replace vinyl windows that are 12 - 15 years old. On your point six, i have seen a lot of models run in our northern Energy Star Climate and as much as i like to sell windows, i have not see a case where the biggest bang for the buck did not come from air sealing and insulation. Where I agree with you is that single pane windows, particularly in aluminum frames, come as close as it gets to providing a payback on energy savings alone. I am obviously biased toward Marvin and Integrity.

You are right about total window unit and air infiltration is not discussed enough. All windows are tested for this important value but not all test results are disclosed. Marvin and Integrity have them on their websites.

Breather tubes do regulate pressure as a window moves up in altitude. However, once the genie (argon or other gas) is out of the bottle, it ain’t coming back. Now some companies place a balloon over the breather tube and suggest that the gas from the balloon will go back into the window… Convinced??

Vinyl does have an important place in the market. Our point is that the combination of our semi-arid climate and high altitude compromises the life cycle of vinyl. We routinely replace vinyl windows that are 12 – 15 years old.

On your point six, i have seen a lot of models run in our northern Energy Star Climate and as much as i like to sell windows, i have not see a case where the biggest bang for the buck did not come from air sealing and insulation. Where I agree with you is that single pane windows, particularly in aluminum frames, come as close as it gets to providing a payback on energy savings alone.

]]> Comment on R5 vs. R3.33 Windows by Ric http://www.solarglass.com/2009/06/22/r5-vs-r333-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-8 Ric Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:43:35 +0000 http://www.solarglass.com/?p=218#comment-8 Interesting. You are all correct, yet not at all. It is obvious that you are leaning in the direction of your supplier or manufacturer. Marvin is OK at best and is one of the reasons window standards were lowered to R3.3 instead of R5 are not where they should be. The 2 other big boys are at fault as well. We are all at fault..we voted our congressman in and I am sure they really do not care, except for how it will effect them! Enough said. 7 things come to mind: 1)it is the "total WINDOW Rvalue" that you are looking for, not just the "Center of glass Rvalue. Anyone can get to an R5 with various technology today. What about air infiltration, head and sill weatherstripping? how durable are they? In high quality glass, the weakest link in the total window is now the frame! What is being done about that? Questions, questions, they go on. 2) breather tubes, which keep the proper amount of gas needed in place, are readily used for transfer from high to low altitudes and back. That problem was fixed back in the'70's. 3) Optimum dead air space is not 1/2", but rather 13/16" and it might be somewhat more now that spacer systems have improved. 4)Vinyl is the weakest of materials, but it has a place in the industry...it is affordable and most quality Vinyl windows will outperform most wood windows and some Fiberglass units in all aspects except strength and life. What is the life of a window? I have read in Consumers Report that Wood is a 12 - 15 year life; Vinyl is good for 31 years; and Fiberglass for 80 years. 5)In the grand scheme of things, it does not matter how much one family saves, but by multiplying millions of windows over many applications, we can and will save a bunch of energy. 6) If you took a house that needed various energy updates and had single pane windows and had $15000.00 to spend on energy savings methods, Insulation, HVAC, etc. You would get your biggest payback from using that money to buy R5 windows. Not from insulation, not from anything else. This may vary from climate to climate. 7) Last year I installed R5.7 windows in my house in OH. I also buttoned up my insulation and stopped most air leaks as best as practical. My Gas buget had been $220.00 per month for a couple of years. After 1 1/2 years it is now $77.00. We did not lower our thermostat. I am upgrading to more attic insulation and a newer hi-efficiency furnace soon. I am interested in seeing what happens. Interesting. You are all correct, yet not at all. It is obvious that you are leaning in the direction of your supplier or manufacturer. Marvin is OK at best and is one of the reasons window standards were lowered to R3.3 instead of R5 are not where they should be. The 2 other big boys are at fault as well. We are all at fault..we voted our congressman in and I am sure they really do not care, except for how it will effect them! Enough said.
7 things come to mind:
1)it is the “total WINDOW Rvalue” that you are looking for, not just the “Center of glass Rvalue. Anyone can get to an R5 with various technology today. What about air infiltration, head and sill weatherstripping? how durable are they? In high quality glass, the weakest link in the total window is now the frame! What is being done about that? Questions, questions, they go on.
2) breather tubes, which keep the proper amount of gas needed in place, are readily used for transfer from high to low altitudes and back. That problem was fixed back in the’70′s.
3) Optimum dead air space is not 1/2″, but rather 13/16″ and it might be somewhat more now that spacer systems have improved.
4)Vinyl is the weakest of materials, but it has a place in the industry…it is affordable and most quality Vinyl windows will outperform most wood windows and some Fiberglass units in all aspects except strength and life. What is the life of a window? I have read in Consumers Report that Wood is a 12 – 15 year life; Vinyl is good for 31 years; and Fiberglass for 80 years.
5)In the grand scheme of things, it does not matter how much one family saves, but by multiplying millions of windows over many applications, we can and will save a bunch of energy.
6) If you took a house that needed various energy updates and had single pane windows and had $15000.00 to spend on energy savings methods, Insulation, HVAC, etc. You would get your biggest payback from using that money to buy R5 windows. Not from insulation, not from anything else. This may vary from climate to climate.
7) Last year I installed R5.7 windows in my house in OH. I also buttoned up my insulation and stopped most air leaks as best as practical. My Gas buget had been $220.00 per month for a couple of years. After 1 1/2 years it is now $77.00. We did not lower our thermostat. I am upgrading to more attic insulation and a newer hi-efficiency furnace soon. I am interested in seeing what happens.

]]> Comment on When We Fall Short by Gwenael Hagan http://www.solarglass.com/2011/01/20/when-we-fall-short/comment-page-1/#comment-13 Gwenael Hagan Tue, 22 Feb 2011 23:44:02 +0000 http://www.solarglass.com/?p=1184#comment-13 Received this nice email from the customer with the Large Sliding Window in the Bedroom: "The new window in our bedroom is wonderful. Interesting how much warmer our bedroom is now, even with the subzero temperatures we’ve been having. Were I to do it again, I would put the same style of window in the whole house. Wanted to express our appreciation to you and Rick for working with us in such an understanding and gracious manner." Received this nice email from the customer with the Large Sliding Window in the Bedroom:

“The new window in our bedroom is wonderful. Interesting how much warmer our bedroom is now, even with the subzero temperatures we’ve been having. Were I to do it again, I would put the same style of window in the whole house.
Wanted to express our appreciation to you and Rick for working with us in such an understanding and gracious manner.”

]]> Comment on Chapter Four: Everything In Its Place by Gwenael Hagan http://www.solarglass.com/2010/04/09/chapter-four-everything-in-its-place/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Gwenael Hagan Fri, 09 Apr 2010 21:00:03 +0000 http://www.solarglass.com/?p=952#comment-12 It was a pleasure meeting with this homeowner. I arrived just as our installers were putting on the finishing touches. We pride ourselves on the quality of work and in this case, hat’s off to the installation crew. I was very happy with the stain match and thus happy that we handled that problem (see last week’s chapter). As we dove into the blind fitment problem, I knew that, notwithstanding the effort on the part of our sales consultant, a guy I am proud to have on the SolarGlass team, we were the source of the problem. Moreover, my thoughts and decision were guided by an adage learned long ago and put to use countless times since: problems handled right increase customer trust and satisfaction to a level higher than that which would have been true absent the problem. It was a pleasure meeting with this homeowner. I arrived just as our installers were putting on the finishing touches. We pride ourselves on the quality of work and in this case, hat’s off to the installation crew.
I was very happy with the stain match and thus happy that we handled that problem (see last week’s chapter). As we dove into the blind fitment problem, I knew that, notwithstanding the effort on the part of our sales consultant, a guy I am proud to have on the SolarGlass team, we were the source of the problem. Moreover, my thoughts and decision were guided by an adage learned long ago and put to use countless times since: problems handled right increase customer trust and satisfaction to a level higher than that which would have been true absent the problem.

]]> Comment on Hurd’s New Ownership and Warranty Changes by Gwenael Hagan http://www.solarglass.com/2008/12/16/hurds-new-ownership-and-warranty-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Gwenael Hagan Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:32:14 +0000 http://www.solarglass.com/?p=89#comment-3 The Hurd dealer that sold you the windows originally might offer to sell replacement glass at a discount. Our approach is to purchase replacement glass from a local (non Hurd) provider and discount the glass so our profit covers just our cost of order processing. The Hurd dealer that sold you the windows originally might offer to sell replacement glass at a discount. Our approach is to purchase replacement glass from a local (non Hurd) provider and discount the glass so our profit covers just our cost of order processing.

]]> Comment on Hurd’s New Ownership and Warranty Changes by Alan Vitous http://www.solarglass.com/2008/12/16/hurds-new-ownership-and-warranty-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Alan Vitous Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:22:37 +0000 http://www.solarglass.com/?p=89#comment-2 Hello; In 2006 I replaced 39 Hurd windows (glass only) because of seal leaks. Because I did not know about the lawsuit or settlement, we had to pay for them. We were told we would receive a 20 yr warranty on those replacement windows. One failed after 9 months and was replaced under warranty. I now have a second window with a seal failure and was told by Hurd that there is nothing I can do. Not even any "good will" offer. We have now purchased essentially 2 homes worth of leaky Hurd windows, have no warranty and are screwed. Hello;

In 2006 I replaced 39 Hurd windows (glass only) because of seal leaks. Because I did not know about the lawsuit or settlement, we had to pay for them. We were told we would receive a 20 yr warranty on those replacement windows. One failed after 9 months and was replaced under warranty. I now have a second window with a seal failure and was told by Hurd that there is nothing I can do. Not even any “good will” offer. We have now purchased essentially 2 homes worth of leaky Hurd windows, have no warranty and are screwed.

]]> Comment on Losing Honorably Is A Winning Formula by Gwenael Hagan http://www.solarglass.com/2009/12/03/losing-honorably-is-a-winning-formula/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Gwenael Hagan Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:14:25 +0000 http://www.solarglass.com/?p=898#comment-11 It turns out that when the dust settled and we had a chance to compare "apples to apples" our price was within 1%, including tipple pane where specified, a motorized awning we did not know about, and FSC certification - something new to Marvin and not known to us at the time of the "battle". This was a great learning opportunity for the team in that we can make some changes to make us better. Onward! It turns out that when the dust settled and we had a chance to compare “apples to apples” our price was within 1%, including tipple pane where specified, a motorized awning we did not know about, and FSC certification – something new to Marvin and not known to us at the time of the “battle”.

This was a great learning opportunity for the team in that we can make some changes to make us better.

Onward!

]]> Comment on Losing Honorably Is A Winning Formula by Gwenael Hagan http://www.solarglass.com/2009/12/03/losing-honorably-is-a-winning-formula/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Gwenael Hagan Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:14:25 +0000 http://www.solarglass.com/?p=898#comment-10 It turns out that when the dust settled and we had a chance to compare "apples to apples" our price was within 1%, including tipple pane where specified, a motorized awning we did not know about, and FSC certification - something new to Marvin and not known to us at the time of the "battle". This was a great learning opportunity for the team in that we can make some changes to make us better. Onward! It turns out that when the dust settled and we had a chance to compare “apples to apples” our price was within 1%, including tipple pane where specified, a motorized awning we did not know about, and FSC certification – something new to Marvin and not known to us at the time of the “battle”.

This was a great learning opportunity for the team in that we can make some changes to make us better.

Onward!

]]> Comment on R5 vs. R3.33 Windows by Gwenael Hagan http://www.solarglass.com/2009/06/22/r5-vs-r333-windows/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Gwenael Hagan Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:25:54 +0000 http://www.solarglass.com/?p=218#comment-7 Vinyl is the weakest window frame material from a rigidity perspective - as compared to fiberglass, aluminum, or wood, has the highest expansion and contraction ratio, and is the most susceptible to deformation due to heat. Given all of that, I would be very uncomfortable looking a customer in the eye and telling them the added weight of triple glazing won't have negative mid- and long-term consequences. I say this even in light of the "lifetime" parts and labor warranties offered by many vinyl window manufacturers. On 1" IG (insulated Glazing Unit), the glass manufacturers have determined that a 1/2 inch airspace is optimal for dual glass units so I don't see the advantage of a 1" IG over the standard .75" IG. I agree with your comment regarding well made IG and elevation changes of 4600 to 5900. We offer Marvin's Integrity fiberglass windows which are manufactured in Fargo and shipped to us in Colorado for distribution throughout the front range and lower elevation mountain communities. These types of discussions always bring me back to the misplaced focus some in the window industry have on the pursuit of R5 windows. If you double, triple or quadruple today's energy prices, there are many energy efficiency measures that offer much improved return on investment. Vinyl is the weakest window frame material from a rigidity perspective – as compared to fiberglass, aluminum, or wood, has the highest expansion and contraction ratio, and is the most susceptible to deformation due to heat. Given all of that, I would be very uncomfortable looking a customer in the eye and telling them the added weight of triple glazing won’t have negative mid- and long-term consequences. I say this even in light of the “lifetime” parts and labor warranties offered by many vinyl window manufacturers.

On 1″ IG (insulated Glazing Unit), the glass manufacturers have determined that a 1/2 inch airspace is optimal for dual glass units so I don’t see the advantage of a 1″ IG over the standard .75″ IG.

I agree with your comment regarding well made IG and elevation changes of 4600 to 5900. We offer Marvin’s Integrity fiberglass windows which are manufactured in Fargo and shipped to us in Colorado for distribution throughout the front range and lower elevation mountain communities.

These types of discussions always bring me back to the misplaced focus some in the window industry have on the pursuit of R5 windows. If you double, triple or quadruple today’s energy prices, there are many energy efficiency measures that offer much improved return on investment.

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