Top 4 Innovations that Make Modern Replacement Windows the Best Ever

In the past 60 years, replacement windows in San Diego, CA have come leaps and bounds, specifically in areas of efficiency, safety, durability, maintenance, and aesthetics. Residents in newer homes might take some of these advancements for granted. But if the windows of your home are more than 20 years old, you might be surprised by all the benefits you are missing out on. Modern products are better than ever. Here are just four innovations that have really improved in the last few decades:

1. Window Frame Materials

Wood and aluminum window frames were the standards of the past, and there wasn’t much else to choose from. Today you have wood, aluminum, vinyl, fiberglass, and composite window frames. Wood windows till tote an aesthetic that is classic, traditional, and unmatched by most other materials. They are also naturally efficient. But wood window frames are expensive and require more upkeep. Aluminum windows are strong, durable, lightweight, and impact-resistant. That said, they are not as good at insulating, and manufacturers have had to use thermal breaks for better insulation. Vinyl windows are perhaps the most affordable and most popular on the market today. They are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that is weather resistant, energy efficient, and practically maintenance free. Window experts consider fiberglass windows to be the best of the best. They combine many features of the other materials offering strong, durable, paintable, lightweight, and long-lasting window frames. You pay more up front for fiberglass windows, but the longevity of these products often makes them worth it.

2. Laminated Glass

Safety or impact-resistant glass is another modern innovation used on replacement windows. Manufactures adhere a thin layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) to two panes of glass through heat and pressure. So instead of shattering into large, dangerous shards impact glass breaks into small pieces that remain largely intact. This innovation improves safety and also security in the home because they are much more difficult to break into.

3. Multi-Pane Windows with Inert Gas Fills

The standard for most windows is two panes of glass or double-glazing. The two panes of glass are sealed together with a gap between and act as an insulated glazing unit (IGU). For a time manufacturers sealed normal air between the panes. But because it still reacted to temperature changes, seal failure on these units was a common result. Today manufacturers use one of three noble gasses between the panes. They are non-toxic, odorless, and colorless. But they have a higher density than normal air and do not react in the same way. They also slow down heat transfer, making modern replacement windows more energy efficient.

4. Low-E Coatings

Modern windows also have special coatings designed to reflect unwanted radiant heat. This keeps home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. The special coatings are applied to different surfaces of the glass, depending on the desired outcome. But because it is an ultra-thin layer of metallic oxide, it is practically invisible.

These are some significant advancements in the window industry. If you want to take advantage of these benefits it is time to get replacement windows in San Diego, CA. Contact Pelican Replacement Windows at (760) 598-6422 or visit 2210 La Mirada Dr., Vista, CA 92081.