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The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was passed and signed into law in February of 2009. Homeowners are now generously rewarded with a tax rebate incentive as high as $1,500.00 if they make qualifying environmentally-friendly improvements to their homes by the December 31, 2010 deadline. The proverbial legislative ink had barely dried, as window manufacturers far and wide seemingly materialized out of obscurity. Suddenly, everybody and their uncle was now nobly boarding the energy-savings bandwagon, offering window deals of an eternity. Promises were made, guaranteed to slash fuel bills, while rescuing NATURE from a certain impending doom.

Naturally, our green inner child aspires to do our fair share in preserving our environment... not to mention our wallets. Saving a lot of money on utility costs and finding a bundle back from THE GOVERNMENT seemed like a delightful no-brainer for most thousands. For them, wasting valuable time and money by postponing needed home improvements was hardly any longer an option. A large number of others, however, remained skeptical and so are still putting off the inevitable. Perhaps they just aren't convinced that their windows really need replacing. Or maybe, they just have no idea which window company to trust and even where to begin. If you belong to this latter category, then stay tuned.

Saving money, saving the surroundings, and collecting an impressive $1,500.00 reward are good stuff; very good things. Having said that, there are always a plethora of potential pitfalls lurking on the horizon if we consider energy-efficiency while neglecting everything else. Therefore, I've listed what I regard because the top 10 10 most significant things to consider BEFORE choosing the replacement window. I encourage homeowners to utilize this short article as a checklist prior to getting an estimate on replacement windows.

1. TRUSTWORTHINESS OF COMPANY/PROBLEMS WITH START-UP COMPANIES

Though there are lots of fine reputable window manufacturers to choose from, homeowners also need to beware of start-up companies. Of course, all companies were start-up companies at one time. Nevertheless, new figures from InsolvencyJournal.ie reveal that four companies a day went belly up in the first seven months of 2010, up 22% from the same time in '09 2009. We've seen window companies go out of business, change their names, and reopen. We've seen companies like Republic and Kensington declare bankruptcy, potentially leaving customers holding the bag with worthless warranties and un-serviced windows. We've seen no less than 17 major window manufacturing corporations apply for Chapter 11 within the last 3 years.

windows 10 app store to the wise: Check out a company's reputation BEFORE spending your hard-earned cash. Exercise caution BEFORE purchasing from the highly leveraged impersonal company or a start-up company.

2. HOW LONG WILL A WINDOW LAST BEFORE YOU NEED TO REPLACE IT?

The next thing to consider is just how long a window will last. All windows aren't created equal. Windows have huge variations, from the grade of the glass package to the quality of the framing system. Investing in replacement windows for the home should only be done once. Most windows are only designed to last 10 to twenty years. Some cheap windows that go for $150 to $200 may only last for three to five 5 years. Some manufacturers declare that their windows will last for 50 years or perhaps a lifetime, but they are often unwilling to back those claims in writing.

3. WINDOW WARRANTIES: READ THE FINE PRINT

Some manufacturers not only claim that their windows will last an eternity, however they even back it up with a so-called "Lifetime Warranty." Before you get too impressed, you'd be well-advised to read the small print. Many so-called lifetime warranties are misleading. Many lifetime warranties make reference to the lifetime of the window, not the duration of a homeowner. Such a guarantee is virtually meaningless. It's like saying, "I guarantee you that you will stay alive up until your day that you die." Double-talk. Have a few minutes on the Internet and appearance up "Lifetime Warranty Definition." You'll see what I mean.

4. DON'T GET "FRAMED" WITH FAULTY FRAMES

There are a wide selection of window frames to choose from: wood frames, vinyl frames, fiberglass frames, aluminum frames, wood frames covered with aluminum or vinyl, and composite frames.Decisions! Decisions! In the event that you wait until a window salesperson finds your doorstep to determine which frame is most beneficial, guess which frame the salesperson will recommend? Naturally, the main one his company sells.

There are benefits and drawbacks to each choice. Get all the facts BEFORE you buy.

Wood frames

Because many homeowners just like the look of wood, wood frames are still a popular choice. One advantage of wood is that wood is energy-efficient. Wood is a non-thermal conductor, so that it won't lose heat or draw heat in from the exterior. The downside is the constant maintenance necessary to keep wood looking decent. If you enjoy painting, staining, scraping, and sanding, then you should, be my guest. But understand that wood may also shrink, rot, and warp, this means you'll probably have to substitute your windows over and over. That is good for the maker, but bad for you.

Needless to say, some companies treat wood in an attempt to preserve it. However, treated wood may contain toxic chemicals. Also, wood is expensive. Other framing options are much more economical. So when we stop to consider the price and hassle of maintaining wood frames, the price of replacing windows, and the chance of toxic chemicals, wood windows will not be the best option. Instead, a homeowner may be better advised to consider alternatives that may save time, money, and a tree.

Aluminum or vinyl-clad wood frames

Next, consider aluminum or vinyl-clad wood frames. Like frames made entirely of wood, clad wood frames additionally require maintenance, though not quite just as much. Aluminum-clad wood frames are more energy efficient than aluminum window frames, though they're not as energy-efficient as wood frames without aluminum. And clad frames have already been recognized to hide water infiltration, resulting in costly deterioration hidden beneath the cladding. There were lawsuits involving this very issue recently, involving well-known companies. Your best bet is to avoid this technology.

Fiberglass or Composite frames

Some say fiberglass is the wave into the future. That remains to be seen. There are some advantages of fiberglass frames. Fiberglass is strong when going against the grain. Since Fiberglass extrusions are made by a Pultrusion process, which is the binding of small glass fiber together with glue. This is like the process used to produce particle board (gluing of wood fibers). The result is that whenever fiberglass is hit along the grain it cracks just like a hot knife through butter. Remember the major damage on Corvettes if they were involved with "minor" fender benders.

Fiberglass needs to be screwed together, leading to weak joints in the movable sashes. Fiberglass and composite window frames also cost more than other types of frames. Plus, since they must be painted or top-coated at the factory, some colors tend to fade.

Since fiberglass windows are relatively new on the scene, only a few companies currently make them. Therefore, their long-term performance continues to be uncertain. Fiberglass window frames also cost a lot more than other styles of frames. Fiberglass extrusions must be painted as the sun/UV rays will degrades the glue, making the extrusion fragile and vunerable to cracking.